Caries, bitewings, and treatment decisions

Abstract

Background: The most common adjunct to the visual and tactile clinical examination for dental caries is the bitewing radiograph. The aim of this study was to report on treatment planning decisions made by Victorian dentists when given a range of predetermined radiographic scenarios. Methods: A postal survey was conducted to obtain data from 550 dentists selected systematically (every fourth dentist) from the register of the Dental Board of Victoria (1996). Results: The survey response rate was 64 per cent. Fifty per cent of responding dentists selected an operative intervention for radiographic lesions confined to enamel. Conclusions: A review of current dental literature does not support th..