Radiograph Reporting

Question 1

what does clinical evaluation mean of a radiograph?

Answer 1

This explains and documents of any findings relevant to the patient’s management, treatment or prognosis
Covers the entire image (not just the teeth & alveolar bone)
Must be recorded for every exposure
Should be completed on the same day
It is the minimum, legal requirement for every exposure
Evidences that the exposure was justified

Question 2

what is a radiograph report?

Answer 2

like a clinical evaluation but in greater detail
includes all radiograph findings
includes any information for quality assurance
and image equality rating

Question 3

the difference between a clinical evaluation and a radiographic report example

Answer 3

clinical evaluation eg
No caries, periodontal bone
loss or deficient restorations

radiographic report eg
Justification: routine caries investigation
* Type: left bitewing radiograph
* Image quality rating: A
* Teeth present: 23-27, 37-33
* Periodontal bone levels: normal
* Restorations: 24do (amalgam), 25mod
(amalgam), 26mod (amalgam), 37o
(amalgam), 36mo (composite), 35do
(amalgam)
* Restoration overhangs: none
* Caries: none
* Other findings: 33 rotated

Question 4

what would you record in a radiographic report?

Answer 4

Justification- Should demonstrate why you need the
radiograph & what you want to gain from it

Type- eg bitewing periapical

Image quality rating

Teeth present- Could change to “Teeth absent” if simpler (e.g. for a
panoramic radiograph with most/all teeth present

Periodontal bone levels- If bone loss present, preferably use % bone loss
(except for bitewing radiographs where you cannot
see full root lengths – then give mm’s instead)

Restorations

Caries - Should state whether enamel only or into dentine &, if
dentine, how deep (e.g. outer/middle/inner third of dentine)

Other findings- e.g. periapical radiolucencies, abnormal root morphology,
inferior alveolar canal position, bony abnormalities, etc.