A survey on radiographic prescription practices in dental implant assessment among dentists in Kerala, India.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To conduct a survey of the current radiographic prescription practices among implant practitioners in the state of Kerala, India.

METHODS: 300 dentists were interviewed by employing a questionnaire which enquired about the radiographic evaluation methods prescribed by practitioners in implant site assessment in their implantology practice. Other reasons for choosing particular imaging modalities were also enquired. The data collected from the survey was analysed using Epi-Info 7.1.3 software.

RESULTS: Around 87.33% of the dentists prescribed only OPG for the implant site assessment and only 4.66% ordered Orthopantomograph (OPG) in combination with an Intra Oral Periapical Radiograph (IOPAR) and 4.33% ordered OPG with Computed Tomography (CT). Only 0.02% of the practitioners ordered CT as a single examination and 1% ordered it in conjunction with other modalities. 0.066% individuals ordered IOPAR as the sole imaging modality and none of them ever prescribed conventional or Cone beam computed tomography.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study has conclusively proven that most of the dentists prescribe OPG followed by a combination of OPG and Intraoral periapical radiographs in their implant practices. Many of them were not aware and did not follow the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, European Academy of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, European Association of Osseointegration and International Congress of Oral Implantology recommendations regarding cross-sectional imaging.