Who gets which films?

The following is a table which gives an overview of the protocol for taking radiographs on patients as they enter the clinic for diagnosis and treatment. It is the one recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Each practitioner will have his or her own criteria:

Patient Category	Child		Adolescent	Adult
	Primary Dentition (prior to eruption of first permanent tooth)	Transitional Dentition (following eruption of first permanent tooth)	Permanent Dentition (prior to eruption of third molars)	Dentulous	Edentulous
New patient All new patients to assess dental diseases and growth and development	Posterior bite-wing examination if proximal surfaces of primary teeth cannot be visualized or probed	Individualized radiographic examination consisting of periapical/occlusal views and posterior bite-wings or panoramic examination and posterior bite-wings	Individualized radiographic examination consisting of posterior bite-wings and selected periapicals. A full mouth intraoral radiographic examination is appropriate when the patient presents with clinical evidence of generalized dental disease or a history of extensive dental treatment.		Full mouth intraoral radiographic examination or panoramic examination
Recall Patient Clinical caries or high-risk factors for caries	Posterior bite-wing examination at 6-month intervals or until no carious lesions are evident		Posterior bite-wing examination at 6-to 12-month intervals or until no carious lesions are evident	Posterior bite-wing examination at 12-to 18 month intervals	Not applicable
No clinical caries and no high-risk factors for caries	Posterior bite-wing examination at 12-to 24 month intervals if proximal surfaces of primary teeth cannot be visualized or probed	Posterior bite-wing examination at 12-to 24-month intervals	Posterior bite-wing examination at 18- to 36-month intervals	Posterior bite-wing examination at 24- to 36-month intervals	Not applicable
Periodontal disease or a history of periodontal treatment	Individualized radiographic examination consisting of selected periapicals and/or bite-wing radiographs for areas where periodontal disease (other than nonspecific gingivitis) can be demonstrated clinically		Individualized radiographic examination consisting of selected periapicals and/or bite-wing radiographs for areas where periodontal disease (other than nonspecific gingivitis) can be demonstrated clinically		Not applicable
Growth and development assessment	Usually not indicated	Individualized radiographic examination consisting of a periapical/occlusal or panoramic examination	Periapical or panoramic examination to assess developing third molars	Usually not indicated	Usually not indicated

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