The ADA has released its first updated dental x-ray patient selection recommendations in more than a decade.
The guidance emphasizes that dental x-rays should be prescribed only when clinically necessary to reduce radiation exposure for both patients and dental professionals.
The recommendations were published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. These are the first ADA recommendations to address both 2D imaging and 3D cone-beam computed tomography.
An expert panel convened by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs developed the guidelines, which significantly expand the ADA’s 2012 radiography guidelines. They provide direction as to when each imaging type is appropriate based on specific clinical situations.
A key focus is determining which patients need x-rays and how often imaging should be performed during routine dental visits.
Endorsed by the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, the recommendations cover clinical scenarios, including cracked teeth, endodontics, implant planning, temporomandibular disorders, and more.
The article is the second in a two-part series on diagnostic imaging in dentistry. The first, published in 2024, addressed radiation safety and regulatory issues and concluded that thyroid collars and lead aprons are no longer necessary due to low radiation levels and improved imaging techniques.
