The Use of Extra-oral Bitewing Radiographs for Treatment Planning in Paediatric Patients

Abstract

The extra-oral bitewing is becoming increasingly popular among clinicians to help overcome some of the challenges posed when taking intra-oral radiographs for paediatric patients. When combined with clinical examination, this radiographic view provides important diagnostic information in the management of caries in the posterior dentition. In this article, the use of extra-oral bitewings will be explored. The introduction of a decision tree provides the dental practitioner working in either a primary or secondary care setting, a pathway to assist with deciding the optimal radiographic prescription. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Extra-oral bitewings can be a useful radiographic tool for dental caries diagnosis in the mixed dentition.