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J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 136, No 3, 296.
© 2005 American Dental Association |
NEW RADIOGRAPH GUIDELINES FROM ADA, FDA
The guidelines, now available on the ADA and FDA Web sites, bring up to date recommendations originally released in 1987, reflecting changes in technology and practice. Rather than a set of rules, the guidelines are meant to be an adjunct to the dentist’s professional judgment of how to best use diagnostic imaging for each individual patient.
"The recommendations are broad, so the clinician decides—after reviewing the patient’s health history and completing a thorough clinical examination—what imaging is needed," said Dr. Charles Greenblatt Jr., chair of the ADA Panel on Radiographs Guidelines Review.
The updated guidelines include new information on
To download the new guidelines document, visit ADA.org at "www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/radiography.asp" or the FDA Web site at "www.fda.gov/cdrh/radhlth/adaxray.html".
THE INFORMED PATIENT
It probably comes as no surprise that on a typical day in 2004, some seven million Americans logged onto the Internet for health-related information. In all, about 93 million Americans have sought health information online at one time or another.
The figures come from a new report released by Pew Research Center titled "Trends 2005" that examines trends in politics, religion, the media, communications, and public opinion.
Internet use continues to grow rapidly, reaching about 70 million Americans online on a typical day at the end of 2004—a 37 percent increase from 2000, according to the report. Nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States visited the Internet at some time during 2004.
The report describes a "new health-care environment" in which "empowered patients can access large amounts of medical information, advice and support online, and act as partners with their doctors in making health-care decisions."
According to the report, women who go online are more likely than men to seek health information, as are those between the ages of 30 and 64 years as compared with younger Internet users. Among the topics online in which "health seekers" are most interested are specific diseases, treatments and procedures, medicines and health insurance.
If you’re interested in learning more about how the Internet has become a part of daily life in the last 10 years, the full "Trends 2005" report is available from the Pew Web site at "www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/148/report_display.asp".
The ADA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released in January updated guidelines to assist dentists in the selection of patients for dental radiographic examinations.
Does it seem like a growing number of patients come in for dental appointments armed with printouts of information they’ve found on the World Wide Web about the circumstances of their health?
PHONE, 1-312-440-2500, For ADA’s members-only toll-free line, see your membership card
FAX 1-312-440-7494
ONLINE www.ada.org
211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611
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