The value of a quality improvement programme for panoramic radiography: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the value of a quality improvement programme for panoramic radiography.

Methods: A prospective, cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in 40 dental practices in England. Practices were randomly assigned into two groups, an 'active' practice receiving regular feedback on film quality and a 'control' practice receiving no feedback until the completion of the study.

A study to determine the added value of 740 screening panoramic radiographs compared to intraoral radiography in the management of adult (>18 years) dentate patients in a primary care setting.

Objectives: To measure the added value of panoramic radiography in new dentate patients attending for routine treatment.

Methods: Thirty-seven general dental practitioners using panoramic radiographs routinely were recruited. Twenty dentate patients were identified prospectively by each participating dentist if they were new to the practice, attending for an examination and requesting any treatment deemed necessary.