The Evaluation of Dental Imaging Services in Turkey Between Years 2010-2013 / 2010-2013 Yılları Arasında Türkiye’de Dental Görüntüleme Hizmetlerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Background
Radiolological monitoring is especially important for the effective planning of services related to oral and dental health care. The aim of this study is to evaluate the national data of radiological imaging methods in Turkey which are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Methods
For this retrospective, cross-sectional study, the radiological imaging data from Oral and Dental Health Centers and Hospitals affiliated to the Institution of Public Hospitals in all 81 cities of Turkey between years 2010-2013 were evaluated. The data were presented with one and two-dimensional tables, the statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS for Windows, Version 22.0 package program.
Results
Increasing by years, the number of radiological imagings have been; 2,964,713, 3,972,361, 4,830,532 and 5,829,750 in years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Of the total population, 4.02, 5.32, 6.39 and 7.60% have been applied any kind of dental radiography in the same years, respectively.
Conclusions
This situation is in compliance with the increasing population as well as the increasing service delivery in the content of ‘‘Health Transition Program’’. Treatment needs play a major role in the effective planning of oral and dental health services by policymakers.