Thread: Request for dental records and X-rays.

Thanks a million brit, you're a star! I'm certainly keeping you busy this morning! But great to know I can now get my records and I don't mind paying for them for the peace of mind. I suppose an email would count as written request, or would it?? One more question slightly off topic, will any decay in an upper incisor be obvious? Could it ever be the case that one would only detect it "in real life"? Though I...

Hi sudzs, I just realized you were in the UK through Brit's reply. In the US also, the patient would be the one giving consent to release the copies of the records either to themselves or to their new dentist. as far as decay underneath an upper incisor to be obvious on an xray it would be at least medium to a large cavity. I have found that I am able to detect decay clinically (especially on the incisors) that is oftentimes not yet seen...

I think they usually oblige other dental professionals, and if your new dentist is nice they wont pressure you into having new ones taken. I guess it's a test of the new dentist's integrity too.

This is the UK position according to the British Dental Health Foundation. What happens to my records if I change my dentist? Your records belong to your dentist, and are not passed on to your new dentist. Your new dentist can ask your previous dentist for a report on your dental treatment or you can ask for copies of your records to be sent to your new dentist. However, most dentists simply make their own records. Under the NHS, dentists...