Dental Imaging: Referral Details and File Transfer

Check the patient details, referring clinician and intended examination. Ask for clarification if the request is incomplete. Explain that you are booking referred imaging rather than a general dental examination, and keep the referring clinician’s contact details and a copy of the request.

ADA guidance notes that previous images may be useful instead of repeating imaging, with need determined through history and examination. Ask whether existing records answer the current question. Keep their dates and origin, and request original files where available rather than relying only on screenshots.

Contact the specific branch to confirm the requested examination and whether the referral must be reviewed beforehand. A dental radiology listing does not verify every imaging type at every site. If a different examination is suggested, ask how this will be clarified with the referrer.

Tell the service about mobility, communication or earlier difficulty completing imaging. Share pregnancy possibility or relevant health information so the team can explain its protocol. Obtain instructions for this examination from the service rather than borrowing preparation rules from a different scan.

Ask whether delivery includes images, a report or both, who interprets the examination and how the referrer receives it. Confirm compatible file formats and any access arrangements. A file sent to your phone does not establish that the referring clinic has received or reviewed it.

Keep the dated report and available original files, then arrange review with the requesting clinician. Confirm what they received and the next step instead of interpreting images yourself. Clarify fees for imaging, reporting and delivery, and allow for questions that may remain after one examination.

• Appointment guide index
• Specialty directory
• Returning to the Dentist: Plan Your First Appointment
• Oral and Jaw Assessment: Records and Referral Questions

Prepared by ClinicsJo with automated assistance; sources checked editorially on 8 October 2026. This guide supports appointment planning and does not replace an individual assessment or your practitioner’s instructions.

• X-rays