This description of fees for dental radiographic services in the FDCS is taken from sections that appeared in the first version of a submitted manuscript.  This description should be read in conjunction with:

Gilbert GH, Weems RA, Shelton BJ. Incidence of dental radiographic procedures during a 48-month population-based study of dentate adults. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endodon 2003; 96(2): 243-249. and

Gilbert GH, Coke JM, Weems RA, Shelton BJ. Patient characteristics associated with receipt of dental radiographic procedures during a 48-month population-based study of dentate adults. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path Oral Radiol Endo 2004; 97(5): 642-651.

Coding of radiographic procedures
American Dental Association (ADA) procedure codes were used to abstract treatment information [1].  The ADA "Current Dental Terminology CDT-2" codes that went into effect in 1995 were used [2].  A full-mouth series of radiographs (FMX) was classified from ADA code 0210.  A panoramic radiograph (PAN) was classified from ADA code 0330.  Having at least one periapical radiograph (PA) not as part of an FMX was classified from ADA codes 0220 or 0230.  Having at least one BWX not as part of an FMX was classified from ADA codes 0270, 0272, or 0274.

Fees charged for radiographic services
The mean (S.D.) actual or typical fee for a PA was $9.44 ($4.79).  The mean (S.D.) actual or typical fee for an FMX was $48.39 ($15.69).  The mean (S.D.) actual or typical fee for a PAN was $48.42 ($20.00).  The mean (S.D.) actual or typical fee for a single BWX film (code 0270) was $11.50 ($4.80).  For a set of two BWX (code 0272), the mean (S.D.) fee was $14.44 ($5.07).  For a set of four BWX (code 0274), the mean (S.D.) fee was $22.77 ($6.07).

Radiographic service fees
Fees in the FDCS (services received from 1993/94 to 1997/98) were similar, but generally in the lower fee quartiles, than fees by dentists nationally or by dentists in the South Atlantic region (comprising eight states and the District of Columbia).  For example, the mean fee among general practitioners for four BWX (ADA 0274) in the South Atlantic region in 1995 was $26.64 [3], compared to $22.77 in the FDCS, placing the FDCS in approximately the 25th percentile.  For an FMX, the mean comparable fee was $58.84, compared to $48.39 in the FDCS, placing it in approximately the 25th percentile.  For a PAN, the mean comparable fee was $50.54, compared to $48.42 in the FDCS, placing it in approximately the 50th percentile.

References
1.  Gilbert GH, Rose JS, Cantey ED, Earls JL, Eiford EI, Eldreth MA, Shelton BJ. On adding a dental practice component to an ongoing longitudinal population-based study of oral health. J Public Health Dent 2002;62:32-37.
2. American Dental Association. Current Dental Terminology Second Edition – CDT 2 User’s Manual, version 1995. Chicago, 1994.
3. American Dental Association Survey Center. The 1995 Survey of Dental Practice, 1996, Chicago, IL.