Radiographic examinations are used to discover and define the type and extent of disease in many clinical situations. Currently, it is common for dental patients to receive dental radiographic examinations on a routine schedule with little variation in spite of different patient signs and symptoms. Such routine scheduling of radiographic examinations may result in unnecessary patient exposure. There is also the possibility of under-utilization of radiography; this can result in inadequate or excessively delayed diagnosis. Patient selection criteria are descriptions of clinical conditions derived from patient signs, symptoms and history that identify patients who are likely to benefit from a particular radiographic examination. It makes possible making individual decisions based on history, clinical examination and risk factors. The radiographic selection criteria of dentistry have been revised in accordance with recent guidelines and peer-reviewed research in USA and Europe, but the studies of these subjects are not sufficient in our nation. In this review article, the relating factors and update necessity of radiographic selection criteria are discussed.