DEPARTMENT OF ORAL MEDICINE,DIAGNOSIS AND ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL IMAGING (OMR)
An Overview:
As human beings have evolved, so has evolved the scientific knowledge of disease processes.
Also, there has been a continuous evolution in the treatment strategies.
A perfect diagnosis is a pre requisite for a perfect treatment plan.
OMR is a super speciality which encompasses two diverse fields:
1.Oral Medicine and Diagnosis
2.Oral and Maxillofacial Imaging.
1. Oral Medicine and Diagnosis:
a. Diagnosis of routine Dental Diseases.
b. Diagnosis and management of complex diagnostic and Medical disorders affecting the mouth and the jaws.
c. Management of oral mucosal disease, salivary gland diseases, TMJ problems, facial pain syndromes.
d. Provide dental treatment for patients with complicating medical diseases.
e. Management of soft tissue lesions using LASERS
Traditionally, soft tissue lesions are treated using conventional methods of surgery. This involves bleeding, pain, prolonged operative time and hence, increased anxiety. With the advent of LASERS, the management has become simpler overcoming the earlier drawbacks.
Oral Medicine and Diagnosis is the MOTHER of Dentistry.
Appropriate clinical examination of the patient on the whole, not only his dental status but also careful evaluation of his medical status is done.
This helps the patient to be aware of impending medical disorders and also helps the physicians to enable better medical care.
Many oral diseases have systemic manifestations.
And many systemic diseases have oral lesions as the first manifestations Hence, the Oral Physician is the important link between the patient and the appropriate Medical specialist.
This role has traditionally being underplayed because of the lack of knowledge amongst the Medical Fraternity. But with the changing times, we see more interactions and subsequent exchange of knowledge between the Dentists and the Medical Fraternity. This has lead to better referrals and consultations, and eventually better Oral and Medical care to our patients. Thus, Oral Physicians’ role assumes great importance.
“OMR is the only clinical branch in Dentistry where a student is taught to formulate a TREATMENT PLAN of the complete oral condition keeping in mind the medical status of the patient.”
2.Oral and Maxillofacial Imaging includes the following:
a. Conventional Radiology including IOPA, Bitewing , Occlusal views.
b. Extraoral Radiographs: PANORAMIC, SIALOGRAPHY, PA, AP, LATERAL
SKULL views.
c. Advanced Imaging includes:
CBCT, CT, 3D CT, MRI, PET, NUCLEAR MEDICINE, SPECT
“Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology is the FATHER of DENTISTRY.”
Clinical examination has some short falls. Areas which cannot be visualised by the naked eye or cannot be evaluated physically need additional investigations.
This is the second branch in our field.
Oral physicians advise certain relevant Medical Investigations. He /she also carries out certain Diagnostic Imaging procedures without which adequate Diagnosis and hence, the treatment would not be possible.
And finally, the most important of all, the Oral Physicians are best suited to decide and provide appropriate Dental treatment to the medically compromised patients and the patients with special care needs.
Hence, a good, functional department of Oral Medicine and Radiology is well equipped to carry out all Dental Procedures.
WORK PROFILE IN OMR DEPARTMENT:
1. MEDICAL TREATMENT
a.) Oral mucosal lesions
b.) TMJ Disorders
c.) Neuralgias/Facial pain
d.) Salivary gland diseases.
e.) Other oro dental diseases
The above involves:
TOPICAL, INTRALESIONAL and SYSTEMIC use of medications.
SURGICAL BIOPSIES (excisional and incision, FNAC, FNAB) are also done.
2. Newertreatment modality like LASER is being used to treat soft tissue lesions more effectively than the conventional surgical approaches.
3.DENTAL TREATMENT:
Complete dental treatment of Medically Compromised patients and patients of special care needs.
This involves providing all the basic dental treatment to the above patients keeping in mind their physical, medical and behavioural status and needs.
Periodic post treatment monitoring of all dental patients with reference to past dental disease treatment outcome and future prognosis.
4. INVESTIGATIONS:
a.)INTRAORAL RADIOLOGY:
IOPA, BITEWING, OCCLUSAL, RADIOVISIOGRAPHY
b.)EXTRAORAL RADIOGRAPHS:
PA views, Apviews (skull/mandible), LATERAL SKULL views, TMJ views(Trans cranial, Trans pharyngeal, Trans orbital),PANORAMIC views (MAXILLA and MANDIBLE,MAXILLARY SINUS,TMJ views),SIALOGRAPHY.
