AN OVERVIEW

As human beings have evolved so has evolved the scientific knowledge of disease processes. Also there has been continuous evolution in the treatment strategies. A perfect diagnosis is a pre requisite for perfect treatment plan.

OMR is a super specialty which encompasses two diverse fields

1. Oral Medicine & Diagnosis

2. Oral & Maxillofacial Imaging

• a. Oral Medicine and Diagnosis.
• b. Diagnosis of routine Dental Diseases
• c. Diagnosis and management of complex diagnostic and Medical disorders affecting the mouth and the jaws.
• d. Management of Oral Mucosal Disease, Salivary Gland Diseases, TMJ Problems Facial pain syndromes.
• e. Provides dental treatment for patient with complicating medical diseases.
• f. 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 help 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,

TheOral physician is the important link between the patient and the appropriate medical specialist.

The role of Oral physiciantraditionally 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 MedicalFraternity. 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. Extra oralRadiographs: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 can not be visualized by the naked eye or cannot be evaluated physically need additional investigations.This is second branch in our field.

Oral physicians advise certain relevant Medical Investigations. He/she also carries out certain Diagnostic imaging procedures without which there is inadequateDiagnosis 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 medication, SURGICAL BIOPSIES (excisional and incisional,FNAC,FNAB) are also done.

2. Newer treatment 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 behavioral status and needs.

Periodic post treatment monitoring of al dental patients with reference to past dental disease treatment outcome and future prognosis.

4. INVESTIGATIONS:

a) INTRAORAL RADIOLOGY:

a. IOPA ,BITEWING, OCCLUSAL , RADIOVISIOGRAPHY

b) EXTRA ORAL RADIOGRAPHS:

a. PA views, AP views (skull/ mandible), LATERAL SKULL views, TMJ views (Transcranial, Transpharynegeal, Transorabital), PANORAMIC view (MAXILLA and MANDIBLE, MAXILLARY SINUS, TMJ views),SIALOGRAPHY.

Highlights