Dental Radiology

Dental radiology

Dental radiology has become an upcoming branch of dentistry which has evolved from the simple images of the teeth and their surrounding bone to include the entire oral and maxillofacial complex and the associated structures of the head and neck and neck regions. So a sound knowledge of dentistry is essential for the oral and maxillofacial radiologist and adequate skills for a dental radiology technician. Dental radiology is a branch of radiology that deals with diagnostic imaging of various dental tissues or the various structures present in the mouth. It also includes the imaging of various pathologic conditions pertaining to the oral cavity.

Dental radiology or dental x rays are vital tools that basically help a dentist in diagnosing, and planning treatments. These also help them in monitoring the treatments and lesion progress.
There are three types of dental radiological procedures:
1.    Intraoral bitewing.
2.    Panoramic examinations or an OPG.
3.    Cephalometric examinations.

However, all these views produce considerable amount of harmful radiations for both the patient and the dental radiology technician. Therefore certain procedures have to be followed for the radiation safety of both.
The dental radiology technician will not receive the primary radiation from a dental x-ray unit if safety precautions are observed. However, scattered and/or secondary radiation from the primary x-ray beam is more difficult to avoid and is a serious threat to the radiology technician. There are specific dosimetric batches available which help a technician monitor his radiation exposure on a regular basis.

As far as the patient protection in this type of radiology is concerned, it is always upon the technician performing the X-ray to make the patient protected from the exposure to radiations. Many times the patients are not much aware of the risks involved in radiation therapy. Thus, it should be taken into consideration by the technician. A fine quality of x-ray should be produced using high speed x-ray films. Improper exposures, wrong exposures must be prevented. Mistakes like these results in retake of the x-rays and thus patient is unnecessarily exposed to radiations. Lead apron needs to be made used of in every exposure especially in pregnant females. Also the use of a thyroid collar is highly recommended to prevent exposure to the thyroid gland. These devices do decrease the patient exposure.

Dental radiology thus is a vast branch in itself and its study comprises of everything starting from the treatment modalities to the various measures for prevention from radiation hazards. So a person who studies dental radiology or a dental radiologist has to be well aware of all its aspects.