Oral radiology is a medical specialty that involves creating and interpreting diagnostic images of the mouth and surrounding area. Oral radiologists use various imaging techniques to evaluate abnormalities, identify problems, and make treatment recommendations. They are also involved in ongoing monitoring of at-risk populations. Oral radiology should not be confused with radiotherapy, which involves the use of radiation for medical treatment.
Oral radiology is a medical specialty that focuses on creating and interpreting diagnostic images of the mouth and surrounding area. Dentists use oral radiology in their practices, as do head and neck surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, and other members of the medical profession who work around the head and neck. In some regions, oral radiology is a recognized medical subspecialty, and people such as dentists and radiologists can apply for board certification in this area. The board’s certification indicates a high level of expertise and a commitment to excellence in the field.
A number of medical imaging techniques can be used for studies of the oral cavity, teeth, jaw and neck. These include ultrasound imaging, X-ray imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and so on. Oral radiologists study all of these imaging techniques, becoming familiar with how they work and how to use them. This includes a thorough understanding of the physics of radiation so that oral radiologists are familiar with the risks of radiation exposure and the methods that can be used to control it.
While an experienced dentist or radiologist can often take good quality images of the head and neck area, an oral radiologist is sometimes called in for a difficult case. These medical specialists may also be involved in interpreting the images. Familiar with thousands of cases, an oral radiologist can identify and interpret even subtle signs that can provide important information about the patient’s situation.
These medical professionals can evaluate abnormalities, identify problems, make treatment recommendations to other members of the medical team, and be involved in follow-up care to confirm that a procedure worked for the patient. They may also be involved in ongoing monitoring of at-risk populations, performing imaging studies to identify emerging problems.
Radiology should not be confused with radiotherapy. Both involve the use of radiation, but in different ways. In radiation therapy, therapeutic doses of radiation are applied to a patient for the purpose of medical treatment. Head and neck radiation is most commonly done for cancer treatment and is supervised by a head and neck oncologist or general oncologist, not an oral radiologist, a specialist in using radiation for imaging , not for treatment. A related field, interventional radiology, involves the use of imaging to guide a medical procedure such as placing a catheter. An oral radiologist may also be certified in interventional radiology and can perform procedures such as angiograms, which use tracer dyes, and medical imaging to study the vascular system.
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