Future of Oral Medicine and Radiology

Shivani Mittal^* and Swapnil Mohod

^*Correspondence: Shivani Mittal, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, DMIMS (Deemed to Be University), India, Email:

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Introduction

According to Hippocrates, "Healing is a matter of time but also sometimes a matter of opportunity." As a dentist or oral health experts, we have the unique chance to make a difference in the lives of a million people in several ways, and becoming an Oral physician and maxillofacial radiologist (OMR) specialist gives that desire wings [1]. AAOM (American Academy of Oral Medicine) defines Oral Medicine as the discipline of dentistry concerned with the oral health care of medically ill patients – including the diagnosis and management of medical conditions that affect the oral and maxillofacial region [2]. The ADA (American Dental Association) defines it as "Oral Radiology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned with production and interpretation of images and data produced by all modalities of radiant energy that are used for the diagnosis and management of disorders, diseases and conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region.

Oral Medicine

Oral Medicine, once known as Dental Medicine and currently known as Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, is known as Stomatology in Ibero-America and Southern Europe. Since the 1920s, leaders in oral medicine have played an important role in dentistry education. Francis P. Dr. McCarthy, one of the early pioneers in the area, was the 1st to give Oral Medicine courses at a School of Dentistry of Tufts in 1925 [3].

The first Oral Medicine Board exam was held in 1956. S.C.Miller founded the AAOM in 1945, and it continues to thrive as an organization that advances oral medicine knowledge and fights to get recognition for dentistry Specialities. Patients with a range of illnesses affecting the oral and maxillofacial area, whether local abnormalities or connected to systemic diseases are often diagnosed and treated non-surgically by this specialization. A dentist with extensive training in oral medicine specializes in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of oral illness in patients with or without complicated medical problems. Beyond these commonly recognized definitions, it is now crucial to recognize that the a wide range of orofacial disorders is changing, iatrogenic immunosuppression, and the increase in infections, in part as a result of HIV infections, many resource-rich locations with an elderly population, and the emergence in the resource-rich world of diseases previously only found in tropical environments [4].

The specialist may provide Dental therapeutic treatments and oral health care for people with complicated medical conditions in hospitals and outpatient medical clinics, interdisciplinary healthcare intervention is required, also treat post chemotherapeutic complications, conduction pre-therapeutic evaluations, as well as in partnership with other dentists in dental schools/ hospitals and private practice.

Oral medicine specialist also provide prognostic and /or presurgical treatment to many the patients with neurological disorders and TMJ disorders; which is a type of treatment that can improve the prognosis of the disorders and may also help to prevent surgery.

What does the future hold for Oral Medicine? Oral Medicine's evolution has well-positioned it to strategically contribute to oral health and sickness science, clinical treatment, and policy, which should help the field's already steady development globally and secure its survival. Future demands in this sector are becoming more widely recognized, particularly in resource-rich societies with aging populations and improved healthcare and technology. As a result, oral medicine is becoming a more significant specialty, especially as the population ages and new illnesses emerge, especially in medically impaired persons. It must increase its activities in the most important areas, engage actively in multidisciplinary teams, and be universally more closely related to allied disciplines like oral pathology in terms of research, education, and clinical linkages (histopathology). As a result, it should be able to attract greater support, funding and attention.

As outlined in this narrative history, the evolution of Oral Medicine has increasingly stressed many fundamental themes: Researchers in oral medicine play a vital role in both basic and clinical research, supporting the value of interprofessional collaboration, teaching, and patient care in the prevention and treatment of oral illnesses; Using the concepts of "value care," in which state-of-theart preventive and Oral medicine-based treatment can improve clinical outcomes in patients while lowering toxicity and costs of care ; During the last two decades, Oral Medicine has progressed from institution- and region-specific tactics to the construction of a global framework in which unifying concepts in the field may be developed and used; Integration of mechanism-based research for many of the illnesses in which Oral Medicine is important; Contributing to the molecular and clinical knowledge of the linkages between oral and systemic health and sickness.

This should boost Oral Medicine's already steady expansion locally, nationally, regionally, and worldwide, ensuring better oral health care for the growing number of people who require it, from disease prevention to treatment. From diagnosis to treatment and health maintenance, we've got you covered. These specialists may also provide a palliative care that would help the patient to improve their lifestyle, may also help to prevent the lifestyle related diseases. This physician may also take a step towards cancer prevention; by helping the patient in Tobacco and Betel nut cessation.

Oral Radiology

The history of oral radiology, like those of other radiology subspecialties, began with W.C. Roentgen's; discovery of the x-ray in 1895. Dr.Millan Sr. was one of the first real subspecialists who focused only on head and neck radiology. There were no dedicated courses in the subspecialty of Oral radiology from 1945 to the 1950s.

The ASHNR (American Society of Head and Neck Radiology) was founded in 1976 after a meeting with Potter, Daniel Johnson, and Drs William Hanafee. It became a formal nonprofit corporation in February 1977. The ASHNR was founded to provide a venue for postgraduate education and scholarly interchange. The milestones in the history of head and neck radiology are highlighted in this brief historical overview. Radiology began in 1895 with Roentgen and has progressed since then due of the sacrifices and efforts of a large number of radiologists, physicians, and other researchers. Since Roentgen invented the x-ray in 1895, it is clear Oral radiology has moved from simple traditional radiographic exams to current complex investigations such as CT, MR imaging, PET, and the US. This evolving process has included professional investigators from a range of backgrounds [5].

The use of oral and maxillofacial radiography services by general dentists has increased dramatically; it gives significant information and shows discoveries that are critical for treatment planning and diagnosis. With the advancement of technology and the complexity of imaging, the necessity for collaboration between Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologists (OMRs) and general practitioners and/or specialists is becoming increasingly important. By refining radiography methods, a multidisciplinary approach will increase efficiency, reduce needless ionizing radiation exposure, and aid in decision-making and treatment planning.

In dentistry, the application of radiographs for diagnostic purposes has been a frequent and well-respected technique. Without any independent clinical control, several studies have been published that compare the performance of various dental x-ray modalities. Other studies that show high diagnostic performance with radiographs use judgments based on consensus agreement from data gathered from a variety of radiological sources or from a small group of clinical interpreters to establish conceptual ground for truth using a single radiographic modality.

What does the future hold for Oral Radiology? We, like the rest of medicine, including radiology, are a part of a dynamic society. The desire for better health care is higher than it has ever been. Financial limitations need increased efficiency while maintaining or improving the level of care. Filmless dental radiology, in our opinion, will eventually become the "standard of treatment." This will be fueled by its far reduced radiation exposure and the fact that it currently provides pictures in digital format. Because of the decreased dosage, dentists will be able to employ DSR, TACT, and computeraided diagnostics regularly without having to worry about the higher quantity of radiographs that these new imaging modalities necessitate [6]. Technological advancements, particularly in radiography, have resulted in cost reductions. We've increased output and, with the addition of new equipment and methods, we've also improved our efficiency. Capability for diagnostics Information technology has improved communication and knowledge transmission. The specialized expertise needed to understand head and neck illnesses is undeniable. In addition, scientific and clinical research is critical for the advancement of our field and the best possible patient care. Patients will likely obtain a "whole mouth" set of standardized radiographs on their initial visit in the future. To discover carious lesions and osseous deformities, they will be analyzed by a computer using computer-aided diagnostics. Defective regions would then be identified for additional investigation, which might include the use of TACT to assess osseous morphology and connections. On subsequent visits, the dentist would treat caries or periodontal issues with appropriate therapy, and fresh radiographs would be collected. After then, DSR would be utilized to assess disease progression or repair. These follow-up appointments might take as little as a month, especially if you have significant caries or periodontal disease. A "whole mouth" series of standardized radiographs every 6 months on patients in specific risk categories may even become standard practice. Dentists will be able to send their data to specialists and insurance companies through modem since every dental clinic will have filmless radiography technology. Dentists will be able to send their referrals to specialists and include radiographs in the fax. It will also enable insurance companies to approve treatment programs on a shortterm basis. New technology acquisition, the enforcement of novel treatments, and high-level medical treatment are in high demand, as are postgraduate instruction, and malpractice lawsuits are on the rise; these will all necessitate the development of unique skills in radiologists in the coming years. By refining radiography methods, a multidisciplinary approach will increase efficiency, reduce needless ionizing radiation exposure, and aid in decision-making and treatment planning.

Conclusion

To sum up, medicine is not a business. It is a wonderful career that deals with one of life's most valuable possessions, the human body's well-being. As physicians, it is our responsibility to defend this principle regardless of the political or financial constraints we face in this commercial climate. Medicine has a lengthy history and numerous role models, beginning with Hippocrates and including Roentgen and many more radiologists who have sacrificed lives for humanity. As Charaka put it, “the health of the body starts with the health of the mouth”. As a result, oral health is critical. An OMR specialist may play a critical role in determining the strategy for combating oral diseases, and as a result, he should be rewarded with incentives and more career prospects. To counteract the aftereffects of radiation, even a radiation oncology team must include an OMR specialist. In this way, an OMR expert may make a significant difference in the fabric of our country's overall healthcare.

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