Role of oral and maxillofacial radiology in clinical dentistry —Current status and future perspective in Asia

Abstract

In Taiwan, seven dental schools, three national and four private schools have formal certified dental programs. Among the undergraduate courses, oral and maxillofacial radiology is a compulsory subject for all the dental students. In clinical dentistry, oral radiology may not be an independent department, depending on the different policies of each hospital. For example, the oral radiology section is part of the oral diagnostic department in the Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital. The main role of the oral diagnostic department is to make the diagnosis and to plan the treatment for all new patients. The names of the oral radiology departments are different in each hospital but they possess similar functions, including the basic intra-oral and extra-oral radiographic examinations. Modern new image machines such as Digora (Soredex) and PM 2002 CC (Planmeca) are also available in our department. Some special radiographic examinations including CT, MRI, angiography and scintigraphy can be ordered and performed by the general radiology department in our hospital. In the future, we are planning, to use a computer to scan the images and filling. Modern transmission of radiographic images is also our planned. This will help the related specialists to have phone discussions from different hospitals, even international consultations.