A dental radiologist, also known as a dento-maxillofacial radiologist or oral and maxillofacial radiologist, is a dental practitioner who has completed additional post-graduate training (typically 3 years) in dento-maxillofacial radiology or oral and maxillofacial radiology. The slight difference in the name of the qualification depends on where the qualification is obtained. All practitioners must be qualified as dentists and work in dental practice for at least 2 years before they can commence the specialist training program. Medical radiologists (commonly referred to as radiologists) come from a medical background and have completed an MBBS and a fellowship in radiology. While they possess excellent diagnostic skills, they have only limited training and experience in dental imaging, dental disease, and dental pathology, and are often not familiar with the subtleties and nuances of dental imaging and dental disease. Most are not even familiar with standard FDI tooth numbers.
Specialist dental radiologists fill the void between the excellent skills of medical radiologists and the diagnostic knowledge of dental practitioners. All dental imaging and dental scanning protocols are best arranged in conjunction with a specialist dental radiologist.
Dental radiologists are the most highly qualified practitioners to report on all forms of dental imaging including OPGs, Lateral and PA Cephalograms, TMJ X-rays, Cone Beam scans, and CT Dentascans. Some also have experience reviewing MRI scans, particularly of the TMJs.
To ensure the best outcomes for your patients, and to ensure optimal medico-legal reporting, it is desirable that all dental imaging be reported by a Dental Radiologist, in addition to being reviewed by the treating dental practitioner. Medical radiologists are rarely able to provide appropriate details regarding dental findings, and must not be relied upon for dental diagnosis. Furthermore, they are not trained in the nuances of dental imaging protocols, and are not able to extract the best quality, low dose scans from Cone Beam scanners and the latest multislice CT scanners.
Spectrum eDentistry is run by an experienced specialist Dental Radiologist who is available to assist you with the entire spectrum of dental imaging.