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.  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.

A dental radiologist has a primary qualification as a general dentist, while 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.

None of the other teleradiology services have a specially trained and registered dental radiologist reviewing the dental images sent to them for reporting.  Their reports are provided by a medical radiologist who will not spend the time assessing and describing subtle dental disease and pathology.  Ultimately, all other teleradiology services are geared to favour the teleradiology provider, and not the dental practitioner.  Spectrum eDentistry is different; being operated by a dental practitioner, our services are designed to help you provide quality, efficient dental care.

Medical radiologists are taught very little about dentistry, dental disease and dental pathology.  In fact, dental practitioners are taught more about medicine than medical practitioners are taught about dentistry.  So it’s really not appropriate to have medical practitioners reviewing dental x-rays and scans…

No.  It is best to avoid involving Medicare in a dental practice environment wherever possible.  Medicare requires an “arms length” referral, meaning that the practitioner requesting the imaging cannot benefit financially in any way from the imaging.  In a dental practice environment, dental practitioners prescribe and take numerous bitewing and periapical radiographs daily.  Taking an OPG or Cone Beam scan in your practice is a logical next step to offering your patients the best care available.  In a dental practice environment, it is better to claim from the patient’s Private Health Cover, and avoid the numerous legal issues that surround attempts to claim from Medicare in a dental practice.  This way, the dental practice is in full control of the machine they purchase, the fee they charge, etc.