Introduction
The Oral Medicine and Radiology Department at Government Dental College and Hospital, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, comprises two primary divisions: Oral Medicine and Oral Radiology.
Oral Medicine focuses on diagnosing, conducting preliminary investigations, and medically managing oral and dental diseases, as well as addressing oral manifestations of systemic diseases and providing dental care for medically compromised patients. It serves as a vital link between traditional health domains, bridging medicine and dentistry.
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology within the department specializes in both conventional and advanced imaging of craniofacial, dental, and adjacent structures, along with interpreting these images for diagnosis.
Since its establishment in 1982, the department has been pivotal in providing healthcare services to the Marathwada population, with a significant influx of patients visiting the OPD daily. Over the years, the department has evolved significantly, not only enhancing its infrastructure and faculty recruitment but also acquiring state-of-the-art facilities. These include Intraoral and Extraoral Dental X-ray units, Radiovisiography (RVG), Phosphor Plate Imaging, Digital Panoramic imaging machines, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) machines and TENS Therapy units.The ongoing “Tobacco Cessation centre”, is further developed by procuring carbon monoxide breath analyzer and incorporating newer methods of counselling, assurance and management of patients with various deleterious habits.
With advancements across various scientific and technological domains, our branch has gained profound insights in specialized areas such as:
Orofacial Pain
Temporomandibular disorders
Sleep Medicine
Diagnostic Radiology
Forensic Odontology
Maxillofacial oncology, etc
The domain of forensic dentistry/forensic odontology, an integral part of our specialty, is experiencing remarkable growth. Its significance within the nation's criminal justice system which has escalated tenfold, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive expertise in this subfield. It's heartening to witness a considerable number of young Oral Medicine and Radiology (OMR) specialists expressing keen interest in this area and making noteworthy contributions.
Moreover, Orofacial pain has been acknowledged as the latest dental specialty in specific regions worldwide, given its intricate understanding of pain physiology and management. Similarly, in sleep medicine, which involves a multidisciplinary approach, the role of an oral diagnostician is pivotal for initial diagnosis.
These emerging fields demand heightened attention within our country, and our institute pledges to acknowledge these requirements by expanding training facilities for young postgraduates in our specialty.
The Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology bears significant diversity in its curricular responsibilities, evident in our daily teaching and learning endeavors. Students benefit from lectures supplemented by clinical postings, demonstrations, seminars, videos, and clinical exposures. Continuous opportunities are provided to students to enhance their clinical knowledge and skills, molding them into proficient dental diagnosticians or preparing them for higher education and clinical practice. Through innovative educational facilities, the department aims to foster research endeavors and motivate a greater number of students to engage in research activities.
Both undergraduate and postgraduate students undergo comprehensive training in this discipline, equipping them to diagnose and provide medicinal management for various pathologies affecting the maxillofacial region. This includes oral mucosal diseases, salivary gland disorders, precancerous and cancerous lesions, complications of cancer therapy, orofacial pain disorders such as temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and neurosensory and motor disorders. Additionally, students are trained to deliver dental care to patients with complicating medical conditions and manage oral complications of systemic illnesses. In terms of investigative procedures, apart from conventional craniofacial imaging, the department utilizes advanced imaging techniques, primarily CBCT, for pathologies involving hard tissue. Furthermore, the department specializes in and provides training for tobacco cessation.
The department's strength lies in its esteemed faculty members, who not only employ diverse teaching-learning methods but also actively engage in research projects, with papers being regularly published in national and international conference proceedings and journals. Faculty members undergo regular faculty development programs and receive specialized training in Cone Beam Computed Tomography, TMD management, and oral cancer diagnosis. Additionally, various Continuing Dental Education (CDE) programs, PRADAN activities, and workshops are conducted annually for the benefit of students and faculty members alike.
With the capacity to serve over 200 patients daily, the department is committed to deliver the highest quality of patient care. Cultivating compassion, respect, and dignity towards both patients and colleagues fosters teamwork and accountability among departmental staff, earning the respect of peers within the dental care community. We aim to achieve service excellence by providing quality dental care to patients and strive to set standards for excellence in nurturing professional skills among students.
UG CURRICULUM
AIMS:
To train the students to diagnose the common disorders of Orofacial region by clinical examination and with the help of such investigations as may be required and medical management of oro-facial disorders with drugs and physical agents.
To train the students about the importance, role, use and techniques of radiographs/digital radiographs and other imaging methods in diagnosis.
The principles of the clinical and radiographic aspects of Forensic Odontology.
The syllabus in ORAL MEDICINE & RADIOLOGY is divided into two main parts.
(I) Diagnosis, Diagnostic methods and Oral Medicine
(II) Oral Radiology.
Again the part ONE is subdivided into three sections.
1. Diagnostic methods
2. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis
3. Oral Medicine & Therapeutics.
COURSE CONTENT
(1) Emphasis should be laid on oral manifestations of systemic diseases and ill-effects of oral sepsis on general health.
(2) To avoid confusion regarding which lesion and to what extent the student should learn and know, this elaborate syllabus is prepared. As certain lesions come under more than one group, there is repetition.
UG CURRICULUM (pdf download)
PG CURRICULUM
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of 3 years of training the candidate should be able to acquire adequate knowledge of the discipline.
Knowledge:
Theoretical, Clinical and practical knowledge of all oral mucosal lesions, skeletal involvement of maxillofacial region, diagnostic procedures pertaining to them and latest information of imaging modules.
Skills:
Three important skills need to be imparted in maxillofacial diseases:
1. Diagnostic skill in recognition of oral diseases with radiographic diagnosis and their management
2. Research skills in handling scientific problems pertaining to oral treatment
3. Clinical and Didactic skills in encouraging younger doctors to attain learning objectives
Attitudes:
The positive mental attitude and the persistence of continued learning need to be inculcated
PG CURRICULUM (pdf download)
PATIENT SERVICES
Oral Medicine:
The services provided by the department in this regards are as follows:
Diagnostic assessment of common dental conditions by history and clinical examination of the patients attending the OPD.Investigations of the patients if warranted and medicinal treatment if required.
Provision of screening and counselling services for tobacco and betel-nut addiction cessation, supported by a dedicated tobacco cessation centre.
Screening and diagnosis of head and neck malignancies.
Management of complications arising from chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Identification and management of diverse oral mucosal conditions, potentially malignant disorders, salivary gland disorders, autoimmune diseases, and pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa.
Treatment of TemporomandibularJoint disorders and various Orofacial pain syndromes.
Diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of oral manifestations associated with systemic illnesses.
Treatment of psychosomatic disorders and neurological conditions impacting the jaws and oral cavity.
Oral Radiology:
Oral Radiology specialty deals with the production and interpretations of the images and data produced by all modalities of radiant energy that are used for the diagnosis of disorders or conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. The services provided by the department in this regards are as follows:
Intraoral radiography including Intra Oral Periapical , Bitewing and Occlusal projections.
Extraoral radiography including digital OPG, lateral cephalograms and various skull projections like postero-anterior (PA), antero-posterior (AP), lateral skull views,submento-vertex view and TMJ views.
Digital imaging: Radiovisiography and Phosphor Plate Imaging
Advanced imaging: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) .
