Oral Medicine and Radiology, a discipline of dentistry is primarily concerned with the diagnosis and medical management of Oral and Maxillofacial diseases. The branch bridges traditional areas of health between medicine and dentistry. Oral Medicine specialists play a prominent role in managing the medically compromised patients and alleviating their sufferings.
Our speciality is bifurcated in to two major divisions as medicine and radiology. Over the years, maxillofacial radiology has seen a boom in the country with the advent of new technologies particularly CBCT. But at the same time the misuse of this machine for the commercial purpose particularly by untrained non radiologist is a matter of concern. IAOMR must take steps to impress upon the regulatory bodies and the government to streamline the issue.
The immensity of the Oral Medicine and Radiology subject calls for advance trainings in the field of radiology probably as fellowship programmes post masters programme. The OMR postgraduates must get advance training in maxillofacial MRI, ultrasound usage and interpretation.
With developments in various scientific and technological fields, our branch now has got deep insights to various specialized categories like as in Orofacial Pain, Temporomandibular Disorders, Sleep medicine, Diagnostic radiology, Forensic odontology, Maxillofacial oncology, etc with a primary goal of providing a better quality of treatment to the patients.
The scope of Forensic dentistry/Forensic odontology which forms a part of our speciality is growing at a tremendous rate. Its role and importance in the criminal justice system of the country has become ten-fold increase ,hence in-depth knowledge in this subspecialty has become is highly essential. It is heartening to see large number of young OMR specialists are showing interest in this field and doing noticeable work.
The dental field of Orofacial Pain (OFP) has even been recognized as the newest dental specialty in certain parts of the world as it involves understanding of a very complex and wide aspects of pain physiology and management. Also Sleep medicine which involves a multi-disciplinary team role of an oral diagnostician is very crucial for primary diagnosis. These two upcoming fields require much more attention in the country and the IAOMR shall take cognizance of the state of affairs and facilitate more training facilities for the young postgraduates of our specialities. We can partner with the accredited university and institutions in this direction.
The pandemic has devastated the whole working pattern of individuals in the same time opened up new modes of learning. It has given us a room to think and evolve re strategies in training. The methods of teaching, learning, research and communication shall adapt new technologies and metamorphosis itself. Let us employ these technologies to our advantage and create a eco system wherein knowledge gain and sharing is simplified.
The patient care shall become primary focus of the academic activities with the concept of adapting a slogan of “ PRIMUM NON NOCERE” (first do no harm). The future activity of the IAOMR shall revolve around this slogan and redesign its activity accordingly.
I wish all the IAOMR members a prosperous and consequential year ahead.
Jai Hind.
Dr. Prashanth Shenoy,
Professor & Head
Dept of Oral Medicine & Radiology
Yenepoya Dental
9845082753
prashanthshenoy4@gmail.com, secretaryiaomr@gmail.com