Smokin' Radiology

Course Description

This course is designed to give the dental hygienist both practical imaging trouble-shooting advice and guidance in recognizing radiographic and clinical evidence of disease in patients in every day practice. Keen observation of radiographic patterns of disease can literally improve not only the quality but also the quantity of patient’s lives. This course is sure to stoke some powerful discussions among the dental team back at the office!

“Panoramic Radiography – Troubleshooting and What’s Really in That Image”
Sometimes I get calls from dentists who are irritated that the panoramic radiographic unit they purchased for the practice makes poor quality images. In most cases, it isn’t the unit which is at fault but patient preparation or positioning. In most practices, it is the dental hygienist who obtains the radiographs on the patients. This portion of the course will ensure that you are covered in the area of troubleshooting techniques for errors in patient preparation and positioning. We will also develop an accurate morphologic road map or strategy for evaluating the anatomic structures on the film. Take a walking tour of the panoramic radiograph, starting with the mineralized tissues and then progressing to soft tissues and air spaces.

“Systemic Disorders Associated with Heightened Periodontal Pathosis”
This segment reviews a variety of generalized conditions which impact negatively on the periodontium and the prognosis for retention of the dentition. These range from heavy metal intoxication to vitamin deficiencies, inflammatory and metabolic disorders, systemic diseases, to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. It is incumbent on the dental team to be aware of these conditions and their presentation, both for the purposes of rendering the primary diagnosis and to ensure timely treatment, when available, to ameliorate the ravages of these conditions on the periodontium, reducing tooth loss.

“Differential Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Calcifications”
Soft tissue calcification refers to pathologic mineralization of soft tissues which arises in a variety of unrelated disorders and degenerative processes. Soft tissue calcification occurs in certain cutaneous tumors, scars, metabolic and inflammatory conditions. Pathologic calcifications of the cervicofacial soft tissues are often detected on intraoral or panoramic radiographs. Some require no intervention, while others may have serious implications. Therefore, a precise diagnosis should be achieved in all cases to determine the need for further workup or surveillance.

“Disturbed Dentitions: Developmental and Acquired Dental Defects”
Many alterations can occur during growth and development of teeth. Some of these alterations are simply variants of normal, do not impact function and require no intervention. Anomalies are more significant deviations, and while they do not influence function to any large degree, may have important esthetic considerations. Malformations are severe disturbances in development, which generally have a significant impact on function. Environmental agents cause some of these disturbances, others represent spontaneous mutations, and still others follow traditional patterns of inheritance. Some are associated with systemic conditions which may have life-threatening consequences. In addition, once growth and development of the dentition is complete, acquired alterations may lead to either gain or loss of tooth substance. Finally, a variety of pigmentation changes, developmental and acquired, can stain the teeth abnormal colors. Explore the world of disturbed odontogenesis and discover treatments which will leave your patients smiling again.