Dental and maxillofacial radiology: confidence, knowledge and skills in the newly graduated dentist.

Introduction The UK General Dental Council says that the new graduate will have the range of skills required to begin working as part of a dental team and be well-prepared for independent practice. This study examines the views of new dental graduates in the area of dental and maxillofacial radiology.Materials and methods A questionnaire survey of newly graduated dentists in Wales and South West England asked about their experience of undergraduate education in dental and maxillofacial radiology, and their confidence in the use and interpretation of imaging techniques in early independent practice.Results Most survey participants were confident in the teaching they had received in dental radiography and radiology, and that they could apply their knowledge and understanding to the more common investigations used in general dental practice. They were less confident in the uncommonly used techniques, such as oblique lateral and lateral cephalometric views.Discussion This study is encouraging in that new dental graduates say that their undergraduate education has given them the knowledge to be able to take, interpret and make clinical diagnoses using the commonest radiological investigations. This tends to validate the undergraduate education received and identifies areas to improve.Conclusion New dental graduates are confident in their knowledge and skills, and apply these to the most commonly used radiological investigations used in general dental practice.

Adherence to NICE guidelines on recall intervals and the FGDP(UK) Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography.

AIM: The study investigated adherence of GDPs to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on recall intervals and the FGDP (UK)'s Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography. It also explored any factors that might influence GDPs' compliance with the guidelines. METHOD: A previously piloted questionnaire was circulated to all GDPs within the district of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB). The questionnaire sought demographic data as well as answers to questions relating to compliance with guidelines. RESULTS: Of 215 questionnaires, 133 (61.9%) were returned. One hundred a nd thirty (97.7%) respondents were familiar with NICE recall guidelines and 112 (84.2%) were familiar with the FGDP(UK) publication Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography. Thirty six (27.7%) 'always' followed the NICE recall guidelines and, overall, 108 (81.8%) 'always or mostly' followed the guidance. Fifty one (38.6%) respondents 'always' carried out a caries risk assessment for adult patients and 57 (43.5%) 'always' carried out a caries risk assessment for child patients. Seventy nine (59.8%) reported that they 'always or mostly' recorded the patient's disease risk category in the notes. Fifty two (39.7%) respondents 'always' took bitewing radiographs that corresponded to disease risk. Overall, however, 119 GDPs (90.8%) 'always or mostly' took bitewing radiographs at appropriate intervals according to disease risk. Bitewing radiographs for new adult patients were prescribed more often for new child patients. The dentist's length of experience, NHS commitment, country of graduation, access to digital radiography or panoramic machines, receipt of any postgraduate qualifications or involvement in dental foundation training were proven not to have any statistically significant association with adherence to NICE or FGDP(UK) guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Most dentists are familiar with NICE guidelines on recall intervals and the FGDP(UK)'s Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography. The number of dentists who always comply with these sets of guidance is low. None of the variables investigated were shown to have any statistically significant association with adherence to these guidelines.

The role of cone beam computed tomography in the management of unfavourable fractures following sagittal split mandibular osteotomy.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been at the forefront of recent technological advances within the maxillofacial region. CBCT is useful in the accurate assessment and planning of patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. We propose that it also has a role in the post-operative evaluation of a subgroup of patients who have suffered complications at the time of surgery. We present two cases where unfavourable splits occurred during a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) of the mandible. Both cases were investigated post-operatively with CBCT with the aim of identifying the potential cause of the unfavourable split and to establish accurate localization of the condyle in the glenoid fossa following intra-operative attempts at proximal segment control. CBCT should be considered for evaluation of the mandible following an unfavourable split where it is deemed that plain radiographs would not provide adequate information.

New developments in: three-dimensional planning for orthognathic surgery.

The limitations of plain film radiographs are well documented and the recent introduction of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging has been a breakthrough in enabling three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the bony skeleton and dentition. There are many reported applications for CBCT in the field of orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery, including the localization of impacted teeth and implant site assessment. More recently, by augmenting CBCT volumes of the maxilla, mandible and dentition, a virtual 3D patient can be created, which can allow planning of orthognathic surgery entirely in 3D. A commercially available software package for 3D orthognathic planning (Maxilim(R), Medicim NV, Belgium) is independently reviewed, familiarizing the reader with the technique for creating a virtual 3D patient, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of the software and concluding on the feasibility of its routine use in clinical practice.

Cone beam computed tomography: a useful tool in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

The aim of this article is to make clinicians aware of the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) within the field of orthodontics. The paper describes five cases each one illustrating the improved diagnostic yield using CBCT over conventional radiography thus facilitating the appropriate treatment planning of patients.

The use of cone beam computed tomography in the management of isolated orbital floor fractures.

Isolated fractures of the orbital floor are diagnosed by a combination of clinical and radiographic findings. Computed tomography is considered the imaging method of choice. We describe the use of cone beam computed tomography for use in isolated fractures of the orbital floor. This shows defects in the orbital floor but with a lower dose of radiation than conventional computed tomography.

A comparison of bone mineral density in the spine, hip and jaws of edentulous subjects.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) of the jaws (mandible and maxilla) and other skeletal sites. In addition, the influence of gender, smoking and the number of years without natural teeth were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 18 edentulous patients (9 females, 9 males) with a mean age of 67.1 (sd 12.6) years had DXA scans to assess the BMD of the lumbar spine and hip, together with the ramus, body and symphysis of the mandible and the anterior of the maxilla. RESULTS: BMD values for the ramus were similar to those for the femur but significantly lower than the lumbar spine. The body and anterior mandible had higher values and the anterior maxilla lower values than both the femur and ramus. The ramus BMD showed moderately strong relationships with the standard measures of BMD in the spine and hip, but the BMD of other areas of the jaws showed no relationship with skeletal sites. The BMD for both the hip and the ramus showed an inverse relationship with increasing age. There was no statistically significant relationship between BMD of hip, spine and jaw and either years edentulous or cigarette years. (207) CONCLUSIONS: Although the ramus of the mandible may show correlation of BMD with skeletal sites, the areas of the jaws where implants may be placed do not. Therefore BMD of the skeletal sites could not be used to predict BMD of the jaws. The BMD of the jaws as measured by DXA showed no relationship with either years edentulous or cigarette smoking.

Ultrasound-guided basket retrieval of a submandibular duct stone in a child.

We describe the successful use of ultrasound-guided retrieval of a submandibular stone with a basket, in a 13-year-old child.

Multiple bilateral parotid sialoliths in a patient with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) of the salivary glands.

Multiple sialoliths in the major salivary glands is uncommon. Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocyte-mediated destruction of exocrine glands. There is an increased incidence of malignant lymphoma in patients with Sjogren's syndrome. We present a patient with MALT lymphoma of the salivary glands who also had multiple calculi in the parotid glands. Multiple sialoliths in the major salivary glands in the presence of MALT lymphoma has not previously been reported.

Migrating salivary stones: report of three cases.

Patients with salivary calculi are normally managed by removal of the calculus or, if necessary, the affected gland. If it is left untreated, a stone may migrate into the adjacent tissues. We present three patients in whom salivary calculi tracked to the surface of the skin. Two were removed under local anaesthetic, and the third patient was lost to follow up.

Balloon dilatation of salivary duct strictures: report on 36 treated glands.

PURPOSE: This paper describes the technique for balloon dilatation of salivary duct strictures and evaluates the clinical and radiographic findings in a consecutive series of 36 affected glands. METHODS: Thirty-four patients (36 glands) had balloon dilatation of their salivary duct strictures performed under fluoroscopic control. They were evaluated immediately afterwards and at review by sialography. RESULTS: In 36 cases attempted, 33 (92%) strictures were dilated. The immediate post-treatment sialogram was available in 28 cases, of which 23 (82%) demonstrated complete and four (14%) partial elimination of stricture. In one case the appearance was unchanged (4%). Review data (mean 6.8 months) were available on 25 glands: 12 were asymptomatic (48%), 12 (48%) had reduced symptoms and one (4%) failed to improve. Sialographic data were available on 21 glands: in 10 (48%) the duct remained patent, in one (5%) the stricture was partially eliminated, in seven (33%) the strictures had returned and in the remaining three (14%) cases there was complete obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon dilatation is an effective treatment of salivary duct stenosis. In half the cases the stricture recurred but symptomatic improvement was achieved and maintained in the majority of cases.

Minimally invasive radiologically guided intervention for the treatment of salivary calculi.

PURPOSE: To describe the technique and examine the value of salivary stone extraction using a minimally invasive, radiologically guided approach as an alternative to salivary gland surgery for the treatment of benign salivary gland obstruction. METHODS: Eighty-six cases of sialolithiasis (83 patients) were treated by stone removal using a Dormia basket under local anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance. Postoperative assessment was made clinically at review, by sialogram and by questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 86 cases of sialolithiasis treated, in 55 (64%) it was possible to remove all stones. In 12 cases (14%) part of a stone or some of a number of calculi were removed and in 19 cases (22%) the procedure failed. The commonest reason for failure was fixation of the stone within the duct. Symptoms at review (range 1-49 months, mean 17 months) were relieved in 55 of 67 (82%) of cases where a stone or portion of stone was removed. CONCLUSIONS: Stone removal from the salivary duct system by radiologically guided, minimally invasive approach is a simple procedure with low morbidity and high patient acceptance when appropriate selection criteria are applied. These criteria are considered and recommendations made.

Inferior alveolar nerve injury related to mandibular third molar surgery: an unusual case presentation.

Perforation of the lower third molar roots by the inferior alveolar nerve is uncommon and can be difficult to determine by conventional radiographic methods. Presented is a case of perforation that was treated by coronectomy, and showed an unusual complication in that the retained root erupted, moving the canal with it. The radiographic assessment of root perforation and the imaging modalities used to assess such cases are discussed.

The genu of the submandibular duct--is the angle significant in salivary gland disease?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the angle of the genu of the submandibular duct is a significant contributory factor in the development of salivary calculi or sialoadenitis. METHODS: A preliminary test with a phantom was performed, taking oblique lateral views with different vertical and horizontal beam angulations to assess the effect on the genu angle. The phantom comprised a dried mandible and a piece of wire bent to simulate the submandibular duct. There were no differences in the measured angle of the bend in the wire within the range of beam angulations used in the clinical study. One hundred and two sialographs were analysed from three separate groups of patients, normal controls (n=18), proven salivary calculi (n=61) and those with sialoadenitis (n=23). The oblique lateral radiographs were digitised and imported into the Denoptix digital system, and the angle measured using the VixWin 2000 software. Differences in angle between groups were investigated using analysis of variance. RESULTS: The mean angle of the genu was 103 degrees (range 41 degrees-147 degrees) in the control group, 108 degrees (range 46 degrees-178 degrees) salivary calculi group, and 91 degrees (range 24 degrees-155 degrees) in sialoadenitis patients. There were no statistical differences in the angle between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variation in the angle of the genu of the submandibular duct (24 degrees -178 degrees ). This angle does not appear to be associated with either sialolithiasis or sialoadenitis.