Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

The department, formerly known as Oral Diagnosis and Radiology until 2012, was renamed Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology by the Council of Higher Education.

Oral Diagnosis Clinic

The Oral Diagnosis Clinic is the department where the first examinations of all patients are performed and where diseases are diagnosed through clinical examination, X-rays and other imaging methods, as well as laboratory tests and biopsy when necessary.

The normal function and health of the teeth, jawbones and the surrounding soft tissues are closely related to our general health.

Diseases related to this region, or symptoms of systemic diseases affecting general health, may sometimes manifest in the soft tissues of the mouth or in the jawbones. As with many important diseases, early diagnosis of such findings in this region may play an important role in the success of treatment.

Conversely, a minor change may sometimes resemble a serious disease, leading to unnecessary treatment attempts, loss of time and anxiety.

The role of the Oral Diagnosis Clinic, also referred to as Oral Medicine, is to evaluate these changes in relation to general health and plan the treatments to be carried out in our hospital.

At the Oral Diagnosis Clinic, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases are carried out under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Semih ÖZBAYRAK, with the department’s accumulated clinical experience in this field.

Radiology Unit

The purpose of radiological evaluation is to diagnose diseases of the teeth, bone and soft tissues that cannot be seen during clinical examination. Intraoral X-rays may be required at the beginning of treatment, during treatment and after treatment for follow-up purposes.

The X-rays taken for this purpose include periapical X-rays, which are small intraoral films; extraoral films such as panoramic and cephalometric radiographs; and tomography used for three-dimensional imaging.

Three-Dimensional Tomography of the Jaws
Dental Volumetric Tomography / DVT

In our clinic, a dental volumetric tomography device is also used in cases where two-dimensional radiographic imaging is insufficient and three-dimensional imaging of the jaws and surrounding structures is required. This tomography uses X-rays to provide sectional images of the relevant region.

Compared with tomography devices used in general medicine, new-generation DVT devices provide imaging with up to 90% less radiation.

These devices have a wide range of use in diagnosis and treatment planning across all fields of dentistry. The obtained images allow evaluation at a millimetric level. In implant planning, measurements are performed on tomographic images to evaluate bone quality and quantity and to make an accurate treatment plan.

These images are reported by the specialists of our clinic. This also applies to patients referred from outside the faculty for radiographic imaging.

Through reporting, all findings related to the jawbones and facial bones are documented and a preliminary diagnosis is provided. When necessary, additional examinations may be recommended for certain special conditions to contribute to the diagnosis of the disease.

Radiation Protection

In our department, protecting our patients from radiation is a matter of great importance. Separate lead aprons and thyroid protectors are used for adult and pediatric patients. Patients who request it may also be given a dose record card for the radiographic image taken.

Taking X-Rays During Pregnancy

In dental radiology, since X-rays are directed only to the head and neck region, and since the beam angle in panoramic radiographs, which show the teeth and both jaws, is directed upward, the developing fetus in the uterus is normally not expected to receive radiation. However, “scatter radiation” that may occur in the environment cannot be completely ignored.

The possible cumulative effects of even the smallest doses, which may seem insignificant, should never be underestimated. As stated in the reports of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, there is no specific threshold dose for the potential harmful effects that may occur even at low doses.

Therefore, in accordance with the principles of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), radiographs are taken only when absolutely necessary for diagnosis, using the required protective equipment and in the minimum number possible.

This applies in situations where radiographic imaging is essential to clarify conditions that may negatively affect the health of the expectant mother and, consequently, the health of the unborn baby.