special investigations and presenting pts Flashcards
aim of special investigations
- To analyse teeth and oral tissues to aid diagnosis and treatment planning
- Reach definitive diagnosis from a differential/provisional diagnosis
- Cost money to do
- Fair for the pt? Money and time?
- Yes, in balance to try to confirm as accurately as possible
- Limited resources and time and decide what is most important
- Yes, in balance to try to confirm as accurately as possible
- Reach definitive diagnosis from a differential/provisional diagnosis
examples of special investigations
- Radiographs
- Bitewings
- Periapicals
- Occlusal
- Panoramic DPT
- CBCT
- EPT electric pulp test
- Thermal tests
- Heat
- Ethyl chloride (cold)
- Mobility tests
- Plaque and bleeding scores
- Test drill
- MRI – suspected salivary gland issue
- Ultrasound – suspected salivary gland issue
- Sialography – salivary glands (flow, pH)
- Biopsy
- Diet diary – more at risk for certain diseases
- Microbiological tests
- Oral rinse, Swab take e.g. COVID 19
- Haematology tests – suspected anaemia
- Study models – assess occlusion
- Allergy testing – lichenoid mouth reactions
- Photographs – esp case presentation, clinic do yourself but in hospital take to dep
common dental radiographs
Bitewings
Periapicals
Occlusal
Panoramic DPT
CBCT
vitality tests
EPT
thermal tests - heat, ethyl chloride
MRI used in dentistry when
suspected salivary gland issue
ultasound used in dentistry when
suspected salivary gland issue
sialography used in dentistry to investigate
salivary glands (flow, pH)
diet diary used to assess
pts who may be more at risk of certain diseases by seeing their habitual eating
types of microbiological tests
oral rinse, swab tests
example of use of haematological tests
suspected anaemia, bleeding disorder
study models can be used to
assess occlusion when pt not present
monitor pt changes
record dentition
help design prosthesis
when may an allergy test be used in dentistry
for lichenoid mouth reactions
when may clinical photographs be used in dentistry
teaching
monitor pt changes
esp case presentation, clinic do yourself but in hospital take to dep
indications for oral radiographs (8)
- diagnosis
- bitewings for caries
- periapical for abscess/ apical disease
- trauma – fracture
- periodontal disease – bone loss – horizontal or vertical
- RCT – working length
- Before extraction – assess root morphology
- Assess unerupted teeth (periapical)
- Swellings – what tooth/area associated with
contra-indications for oral radiographs
- Pregnant – do if need to do in emergency, beam not aiming at foetus but still assess if it can wait