AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO TEACHING INSTRUMENTAL RESEARCH METHODS IN DENTISTRY: FROM CLINICAL PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSTIC SOLUTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24234/scientific.v3i53.394Keywords:
dentistry, instrumental diagnostics, diagnostic imaging, radiography, OPG, CBCT, CT, MRI, US, dental education, interdisciplinary approach, clinical reasoningAbstract
Modern dentistry is characterized by the widespread use of instrumental diagnostic methods, which provide objective information on the condition of the teeth, jaws, temporomandibular joints, soft tissues, and other structures of the maxillofacial region. The expansion of diagnostic capabilities, including digital radiography, panoramic radiography (orthopantomography, OPG), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), multislice computed tomography (MSCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography (US), and radionuclide imaging techniques, places new demands on the professional training of future dental practitioners. The aim of this scientific and methodological article is to substantiate an interdisciplinary approach to teaching instrumental diagnostics in undergraduate and postgraduate dental education. The article reviews the current capabilities of the principal imaging modalities, their clinical significance, and their role in the diagnostic algorithm of the dental practitioner. Particular attention is given to developing students’ skills in selecting an appropriate diagnostic modality according to the clinical problem, interpreting imaging findings, and applying diagnostic information to treatment planning. A clinically oriented educational model is proposed, based on the sequential framework of “clinical problem — diagnostic hypothesis — selection of the diagnostic modality — imaging — interpretation — clinical decision-making.” The integration of radiological and instrumental diagnostics with operative dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, and orthodontics is shown to contribute to the development of clinical reasoning and enhance the diagnostic competence of future dental practitioners.
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