An interview with Prof. Ingrid Różyło-Kalinowska

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 3. September 2026

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic: Dental imaging can have consequences beyond its immediate clinical purpose, including its environmental footprint and unexpected findings that may affect treatment. At the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress, Prof. Ingrid Różyło-Kalinowska, a specialist in dental and maxillofacial radiology, will address both. In a lecture, she will discuss ways to reduce energy use and unnecessary radiation exposure across the imaging workflow. She will also speak about incidental CBCT findings during an interdisciplinary symposium on 3D imaging in orthodontics and orthognathic treatment. Ahead of the congress, she discusses these topics and their relevance to everyday dental practice.

Prof. Różyło-Kalinowska, you have lectured at FDI World Dental Congresses around the world. What makes these events unique, and what are you looking forward to in Prague?
What I particularly value about FDI congresses is that they bring together dental professionals from different healthcare systems and educational environments, offering an international perspective on technologies, approaches to patient care, prevention and professional education. Our profession is changing incredibly quickly, and digital workflows, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced imaging technologies are transforming how we diagnose, plan treatment and communicate with patients.

I am especially looking forward to the Prague event because it marks the return of the FDI World Dental Congress to Europe. Europe has a strong academic and clinical tradition in dentistry and is embracing rapid developments in digital dentistry and AI. Prague will provide an ideal setting to discuss not only where dentistry is today but where it is heading.

Looking at the scientific programme, are there any sessions you are particularly excited to attend?
I am especially interested in the sessions focused on AI in diagnostics, temporomandibular disorder and orofacial pain, as well as dental education and student well-being. I am keen to understand the evidence on the clinical value of AI in dental imaging and how it can improve diagnostic consistency while remaining evidence-based and clinically validated.

I also look forward to the session on temporomandibular disorder, as imaging findings in these cases must always be interpreted alongside the patient’s symptoms and the broader clinical picture. The discussion on student well-being interests me because, although this area lies outside my own specialty, I feel that supporting the next generation of dentists is just as important as advancing clinical skills and technology.

What key message do you hope that delegates will take away from your lecture titled “Sustainable imaging in dentomaxillofacial radiology: Building a greener future in dentistry”?
For me, sustainability in radiology extends beyond environmental considerations. It also means choosing the right imaging examination for the clinical question, avoiding unnecessary imaging and using technologies such as CBCT responsibly.

Ultimately, sustainability is closely connected to radiation protection and sound clinical judgement. I hope that delegates will come away understanding that sustainability is not an abstract concept but something that influences everyday clinical decision-making and helps keep imaging patient-centred and clinically effective.

During the symposium titled “Bridging the disciplines: 3D imaging uniting radiology and orthodontics”, you will also deliver a lecture on incidental findings on diagnostic imaging that may alter treatment planning and patient management. Why do you think that multiple perspectives are so valuable in this context?
Different specialists may draw different insights from the same CBCT scan, depending on their expertise and the clinical question being asked. An orthodontist may focus on tooth position or skeletal relationships, whereas a radiologist evaluates the entire scan systematically, identifying findings that may be unrelated to orthodontic treatment but are clinically significant.

Combining these perspectives helps clinicians better understand not only what they can see on a scan but also how those findings should influence treatment planning. It demonstrates how 3D imaging supports genuine interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthens communication between clinicians and radiologists and ultimately improves patient care.

Orthodontic patients rarely fit neatly into a single specialty. Depending on the complexity of the case, treatment planning may involve orthodontists, radiologists, oral surgeons or orthognathic surgeons. Bringing together experts from different professional backgrounds and healthcare systems creates a broader discussion on how to assess patients, balance diagnostic possibilities with clinical needs and develop safer, more predictable treatment plans.

What practical insights do you intend for general practitioners to gain from this symposium?
For general practitioners, the greatest value lies in understanding how 3D imaging fits into the wider clinical pathway. Even if they are not managing complex orthodontic or surgical cases themselves, they are often the first clinicians to recognise when advanced imaging or specialist referral is required. I hope that participants will leave with a better understanding of CBCT findings within the broader clinical context and with greater confidence about which questions to ask when requesting imaging or making a referral. They should also be better able to recognise when a purely tooth-focused approach may overlook clinically relevant information.

Editorial note:

Prof. Różyło-Kalinowska’s session, titled “Sustainable imaging in dentomaxillofacial radiology: Building a greener future in dentistry,” will take place on 6 September from 15:30–16:20 in Hall D3/D4. She will also speak at the session “Bridging the disciplines: 3D imaging uniting radiology and orthodontics,” which will take place on 7 September from 15:30–17:20 in Hall E1.

More information about the 2026 FDI World Dental Congress can be found here.