Skip to content
Medical Thesis Topics

MDS

100 Oral Medicine and Radiology Thesis Topics

Academic session 2026-2027  · 100 topics

This page lists 100 oral medicine and radiology thesis topics for Master of Dental Surgery postgraduate students for the 2026-2027 academic session. The topics are structured around practical dissertation questions that can be adapted to the clinical workload, imaging facilities, laboratory support, materials and records available in a dental teaching institution.

The oral medicine and radiology thesis topics below cover oral potentially malignant disorders, oral mucosal disease, systemic disease manifestations, salivary disorders, temporomandibular conditions, conventional radiography, panoramic imaging, cone-beam computed tomography and radiation awareness. They include cross-sectional, observational, comparative, imaging-based, record-based and in-vitro approaches so that students can select a research question that matches their departmental resources while retaining a clearly measurable primary outcome.

Click any topic to open it in the protocol generator with the title already filled in.

  1. Clinical profile of oral potentially malignant disorders among patients attending a tertiary dental care centre: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  2. Association between tobacco-use patterns and clinical characteristics of oral potentially malignant disorders: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  3. Comparison of oral mucosal lesions among smokers, smokeless tobacco users and individuals without tobacco exposure: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  4. Association between duration and frequency of smokeless tobacco use and clinical severity of oral submucous fibrosis: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  5. Comparison of clinical characteristics of oral submucous fibrosis among areca nut users with different consumption patterns: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  6. Association between mouth-opening limitation and clinical stage of oral submucous fibrosis: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  7. Comparison of oral health-related quality of life among patients with different clinical stages of oral submucous fibrosis: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  8. Clinical profile and habit patterns among patients with oral leukoplakia: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  9. Association between tobacco exposure and clinical characteristics of oral leukoplakia: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  10. Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics of homogeneous and non-homogeneous oral leukoplakia: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  11. Clinical profile of oral lichen planus and associated demographic and behavioural factors: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  12. Comparison of oral health-related quality of life among patients with oral lichen planus and individuals without oral mucosal disease: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  13. Association between perceived psychological stress and clinical presentation of oral lichen planus: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  14. Prevalence and pattern of tobacco-associated oral mucosal lesions among adults attending a dental hospital: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  15. Comparison of oral mucosal findings among cigarette smokers and smokeless tobacco users: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  16. Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding oral cancer and its risk factors among patients attending a dental teaching hospital: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  17. Comparison of oral cancer awareness among tobacco users and non-users: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  18. Assessment of awareness of early signs and symptoms of oral cancer among adults attending primary dental care services: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  19. Clinical profile of patients presenting with clinically suspected oral malignancies to an oral medicine department: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  20. Diagnostic agreement between provisional clinical diagnosis and histopathological diagnosis of clinically suspicious oral lesions: a cross-sectional agreement study.Get protocol
  21. Prevalence and pattern of temporomandibular disorder symptoms among young adults: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  22. Association between psychological stress and temporomandibular disorder symptoms among dental students: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  23. Comparison of temporomandibular disorder symptoms among individuals with and without self-reported bruxism: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  24. Association between parafunctional oral habits and temporomandibular disorder symptoms among adults: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  25. Comparison of temporomandibular disorder symptoms among male and female young adults: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  26. Association between sleep quality and temporomandibular disorder symptoms among postgraduate students: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  27. Comparison of pain intensity and functional limitation among patients with different categories of temporomandibular disorders: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  28. Prevalence and pattern of orofacial pain among patients attending an oral medicine outpatient department: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  29. Clinical profile of patients presenting with burning mouth symptoms to a tertiary dental care centre: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  30. Comparison of salivary flow and oral symptoms among patients with burning mouth symptoms and asymptomatic controls: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  31. Prevalence of oral manifestations among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  32. Comparison of oral mucosal findings among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and systemically healthy individuals: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  33. Association between glycaemic control and oral manifestations among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  34. Comparison of salivary flow rate and salivary pH among patients with diabetes mellitus and systemically healthy individuals: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  35. Oral manifestations and salivary characteristics among patients with thyroid disorders: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  36. Comparison of oral findings among patients with hypothyroidism and systemically healthy individuals: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  37. Prevalence of xerostomia and associated factors among patients receiving multiple medications for chronic systemic diseases: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  38. Association between number of medications and severity of self-reported xerostomia among older adults: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  39. Comparison of oral health-related quality of life among patients with and without xerostomia: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  40. Clinical spectrum of oral manifestations among patients with selected haematological disorders: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  41. Comparison of unstimulated salivary flow rate among patients with oral potentially malignant disorders and healthy controls: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  42. Association between salivary pH and clinical severity of oral submucous fibrosis: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  43. Comparison of salivary pH and buffering capacity among tobacco users and non-users: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  44. Evaluation of selected salivary oxidative stress markers among patients with oral potentially malignant disorders: a cross-sectional laboratory study.Get protocol
  45. Comparison of selected salivary biomarkers among patients with oral leukoplakia and healthy controls: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  46. Association between selected salivary inflammatory markers and clinical severity of oral lichen planus: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  47. Comparison of salivary antioxidant capacity among patients with oral submucous fibrosis and healthy individuals: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  48. Evaluation of salivary glucose and its association with blood glucose among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional analytical study.Get protocol
  49. Comparison of salivary characteristics among controlled and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  50. Association between salivary flow rate and xerostomia severity among older adults: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  51. Diagnostic accuracy of toluidine blue staining for identification of clinically suspicious oral potentially malignant lesions: a cross-sectional diagnostic study.Get protocol
  52. Comparison of conventional oral examination and adjunctive light-based examination for identification of suspicious oral mucosal lesions: a comparative diagnostic study.Get protocol
  53. Diagnostic utility of exfoliative cytology for assessment of clinically suspicious oral lesions: a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study.Get protocol
  54. Comparison of clinical diagnosis and cytological findings among patients with common oral mucosal lesions: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  55. Diagnostic agreement between oral medicine specialists in clinical classification of oral potentially malignant disorders: a cross-sectional agreement study.Get protocol
  56. Comparison of clinical diagnostic accuracy for red, white and mixed oral mucosal lesions: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  57. Assessment of tongue lesions and associated local and systemic factors among adults attending a dental hospital: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  58. Prevalence and clinical pattern of recurrent aphthous stomatitis among college students: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  59. Association between stress, sleep and recurrent aphthous stomatitis among young adults: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  60. Comparison of oral health-related quality of life among individuals with and without recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  61. Prevalence and distribution of incidental findings on panoramic radiographs obtained for routine dental indications: a retrospective cross-sectional imaging study.Get protocol
  62. Comparison of incidental radiographic findings among different age groups using panoramic radiographs: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  63. Evaluation of mandibular canal anatomical variations using cone-beam computed tomography: a cross-sectional imaging study.Get protocol
  64. Prevalence and characteristics of bifid mandibular canals using cone-beam computed tomography: a retrospective imaging study.Get protocol
  65. Evaluation of position and dimensions of the mental foramen using cone-beam computed tomography: a cross-sectional imaging study.Get protocol
  66. Comparison of mental foramen position and dimensions among male and female patients using cone-beam computed tomography: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  67. Assessment of the anterior loop of the inferior alveolar nerve using cone-beam computed tomography: an observational imaging study.Get protocol
  68. Comparison of anterior loop dimensions according to age and sex using cone-beam computed tomography: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  69. Evaluation of lingual foramina and canals in the anterior mandible using cone-beam computed tomography: a cross-sectional imaging study.Get protocol
  70. Assessment of lingual concavity morphology in the posterior mandible using cone-beam computed tomography: an observational imaging study.Get protocol
  71. Prevalence and pattern of maxillary sinus anatomical variations using cone-beam computed tomography: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  72. Association between posterior maxillary dental pathology and maxillary sinus mucosal thickening using cone-beam computed tomography: an observational imaging study.Get protocol
  73. Comparison of maxillary sinus dimensions among male and female patients using cone-beam computed tomography: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  74. Prevalence and distribution of maxillary sinus septa among patients undergoing cone-beam computed tomography: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  75. Association between impacted maxillary teeth and maxillary sinus abnormalities using cone-beam computed tomography: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  76. Evaluation of styloid process length and morphological variations using panoramic radiography: a cross-sectional imaging study.Get protocol
  77. Comparison of styloid process morphology among different age groups and sexes using panoramic radiographs: a comparative study.Get protocol
  78. Prevalence and pattern of soft-tissue calcifications detected on panoramic radiographs: a retrospective cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  79. Comparison of prevalence of carotid artery calcification-like radiopacities among patients with and without selected cardiovascular risk factors: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  80. Assessment of calcification of the stylohyoid complex and its association with age and sex using panoramic radiographs: an observational imaging study.Get protocol
  81. Comparison of panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography for assessment of impacted mandibular third molars in relation to the inferior alveolar canal: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  82. Diagnostic accuracy of panoramic radiographic signs for predicting close relationship between impacted mandibular third molars and the inferior alveolar canal using cone-beam computed tomography as the reference: a cross-sectional diagnostic study.Get protocol
  83. Comparison of periapical radiography and cone-beam computed tomography for detection of periapical lesions: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  84. Comparison of conventional radiography and cone-beam computed tomography for assessment of selected odontogenic jaw lesions: a comparative diagnostic study.Get protocol
  85. Evaluation of osseous changes of the temporomandibular joint using cone-beam computed tomography among symptomatic patients: a cross-sectional imaging study.Get protocol
  86. Comparison of condylar morphology among patients with and without temporomandibular disorder symptoms using cone-beam computed tomography: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  87. Association between condylar osseous changes and clinical temporomandibular disorder symptoms: an observational cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  88. Comparison of linear measurements obtained from cone-beam computed tomography and panoramic radiographs for selected maxillofacial anatomical structures: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  89. Assessment of interobserver agreement in interpretation of common maxillofacial radiographic lesions: a cross-sectional reliability study.Get protocol
  90. Comparison of diagnostic interpretation of selected maxillofacial lesions by postgraduate trainees and experienced oral radiologists: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  91. Accuracy of artificial intelligence-assisted detection of dental caries on bitewing or panoramic radiographs compared with expert radiologist assessment: a comparative diagnostic study.Get protocol
  92. Comparison of artificial intelligence-assisted and clinician-based detection of periapical lesions on dental radiographs: a comparative diagnostic study.Get protocol
  93. Diagnostic agreement between artificial intelligence-assisted and specialist interpretation of impacted teeth on panoramic radiographs: a cross-sectional agreement study.Get protocol
  94. Comparison of artificial intelligence-assisted and manual identification of anatomical landmarks on panoramic radiographs: a comparative imaging study.Get protocol
  95. Assessment of dental age using panoramic radiographs and its agreement with chronological age among children and adolescents: a cross-sectional forensic radiology study.Get protocol
  96. Comparison of different radiographic dental age estimation methods in an Indian population: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  97. Assessment of sex-related differences in mandibular morphometric parameters using panoramic radiographs: a cross-sectional forensic imaging study.Get protocol
  98. Comparison of mandibular morphometric measurements among male and female adults using cone-beam computed tomography: a comparative forensic radiology study.Get protocol
  99. Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding radiation protection and justification of dental radiographic examinations among dental practitioners: a cross-sectional study.Get protocol
  100. Comparison of knowledge regarding cone-beam computed tomography, radiation safety and appropriate imaging selection among general dental practitioners and postgraduate dental students: a comparative cross-sectional study.Get protocol

Choosing a Oral Medicine and Radiology thesis topic

How should I choose a feasible Oral Medicine and Radiology thesis topic?

Start with the cases, records, imaging facilities, laboratory methods and materials that are consistently available in your department. A feasible oral medicine and radiology thesis should have a clearly defined primary outcome and should not depend on expensive equipment or rare patients unless access is already assured. Before finalizing the protocol, review recent departmental case numbers, identify the variables that can be measured reliably, and decide whether the proposed comparison groups are realistically available. A focused question with adequate numbers is usually stronger than a technically ambitious project that cannot recruit or complete its planned measurements.

Which study designs are practical for an MDS thesis in Oral Medicine and Radiology?

Cross-sectional, comparative cross-sectional, retrospective record-based, imaging-based and in-vitro designs are often practical for an MDS dissertation because they can be completed within a defined academic period. The best design depends on the research question and available resources. Clinical prevalence or association questions generally suit cross-sectional methods, existing case records can support retrospective studies, and material or technique comparisons may suit controlled in-vitro work. The protocol should specify the sampling method, primary variable, measurement technique and statistical comparison in advance rather than selecting a design solely because it appears easy to conduct.

What should be checked before finalizing a Oral Medicine and Radiology dissertation protocol?

Confirm that the department can provide enough eligible observations during the proposed study period and that every major variable can be measured using a standardized method. For imaging or record-based work, review a small sample of existing records to assess completeness and consistency. For in-vitro projects, verify availability of specimens, materials, equipment and the testing method before calculating the sample size. The final protocol should clearly separate the primary objective from secondary objectives, define inclusion and exclusion criteria, identify potential confounders where relevant, and use outcomes that directly answer the stated research question.

Thesis and protocol questions

How is a thesis topic different from a thesis protocol?

The topic is the title — the question a study sets out to answer, together with the population and the design. The protocol is the full document built around it: background, review of literature, aims and objectives, inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample size calculation, methodology, statistical plan, ethics considerations, consent documents and references. A topic is agreed with a guide first; the protocol is written afterwards and submitted to the institutional ethics committee.

When does a postgraduate thesis have to be submitted?

For most Indian postgraduate programmes the protocol is submitted within the first six months of joining, and the completed thesis is submitted at least six months before the final examination. Exact deadlines are set by the university, so the departmental circular for the current session takes precedence over any general timeline.

How is sample size decided for a postgraduate thesis?

Sample size follows from the primary objective, not the other way round. A prevalence study is powered from an expected proportion and an acceptable margin of error; a comparative study is powered from the expected difference between groups, the standard deviation, alpha and desired power. The figure should then be checked against the institution's actual case load for the study period, because a statistically ideal sample that cannot be recruited in the time available is not a workable plan.

Does a thesis topic need ethics committee approval?

Yes. Every postgraduate thesis involving human participants, human data or human samples requires clearance from the institutional ethics committee before data collection begins. Approval is granted on the protocol rather than on the title, and the submission usually includes the protocol, the participant information sheet and the consent form in English and in the local language.

What makes a topic realistic for a three-year postgraduate programme?

A workable topic can be completed at a single centre, with equipment and investigations that are already available in routine practice, within roughly eighteen months of data collection. Topics that depend on external funding, specialised assays, multicentre coordination or long follow-up tend to stall. Choosing a condition the department already sees in volume matters more than choosing a novel one.

Can a thesis be published as a research paper afterwards?

Yes, and it is generally expected. A thesis is usually condensed into a paper of around three to four thousand words, restructured into the standard introduction, methods, results and discussion format, with the review of literature shortened considerably. Journals differ in their requirements, and the ethics approval number from the original thesis is normally cited in the methods section.

Picked a topic? Generate the protocol