Specialtiesin Dentistrv

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Dentistry, which is a part of stomatolos/, is the branchof medicinethat is involved in the

evaluation,diagnosis,prevention,and surgical or non-surgicaltreatmentof diseases,disorders
and conditionsofthe oral cavity, maxillofacial areaandthe adjacentand associatedstructuresand
their impact on the humal body. Dentistry is widely considerednecssaryfor completeoverall
health.Thosewho practicedentistryare known as dentists-The dentist'ssupportingteam aidesin
providing oral health sewices,which includes dental assistants,dental hygienists,dental
technicians,
anddentaltherapisrs.
Dentistry usually encompasses
iery importart practicesrelated to the oral cavity. Oral
diseasesare major public health problernsdue to their high incidenceand prevalenceacrossthe
globewith the disadvantagedaffectedmore than ottrersocio-economicgroups.
Although modemday dentalpracticecentresaroundprevention,manytreatnentsor interveutions
are still needed.The majority of dentaltreatmentsarecarriedout to preventor treat the two most
commonoral diseases
which aredentalcaries(toothdecay)andperiodontaldisease
(gumdisease
or pyorrhea).Commontreatmentsinvolve the restorationof teethas a treatuientfor dentalcaries
(fillings), extractionor surgicalremovalof teethwhich cannotbe restore4 scalingofteth to treat
periodontalproblemsand endodonticroot canaltreatmentto teat abscessed
terith.
All dentistsfain for arormd4 or 5 yearsat universityandqualifi asa'dental surgeol,.By
nature of their general training they can carry out the majority of dental heatmentssuch as
restorative (fillings, crowns, bridges), prosthetic (dentures), endodontic (root canal)
therapy,periodontal(gum) therapy, and exodontia (extraction of teeth), as well as perfonning
examinations,
(x-rays)and diagnosis.
radiographs
Dentistscanalsoprescribecertainmedications
such as antibiotics, fluorides, and sedativesbut they are not able to prescribethe full rangethat
physicianscan.
Dentistsneedto take additional qualificationsor taining to carry out more complex treatments
such as sedation, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and implants. Whilst the majority of oral
diseasesare unique and self limiting some can indicatepoor generalhealth,tumours,blood
dyscrasias
and abnormalitiesincludinggeneticproblems.Dentistsalsoencourage
preveltionof
dentalcariesthrough proper hygiene (tooth brushingand flossing),fluoride, and tooflr polishing.
Dental sealantsare plastic materials applied to one or more teeth, for the intendedpurposeof
preventingdentalcaries(cavities)or other forms oftoot! decav.
Dental Specialities
Oral alrdmaxillofacial surgery
Orthodontics
Prosthodontics
Periodontics
Endodontics
PediatricDentistry
Oral Pathologr
PublicHeahhDentistry
ForensicOdontology
Oral andMaxillofacialRadiology
EstheticDentistry
Oral and maxillofacialsurgery,This branchof dentalpracticedealswith the diagnosis
and surgical treatmentof any disease,injury, malformation,or deficiencyof the jaws or
associated
structures.
An importantaspectof oral surgeryis the removalof teeth,which may be
complicatedby their location,peculiarformation,or attachment
to thejawbone.Teeththat are
ernbedded
in thejawboneor soft tissueare said to be impacted.In suchcasesthe surrounding
boneor tissuemayhaveto be removedin orderto reachthetooth.