Dentistry

A dentist and dental assistant perform surgery on a patient.

Dentistry is the science and profession concerned with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, abnormalities, or other conditions of the teeth, gums, and adjacent structures of the oral cavity. This autonomous branch of biomedical science includes such activities as treating dental decay, oral surgery, extraction of decayed teeth, straightening teeth and repositioning them for normal occlusion, treatmentof diseases of the tissues surrounding teeth, and preventive actions such as cleaning teeth and applying fluoride compounds to improve resistance to decay.

As with medicine, dentistry has a number of specialized fields, as well as general practitioners.

The art or science of treating conditions of the teeth and related structures in the mouth is an ancient one, with writing references tracing back at least 5,000 years (Orchardson 2001).

Overview

The American Dental Association defines dentistry as the:

"evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body; provided by a dentist, within the scope of his/her education, training, and experience, in accordance with the ethics of the profession and applicable law" (ADA 2007).

A dentist is a healthcare professional qualified to practice dentistry. Typically this qualification is achieved after graduating with a degree of either Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Chirurgiae (BDS) or (BChD) or equivalent.

Dentists can (and often do) further their training in one or more speciality areas (such as surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, etc.) Hence, there can be a great deal of variation between the level of skill in different disciplines from dentist to dentist.

General practitioners, unlike specialists, offer general service and can decide which services they will provide and which they will refer to specialists. It is important to note that most general practitioners perform restorative, prosthetic, routine endodontic therapy, routine periodontal therapy, and simple exodontia, as well as performing examinations. Others are comfortable treating more complex cases, as well as placing implants and extracting third molars, among many other procedures frequently referred to specialists. Dentists often delegate the task of cleaning teeth to their dental hygienists and other support staff.

Specialities

Development of teeth sculpture is a major improvement among dentistry.

The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialities (ADA 2007).

• Dental Public Health. Dental public health is a specialty concerend with preventing and controlling dental diseases and advancing dental heath through organized community efforts (ADA 2007). Included in this field is public dental health education, applied research, and preventing dental diseases on a community basis.

• Endodontics. Endodontics, from the Greek endo (inside) and odons (tooth), is the specialist sub-field of dentistry that deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. The pulp (containing nerves, arterioles and venules as well as lymphatic tissue and fibrous tissue) can become diseased or injured, and is often unable to repair itself; if it dies, endodontic treatment is required.

• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Oral and maxillofacial pathology deals with the study, diagnosis, management, and sometimes the treatment of oral and maxillofacial related diseases.

• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. this specialty is concerned with the development and production of images and data that are produced when radiant energy is used for diagnosis and treament of conditions of hte oral and maxillofacial area (ADA 2007).

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. This specialty is involved with the diagnosis and surgical treament of conditiosn of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial area, including both functional and aesthetic aspects (ADA 2007). for example, it would include extractions, facial surgery, and implants.

• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Orthodontics' is a specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. The word comes from the Greek words ortho meaning straight and odons meaning tooth. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics deals not only with diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malocclusion, but also with the neuromuscular and skeletal abnormalities of the developing or mature orofacial structures (ADA 2007). Orthodontic treatment can be carried out for purely aesthetic reasons—improving the general appearance of patients' teeth and face for cosmetic reasons—but treatment is often prescribed for practical reasons, providing the patient with a functionally improved bite (occlusion).

• Pediatric Dentistry. This is an age-defined specialty that provides preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence (ADA 2007).

• Periodontics (treatment of the periodontium, however most periodontists place implants),
• Prosthodontics (dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants. Some prosthodontists further their training in "oral and maxillofacial prosthodontics—a discipline concerned with the replacement of missing facial structures—such as ears, eyes, nose, etc.)

Specialists in these fields are designated registrable (U.S. "Board Eligible") and warrant exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, endodontist, pediatric dentist, periodontist, or prosthodontist upon satisfying certain local (U.S. "Board Certified"), (Australia/NZ: "FRACDS"), or (Canada: "FRCD(C)") registry requirements.

To become a specialist requires one to train in a residency or advanced graduate training program. Once residency is completed, the doctor is granted a certificate of specialty training. Many specialty programs have optional or required advanced degrees such as (MD/MBBS specific to Maxillofacial Surgery), MS, or PhD.

Two other post-graduate formal advanced education programs: General Practice Residency (advanced clinical and didactic training with intense hospital experience) and Advanced Education in General Dentistry (advanced training in clinical dentistry) recognized by the ADA do not lead to specialization.

Special category: Oral Biology - Research in Dental and Craniofacial Biology

Other dental education exists where no post-graduate formal university training is required: cosmetic dentistry, dental implant, temporo-mandibular joint therapy. These usually require the attendance of one or more continuing education courses that typically last for one to several days. There are restrictions on allowing these dentists to call themselves specialists in these fields. The specialist titles are registrable titles and controlled by the local dental licensing bodies.

Forensic odontology consists of the gathering and use of dental evidence in law. This may be performed by any dentist with experience or training in this field. The function of the forensic dentist is primarily documentation and verification of identity.

Geriatric dentistry or geriodontics is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal ageing and age-related diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with other health care professionals.

Veterinary dentistry, a speciality of veterinary medicine, is the field of dentistry applied to the care of animals [1][2].

History

Farmer at the dentist, Johann Liss, c. 1616-17.

Evidence has been found of teeth having been drilled dating back 9,000 years. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization, even from the early Harappan periods (c. 3300 B.C.E.), had knowledge of medicine and dentistry. A physical anthropologist that examined exhumed bodies from that time period, Professor Andrea Cucina from the University of Missouri-Columbia, made the discovery when he was cleaning the teeth from one of the men. Stone age people in India and Pakistan were using dental drills made of flint 9,000 years ago.

Some information contained in the Edwin Smith Papyrus dates as early as 3000 B.C.E. and includes the treatment of several dental ailments. [3][4] Hammurabi's Code contains some references to dental procedures and fees[5]. The Ebers papyrus also discusses similar treatments.[6] Examining the remains of some ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveal early attempts at dental prosthetics and surgery.[7]

Medieval dentist extracting a tooth. London; c. 1360-75.

Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the Middle Ages and through the 19th century, dentistry was not a profession into itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general physicians. Barbers usually limited their practice to extracting teeth, which not only resulted in the alleviation of pain, but often cured a variety of ailments linked with chronic tooth infection. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac invented the dental pelican (resembling a pelican's beak) which was used through the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the dental key which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 20th century.^{[citation needed]}

The first book focused solely on dentistry was written by Artzney Buchlein in 1530, and the first dental textbook written in English was called "Operator for the Teeth" by Charles Allen in 1685. It is said that the 17th century French physician Pierre Fauchard started dentistry science as we know it today, hence he was named "the father of modern dentistry". Among many of his developments were, the extensive use of dental prosthesis, introducing dental fillings as treatment for dental caries and stating that sugar derivate acids like tartaric acid were responsible for dental decay.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Orchardson, R. 2001. Dentistry. In C. Blakemore, and S. Jennett, The Oxford Companion to the Body. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 019852403X.

• History of Dentistry in the 20th Century by the ADA
• Ancient dentistry discovered

Ancient dentists drilled teeth 9,000 years ago, scientists say Last Updated: Wednesday, April 5, 2006 | 8:53 PM ET CBC News

External links

• Dentistry.co.uk - Issues affecting dental professionals in the UK
• Dental Issues Q&A Forum on USA Today's "Talk Today"
• Ask Dr.A - patient resource journal
• Dental Student Site
• Drugs in dentistry

Dentistry

Recognized Specialties

Endodontics - Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology - Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics - Pediatric Dentistry - Periodontics - Prosthodontics - Dental public health

Unrecognized Specialties

Cosmetic Dentistry - Dental Implantology - Temporomandibular Joint Disorder - Geriatric dentistry

Other

Forensic Odontology

Template:Cleft lip and palate Template:Allied health professions

Dentistry

Recognized Specialties

Endodontics - Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology - Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics - Pediatric Dentistry - Periodontics - Prosthodontics - Dental public health

Unrecognized Specialties

Cosmetic Dentistry - Dental Implantology - Temporomandibular Joint Disorder - Geriatric dentistry

Other

Forensic Odontology

Credits

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