About

Dentistry, or “dental medicine”, helps in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions, diseases, and disorders of the mouth and oral cavity. The role of a dentists is typically hygienic or surgical and dentists can treat many diseases of the oral cavity and face with prescription medicines.

A dentist is a doctor, qualified to practice dentistry after graduating with a degree of either Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). To become a qualified dentist one usually completes at least 8 years of study; an undergraduate degree (usually in the sciences) and 4 years dental training. At least 2 years practical experience working with patients in the educational setting during the last two years of training are required.

Services a qualified dentist may perform may include, but are not limited to:

  • Dental public health (study of dental epidemiology and social health policies)
  • Endodontics (root canal therapy and study of diseases of the dental pulp)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (study, diagnosis, and sometimes the treatment of oral and maxillofacial related diseases)
  • Oral and maxillofacial radiology (study and radiologic interpretation of oral and maxillofacial diseases)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (extractions, facial surgery and implants)
  • Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (straightening of teeth and modification of midface and mandibular growth)
  • Pediatric Dentistry (i.e. dentistry for children, formerly known as “pedodontics”)
  • 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”) registry requirements.

    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.

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    • May 2008
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