Dentistry

Dentistry is a branch of health care that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. There are nine areas of dentistry including orthodontics, prosthodontics, periedontics, pediatric dentistry and several others. The most common dentistry procedures include fillings, dental bridges, crowns, wisdom teeth removal and root canals. Dental practitioners are referred to as dentists. Dentists may specialize in various areas of dental care. To find a dentist, a person can visit a dentist directory online.

Dentists

A dentist is a doctor who is qualified to practice dentistry. In the United States, a dentist must earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D) degree to practice in the field of dentistry.

Dentists prevent, diagnosis, and treat problems of the mouth and teeth. They fill cavities, remove decayed teeth, perform examinations using x-rays, straighten teeth, repair broken teeth, and perform oral surgeries on gums and jawbones. Dentists can also make models of a patient's teeth and mouth to create dentures for people with missing teeth.

Dentists also educate patients on dental health and proper dental hygiene practices such as brushing, flossing, oral rinses, and other dental care. They can write prescriptions for medications for periodontal conditions such as antibiotics. Some dentists practice sedation dentistry, a technique used to calm anxious patients for a more relaxing experience.

Areas of Dentistry

Many dentists practice general dentistry and diagnose, treat, and restore damaged or missing teeth as well as provide preventative oral care. In addition to general dentistry, there are nine dental areas that require one to four years of additional training beyond the dental degrees.

Orthodontics: The area of Orthodontics deals with tooth and oral structure development. An orthodontist also treats irregular and abnormal dental development with dental braces.

Oral surgery: Oral surgery is an area of dentistry that corrects and treats conditions and injuries in the mouth and jaw including TMJ.

Periodontics: Periodontics is an area of dentistry focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases of the oral mucous membranes, gums, and bones that support the teeth.

Pediatric dentistry: A pediatric dentist treats children and adolescents while helping them to develop good dental health and hygiene habits.

Endodontics: Endodontics is an area that deals with nerve diseases and diseases of other dental tissues.

Prosthodontics: Dentists that practice prosthodontics replace missing natural teeth.

Oral pathology: Oral pathology is an area of dentistry that deals with diseases of the mouth, and studies the diseases to identify the causes, effects, and progression.

Dental public health: Dental public healthis a type of dentistry that treats a community rather than individual patients to prevent and control periodontal diseases.

Oral Radiology: The field of oral radiology focuses on the radiologic identification and interpretation of diseases of the mouth, face, and jaw.

Common Dental Procedures

People who visit a dentist may need one or more of these common dental procedures at some point in their lives. With new technological advances and methods in dentistry, such as sedation dentistry, these procedures are performed more quickly and comfortably than ever before.

Dental Fillings: A dental filling is used to fill in the tooth after decay has been removed by a drill. In the past, dental fillings were made of gold or silver, but today's fillings are usually translucent or opaque to resemble the tooth's natural color.

Bonding: Bonding repairs cracked and chipped teeth. A composite material is applied to the tooth surface and then molded and shaped to fit the tooth. It is then polished to disguise the crack or chip in the tooth.

Root Canals: Root canals are performed to remove diseased or damaged tissue within a tooth.

Dental Braces: Braces can help correct or protect a person's bite and realign teeth for a healthy, straight smile.

Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are used to replace missing teeth with artificial tooth that is held in place by material that warps around other supporting teeth.

Dental Implants: Dental implants are functional and esthetic solutions for missing teeth. Not all people are eligible for dental implantation. Dental implants require good oral hygiene and a fully-grown jawbone. Dental implant cost: Single implants range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Dental Veneers: Dental veneers offer a custom designed solution for cracked, chipped or otherwise misshapen teeth. Ultra-thin porcelain veneers can be applied over the surface of the teeth to brighten, whiten and improve a smile. Minimal prep veneers also can used. An example of this type of veneers is called Lumineers.

Dental Crowns: Dental crowns are used to repair decayed teeth. Crowns cover the entire surface of the decayed tooth to add stability and strength.

Dentures: People often get dentures to replace missing or damaged teeth that can not be repaired or restored with other common dentistry procedures.

Laser dentistry: Laser dentistry is a relatively new type of dental practice that replaces drills and other common dental equipment with a laser. Lasers can be used to remove decay, perform surgeries, teeth whitening (tooth bleaching) and a number of other common dental procedures. Laser dentistry is commonly used during cosmetic dentistry procedures that cosmetic dentists perform.

For comprehensive information about cosmetic dentistry, laser dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers, dental insurance, gum disease, dry mouth syndrome, gummy smile, tooth decay, bad breath, oral cancer, or to find a cosmetic dentist, visit Consumer Guide to Dentistry.