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Dentistry
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Dentistry
is "the profession or science
dealing with the prevention and treatment of
diseases and malformations of the teeth,
gums, and oral cavity, and the removal,
correction, and replacement of decayed,
damaged, or lost parts, including such
operations as the filling and crowning of
teeth, the straightening of teeth, and the
construction of artificial dentures."
What does a dentist do?
Primarily a dentist aims to
prevent and treat oral disorders by:
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Providing preventive
treatment such as scaling, cleaning and fluoride therapy.
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Repairing teeth
damaged by decay or trauma, rebuilding tooth structures for functional
or aesthetic reasons and providing crowns and bridges.
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Treating diseases of
the roots, gums and soft tissues of the mouth and carries out various
surgical procedures, from routine extractions to far more complex
operations on the jaws and soft tissues.
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Using X-rays to
detect abnormalities and plan treatment.
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Managing malformation
and misalignment of teeth and jaws by providing appropriate treatment.
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Designing dentures
and oral appliances by taking impressions, recording jaw relations,
selecting teeth and correctly fitting dental appliances manufactured by
dental technicians to the dentists' prescriptions.
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Extraction of teeth.
What are the recognised dental specialities?
The recognised dental
specialities are Dental-maxillofacial Radiologists, Endodontists, Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgeons, Oral Surgeons, Oral Physicians, Oral Pathologists,
Orthodontists, Paediatric Dentists, Periodontists, Prosthodontists, Public
Health Dentists, Special Needs Dentists.
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A
Dental-maxillofacial Radiologist deals with diagnostic imaging
procedures applicable to the hard and soft tissues of the oral and
maxillofacial region and to other structures which are relevant for the
proper assessment of oral conditions.
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An
Endodontist deals with the morphology, physiology, and
pathology of the human tooth and, in particular, the dental pulp, root
and peri-radicular tissues.
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An Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgeon deals with the diagnosis, surgical and
adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of the human jaws
and associated structures.
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An Oral
Surgeon deals with the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive
treatment of diseases and injuries limited to the dento-alveolar
complex.
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An Oral
Physician deals with the clinical diagnosis, assessment and
principally non-surgical, pharmacological management of anatomical
variants, pathological conditions, diseases and pain of the dental, oral
and adjacent anatomical structures and the dental/oral manifestations
and complications of systemic diseases, pathology and conditions and
their treatment.
-
An Oral
Pathologist deals with diseases of the teeth, jaws, oral soft
tissues and associated structures, studies their causes, pathogenesis
and effects, and by use of clinical, radiographic, microscopic and other
laboratory procedures establishes differential diagnoses and provides
forensic evaluations.
-
An
Orthodontist deals with the study and supervision of the growth
and development of the dentition and its related anatomical structures,
including preventive and corrective procedures of dentofacial
irregularities requiring the re-positioning of teeth, jaws, and/or soft
tissues by functional or mechanical means.
-
A Paediatric
Dentist deals with the prevention and the treatment of dental
diseases and abnormalities in children and their associated
developmental and behavioural problems..
-
A
Periodontist deals with the prevention, recognition, diagnosis
and treatment of the diseases and disorders of the investing and
supporting tissues of natural teeth or their substitutes..
-
A
Prosthodontist deals with the restoration and maintenance of
oral health, function and appearance by coronal alteration or
reconstruction of natural teeth, or the replacement of missing teeth and
contiguous oral and maxillofacial tissues with substitutes.
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A Public
Health Dentist deals with the community as the patient rather
than the individual, being concerned with oral health education of the
public, applied dental research and administration of dental care
programmes including prevention and control of oral diseases on a
community basis.
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A Special
Needs Dentist deals with patients where intellectual
disability, medical, physical or psychiatric conditions require special
methods or techniques to prevent or treat oral health problems, or where
such conditions necessitate special dental treatment plans..
General dental practitioners
provide a range of dental services. They may consult and refer to specialist
dental colleagues.
( Courtesy:
http://www.ada.org.au/ )
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