Dentistry
Dentistry is a branch of medicine that works to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and teeth. Many dentists practice general dentistry and diagnose, treat, or restore missing or damaged and diseased teeth and provide preventative oral care. Some dentists treat only adults while others practice family dentistry and treat individuals of all ages.
Dentists may specialize in a number of dental care areas. A person can find a dentist by visiting a dentist directory.
Areas of Dentistry
There are nine areas of dentistry that deal with specific dental health conditions and treatments:
Orthodontics: Orthodontics deals with tooth and oral structure development. An orthodontist treats irregular and abnormal dental development. Orthodontists use dental braces and retainers to straighten and align the teeth. Today's orthodontic braces offer reduced treatment time, greater comfort and an enhanced aesthetic appeal.
Periodontics: Periodontics focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases of the oral mucous membranes, gums, and bones that support the teeth. Periodontists are adept at providing treatment for gingivitis and gum disease (periodontal disease).
Oral surgery: Oral surgery corrects and treats diseases and injuries in the mouth and jaw. Oral surgery can also help problems such as temporomandibular disorder or TMJ.
Pediatric dentistry: Pediatric dentists treat children and adolescents. Pediatric dentistry also focuses on helping children to learn healthy oral hygiene habits.
Endodontics: Endodontics deals with nerve diseases and diseases of other dental tissues. An endodontists is adept at treating infections of the root canal.
Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics focuses on tooth restoration and replaces missing natural teeth (dentures, dental implants, dental crowns, and dental bridges).
Oral pathology: Oral pathology deals with diseases of the mouth, and studies the diseases to identify the causes, effects, and progression. An oral pathologist can diagnose oral cancer, oral herpes and other oral conditions.
Dental public health: Dental public health is a type of dentistry that treats a community rather than individual patients to prevent and control periodontal diseases.
Oral Radiology: Oral radiology focuses on the radiologic identification and interpretation of diseases of the mouth, face, and jaw.
Another area of dentistry that deals with the appearance of the teeth is called cosmetic dentistry.
Cosmetic Dentistry
While traditional dentistry focuses on treating and preventing periodontal diseases, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of a person's teeth with a smile makeover. A cosmetic dentist can give a person a straighter, whiter, and healthier looking smile. Through the use of dental implants, dental veneers, teeth whitening (porcelain veneers) and other procedures, a person can improve the appearance of his or her teeth.
Cosmetic dentists perform a number of procedures including:
- Dental Implants: Dental implants have artificial roots that a dentist implants into a patient's jaw to hold a bridge or tooth. Dental implants are an ideal option for people with good oral health who have lost teeth to injury or to disease. Dental implants can provide natural looking teeth.
- Dental Veneers: Dental veneers, or porcelain veneers, are thin, porcelain or composite material shells designed to cover the front tooth surface to improve the color and shape of the teeth. The veneer shells are bonded to the front of the tooth changing the shape, size, and color. Veneers are ideal for patients who have gaps in their teeth or for patients for whom whitening is not successful. The cost of dental veneers are not commonly covered by dental insurance, however patients should check their individual dental plan for specific information.
- Teeth Whitening: Teeth whitening is a common cosmetic dentistry procedure. Teeth whitening bleaches stains and discolorations on one or more teeth. Though teeth whitening is not permanent, teeth whitening can dramatically improve the appearance of stained and discolored teeth.
For more comprehensive information about cosmetic dentistry, laser dentistry, cosmetic dentists, or other dental procedures, or to find a dentist or dentist directory, visit the Consumer Guide to Dentistry.