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Profession concerned with the teeth and their associated structures such as the jaws and gums.
It includes the repair or removal of decayed teeth, the straightening of and adjusting for proper occlusion of teeth, and the design, manufacture, and provision of false teeth and other prosthetic devices.
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Clinical
Dentistry |
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1. Clinical Oral Diagnosis |
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Division of
dentistry dealing with the experience in history taking, examination, laboratory
testing, analysis of the collected results, and finally making diagnosis which
are essential procedures for an appropriate treatment plan and treatment of
patients.
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2. Oral and Maxillofacial
Radiology |
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Division of
dentistry dealing with the overall basic knowledge of radiation physics, X-ray
machines and their manipulation, radiation hazard and protection, handling and
practical application of radioisotopes for research and clinical application in
oral and maxillofacial radiology.
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3. Orthodontics |
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Division of
dentistry dealing with the prevention and correction of irregularities of the
teeth-generally entailing the straightening of crooked teeth or the correcting
of a poor bite, or malocclusion (physiologically unacceptable contact of
opposing dentition, which may be caused by imperfect development, loss of teeth,
or abnormal growth of jaws).
Of significance
to the orthodontist is the sequence of eruption (emergence of the tooth from its
developmental crypt into the oral cavity), because such knowledge helps to
determine the position of the teeth. Human bone responds best to tooth movement
before the age of 18, and consequently orthodontic work is usually more
beneficial to a child than an adult.
The practice of
orthodontics has existed since early antiquity, but the more elaborate methods
of treatment came about in the 20th century. Orthodontics quickly became a
specialized branch of dentistry with its own professional organization. Training
in orthodontics usually consists of a two-year postgraduate course.
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4. Prosthodontics |
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Also called
prosthodontia, dental specialty concerned with restoration and maintenance of
oral function, appearance, and comfort by use of prostheses.
The oral
prostheses replacing teeth may be removable dentures or partial dentures or
permanently fixed tooth prostheses, connected to remaining teeth or implanted in
the alveolar bone. Other prostheses include crowns and caps that replace the
outer portions of teeth and protect the remaining structure. Prosthodontics also
provides oral prostheses to correct deformities, such as cleft palate, and to
replace alveolar bone in order to provide underlying support for dentures.
Maxillofacial
prosthodontics, a subspecialty of prosthodontics, is concerned with the
correction of deformities of the face and head and restoration of normal
function by means of prostheses. Deformities may be congenital, acquired
(through trauma or surgical treatment, as of cancer), or developmental (stemming
from some other disorder). Prostheses are also used as an interim measure to
correct defects until surgical reconstruction can be undertaken.
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5. Periodontics |
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Dental specialty
concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of functional and
structural diseases of the periodontal membrane and related tissues that
surround and support the teeth.
Degeneration or
inflammation of these tissues can be caused by various systemic or local
diseases or by poor oral hygiene. In some cases the cause is not
established.
Most commonly,
periodontic diseases are caused by hardened bacteria, called bacterial plaque,
which adheres to teeth and destroys periodontal tissue. The most prevalent
periodontal disease is periodontitis, inflammation of the periodontium.
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6. Pedodontics |
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Also spelled
pedodontics, dental specialty that deals with the care of children's teeth.
The pedodontist
is extensively concerned with prevention, which includes instruction in proper
diet, use of fluoride, and practice of oral hygiene. The pedodontist's routine
practice deals basically with caries (tooth decay) but includes influencing
tooth alignment. Lengthy treatment may be required to correct incipient
abnormalities in tooth position. Braces or other correctional devices may be
used.
The pedodontist
needs patience and a basic knowledge of children's behavioral patterns, as well
as a knowledge of the effects on the mouth of physical and mental diseases. In
the United States a two-year postgraduate course leads to a certificate in
pedodontics.
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7. Operative dentistry |
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Operative
dentistry is devoted to study the prevention of hard tissue disease of the tooth
and the control of pain occurring during the dental filling procedure.
Especially,
emphasis will be placed on esthetic restoration and adhesive restoration.
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8. Oral surgery |
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Dental specialty
that deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of the diseases, injuries,
and defects of the human mouth, jaw, and associated structures.
The most common
oral surgery procedure is tooth extraction. Other dental problems that require
the skill of an oral surgeon include treatment of cysts (liquid- or
semisolid-filled sacs), tumours, lesions, and infections of the mouth and jaw.
More complex problems that are dealt with by the oral surgeon include jaw and
facial injuries, cleft palate, and cleft lip.
Both dentists and
physicians refer patients to an oral surgeon for treatment of such defects.
Oral surgery has
special problems because (1) the lips and the cheeks limit access to jaw and
palate; (2) the tongue and the lower jaw move; (3) the oral cavity opens into
the pharynx (the passageway for air and food); and (4) the oral region is
continually being flooded with saliva and is inhabited by the largest number and
greatest variety of microorganisms found in the human body.
To become an oral
surgeon in the United States requires three years of postgraduate study after
acquisition of a degree in dentistry
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Basic
Dentistry |
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1. Dental anatomy |
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In order to
provide an insight into clinical dental sciences such as occlusion, conservative
dentistry and prosthodontics, the course is conducted to study the morphology,
function of individual teeth and alignment of the teeth.
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2. Oral pathology |
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Oral pathology is
the study of the causes, processes, and effects of oral disease, together with
the resultant alterations of oral structure and functions.
The oral
pathologist provides diagnoses on which treatment by other specialists will
depend.
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3. Oral physiology |
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Oral
physiology has the purpose to obtain the basic concepts in anatomical
structure, biochemical and physiological aspects.
On the basis of
this, one can understand the principles of diagnosis and treatment methods and
develop methods of research, and to enhance ability of application.
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4. Oral microbiology |
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Oral microbiology
is established to obtain the knowledge of morphology, growth and
physico-chemical characteristics of microorganisms through laboratory
experience. Students are expected to learn how to handle microorganisms, so that
they can learn the concept of infection and prevention of infectious
diseases.
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5. Preventive dentistry |
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The concepts and
principles for the care of oral diseases are needed to control and preserve the
personal oral hygiene
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6. Oral biochemistry |
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Understandings on
the basic structure and functions of the macrobiomolecules at the molecular
level are provided.
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7. Dental Materials |
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Understand the
basic properties of dental materials used in dental clinics.
The lectures will
include the classification, composition, reaction and manipulation with some
properties about the classified dental materials such as inorganic, organic, and
metallic dental materials.
Contents of
lecture are properties of preventive materials, esthetic materials, amalgams,
finishings, cements, materials for models and impression, and wax etc.
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8.Dental Pharmacology |
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Dental
Pharmacology deals with a variety of drugs used in dentistry.
Pharmacokinetics,
efficacy, indications, side effects and toxicity of drugs will be covered.
Interactions
between dental drugs and drugs taken by medically compromised patients will be
discussed.
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9. Forensic dentistry |
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Forensic
dentistry is the study and practice of aspects of dentistry that are relevant to
legal problems. It is a specialty practiced by few and is not usually part of
dental education. Forensic dentistry is, however, of considerable legal
importance for several reasons, one of the most important of which is the fact
that the teeth are the structures of the body most resistant to fire or
putrefaction.
Moreover, the
arrangement of the teeth or any restoration in them is virtually or completely
unique to any given individual and, if dental records can be found, may enable
identification with certainty similar to that provided by fingerprinting.
The
identification of human remains after aircraft accidents, for example, can often
be made only by this means. Minor irregularities of the teeth can also be
reproduced in bite marks, enabling a suspect to be identified if he has bitten
another person
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