Dentistry

Dentistry is a section of medicine that works to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral diseases and conditions connected with the teeth and mouth. Many dentists practice general dentistry and diagnose, treat, or restore missing or diseased and damaged teeth and provide preventative care for the mouth. Some dentists practice family dentistry and treat individuals of all ages while other treat only adults.

Dentists may specialize in a number of dental care areas. A person can visit a dentist directory to find a dentist in their area.

Areas of Dentistry

There are nine areas of dentistry that deal with specific dental health conditions and treatments:

  • Endodontics: Endodontics deals with nerve diseases and diseases of other dental tissues. Endodontists treat infections through root canals.
  • Periodontics: Periodontics focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases of the oral mucous membranes, gums, and bones that support the teeth. Periodontists provide treatment for gingivitis and gum disease, also known as periodontal disease.
  • Pediatric dentistry: Pediatric dentistry focuses on helping children to learn healthy oral hygiene habits. Pediatric dentists treat children and adolescents.
  • Oral surgery: Oral surgery corrects and treats diseases and injuries in the mouth and jaw. Oral surgery can also help disorders such as temporomandibular disorder or TMJ.
  • 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. Oral pathologists can diagnose oral cancer, oral herpes and other oral conditions.
  • Orthodontics: Orthodontics deals with tooth and oral structure development as well as treats abnormal and irregular dental development. An orthodontist also treats problems with dental bites with dental braces. Today's orthodontic braces offer reduced treatment time, greater comfort and an enhanced aesthetic appeal.
  • Oral Radiology: Oral radiology focuses on the radiologic identification and interpretation of diseases and disorders of the jaw, mouth, and face.
  • 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.

Cosmetic dentistry is another area of dentistry that deals with the appearance of the teeth.

Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry is a technologically advanced field of dentistry that uses dental lasers to perform multiple dental procedures, instead of using traditional dentistry tools such as rinse heads, brush heads or suctions.

Dental lasers offer a precise beam of light and make no actual physical contact with a person's mouth. Dental lasers may produce less pain and faster recovery than traditional dentistry procedures. Laser dentistry can be used for traditional dentistry procedures such as dental fillings and dental crowns, and cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening.

For more comprehensive information about cosmetic dentistry, laser dentistry, dentists, or other dental procedures, visit Consumer Guide to Dentistry.