Dentistry

Dental Procedures

Dentistry is a field of medicine that works to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral diseases and conditions in connection 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 adults only.

Dentists may focus in on a number of dental care areas. A person can visit a dentist directory to find a dentist who fits their needs.

People who visit dentists 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 Bridges - Dental bridges are used to replace missing teeth with an artificial tooth that is held in place by material that wraps around other supporting teeth.
Dental Implants - Missing teeth from injury or poor oral hygiene can affect a person's smile and self confidence. However, dental implants offer people with missing teeth a solution to improve their smiles.

Dental implants are metal cylinders that resemble screws and act as roots for replacement teeth. Once the cylinder is in position in the gum, an abutment is attached and an artificial tooth (dental crown) is fixed to the abutment. The crown looks like a real tooth and completes the smile. Dental implants are an alternative to dentures and dental bridges.
Root Canals - Root canals are performed to remove diseased or damaged tissue within a tooth.
Dental Fillings - Dental fillings fill in the area where tooth decay was removed with porcelain or composite materials.
Dental Braces - Dental braces help to correct a person's bite and align teeth for a straight smile and improved chewing.
Dental Crowns - Dental crowns are used to repair decayed teeth. These crowns are used to cover the entire surface of the decayed tooth to add strength and stability.
Dentures - People often get dentures to replace missing or damaged teeth that can not be repaired or restored with other common dentistry procedures. Denture cleaning plays an important role in the maintenance of denture functionality and oral health care.
Bonding - Bonding repairs chipped and cracked 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 chip or crack in the tooth.

Areas of Dentistry

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

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.
Periodontics: Periodontics specializes in the 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 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.
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.
Pediatric dentistry: Pediatric dentistry focuses on helping children to learn healthy oral hygiene habits. Pediatric dentists treat children and adolescents.
Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics focuses on tooth restoration and replaces missing natural teeth (dentures, dental implants, dental crowns, and dental bridges).
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 through the use of 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.
Endodontics: Endodontics deals with nerve diseases and diseases of other dental tissues. An endodontists is adept at treating infections and performing a root canal.

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