Encyclopedia
Dentistry is the art and science of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions, diseases, and disorders of the
oral cavity, the maxillofacial region, and its associated structures as it relates to human beings. A dentist is a doctor qualified to practice dentistry. In most countries, several years of training in a
university and some practical experience working with actual patients' dentition are required to become a qualified dentist. The patron saint of dentists is
Saint Apollonia, martyred in Alexandria by having all her teeth violently extracted.
The first dental school opened in Baltimore Maryland. The first dental school to affiliate with a university became part of Harvard.
General Dentistry
General Dental Practice includes most examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and prevention of disease. The
dentist and with the aide of other dental auxiliaries frequently uses
X-rays and other equipment to ensure correct diagnosis and treatment planning. Treatment may include filling cavities, removing the nerves of teeth, treating diseases of the gums, removing teeth, and replacing lost teeth with
bridges and
dentures .
Anesthesia is often used in any treatment that might cause pain.
Teeth may be filled with
Gold,
Silver, Amalgam, or Cements, and with fused Porcelain Inlays. Dentists treat diseases of the mouth and gums such as trench mouth and Periodontitis. An important part of general
dental practice is preventive dentistry. If a dentist examines a patient's teeth at regular intervals, a disease may be detected and treated before it becomes serious. Dentists also demonstrate proper methods of brushing and flossing the teeth. They may advise their patients about what food to eat or to avoid for good dental health. Dentists may also treat teeth with Fluorides or other substances to prevent decay.
Specialties
In addition to general dentistry, there are nine dental specialties recognized by the
American Dental Association and require 2-6 years of residency training after dental school. The specialties are:
Specialists in these fields are designated registrable and warrant exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral surgeon, pedodontist, periodontist, or prosthodontist upon satisfying certain local registry requirements.
Two other post-graduate formal advanced education programs: General Practice Residency and Advanced Education in General Dentistry recognized by the do not lead to specialization.
Other dental education exists where no post-graduate formal university training is required: cosmetic dentistry, dental implant, temporo-mandibular joint therapy. These usually require the attendance of one or more continuing education courses that typically last for one to several days. There are restrictions on allowing these dentists to call themselves specialists in these fields. The specialist titles are registrable titles and controlled by the local dental licensing bodies.
Forensic odontology consists of the gathering and use of dental evidence in law. This may be performed by any dentist with experience or training in this field. The function of the forensic dentist is primarily documentation and verification of identity.
Geriatric dentistry or geriodontics is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with other health care professionals.
Veterinary dentistry, a specialty of
veterinary medicine, is the field of dentistry applied to the care of animals .
History
In 2001 archaeologists studying the remains of two men from Mehrgarh,
Pakistan, made the discovery that the people of
Indus Valley Civilization, even from the early
Harappan periods , had knowledge of medicine and dentistry. The physical anthropologist that carried out the examinations, Professor Andrea Cucina from the University of Missouri-Columbia, made the discovery when he was cleaning the teeth from one of the men . Later research in the same area found evidence of teeth having been drilled, dating back 9,000 years.
Some information contained in the
Edwin Smith Papyrus dates as early as 3000 BC and includes the treatment of several dental ailments .
Hammurabi's Code contains some references to dental procedures and fees. The
Ebers papyrus also discusses similar treatments . Examining the remains of some
ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveal early attempts at dental
prosthetics and
surgery .
Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the
Middle Ages and through the
19th century, dentistry was not a profession into itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general
physicians.
Barbers usually limited their practice to extracting teeth, which not only resulted in the alleviation of pain, but often cured a variety of ailments linked with chronic tooth infection. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac invented the dental pelican which was used through the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the
dental key which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 20th century.
For more information on the ancient history of dentistry refer to the
.It is said that the
17th century french physician
Pierre Fauchard started dentistry science as we know it today, hence was named
"the father of modern dentistry". Among many of his developments were, the extensive use of dental prosthesis, introduced dental fillings as treatment for
dental cavities and stated sugar derivate acids like
tartaric acid were responsible of dental decay.
Dentistry throughout the world
Dentistry in Taiwan
After graduate from high school, students have to take 6 years dental program to get D.M.D. degree. The first dental school in Taiwan was belonged to college of medicine in
National Taiwan University. There are 7 dental schools in Taiwan nowadays;
Dentistry in Australia
In
Australia, graduating dentists earn either a BDSc , B.D.S or BDent degree. There are six Dental schools in Australia run by universities;
The School of Dental Science at the
University of Melbourne is the oldest dental school in
Australia.
Dentistry in Canada
Canadian dentistry is overseen by the
Canadian Dental Association, while specialization is overseen by the Royal College of Dentists. Today, Canada has about 16,000 dentists. Canadian dentistry is not publicly run ; however, some provinces provide for free dental care for children and the elderly. Other Canadians are mostly covered by workplace dental plans, but many have to pay out of pocket.
For most of the early colonial period dentistry was a rare and unusual practice in Canada. In severe situations, barbers or blacksmiths would pull a tooth, but for many years
Canada lagged behind European advances. The first dentists in
Canada were
United Empire Loyalists who fled the
American Revolution. The first recorded dentist in Canada was a Mr. Hume who advertised in a
Halifax newspaper in 1814.
During the first half of the 19th century, dentistry expanded rapidly. In 1867 the
Ontario Dental Association was formed and in 1868 they founded Canada's first dental school in
Toronto, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. The
University of Toronto agreed to be affiliated with the dental school. As time passed, other Canadian universities also created dentistry programmes. However, the University of Toronto still has the largest dental school in Canada that features the most postgraduate research opportunities as well as certifications for all the dental specialties. The University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry is at the forefront of Canadian dental research as well as being the top ranked dental school in all of Canada as well as being among the best dental schools in the world.
Dental care is not covered by the Canadian health care system, as it is in many other countries with public healthcare.
Canadian dental schools
|logo = |motto = Fide splendet et scientia
...
...
Dentistry in Chile
, , , Universidad de Talca, Universidad de Antofagasta, among others provides the profession in Chile. The first dental school was the one of the Universidad de Concepcion in the year 1919.
Dentistry in Hong Kong
To become a dentist in Hong Kong, one must complete the 5-year B.D.S. course in The University of Hong Kong. Students learn basic health sciences, dental sciences under the Problem Based Learning policy. Besides, formal training and supervised practice are prescribed. It is accepted that only after 5 years of such training would the trainees achieve a superior level of professional competence.
Graduates can enter general practice or pursue a specialist M.D.S. degree after gaining one year of working experience.
Before the dental school was established in the University of Hong Kong, most of the practicing dentists obtained their dental degree from the Philippines.
Dentistry in India
Modern Indian dentists must earn the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree , which requires four years of study and one year of internship. This degree is overseen by the In most states, one has to appear for an entrance test conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education, whereas some autonomous universities conduct their own entrance tests.Post graduate courses are also available in different specialities.It requires 3 years of study after BDS.
Find informations on Dental HealthThe Specialisation is available in the following specialities - Orthodontics,Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Conservative and endodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral Pathology, Oral medicine and Radiology, Community Dentistry. Although many institutions are offering other short or long courses in Dental Implantology and esthetic Dentistry, These are yet to be regularised by the Council.
Besides Certificate courses are also offered in Dental Mechanics and Dental Hygiene. These are two year certificate courses. Dental Mechanics offers knowledge about Prosthodontic appliances to be fabricated in a dental laboratory while a Dental Hygienist deals with clinical part,viz scaling, polishing, et.al.
Dentistry in Iran
In
Iran dentists require six years of post secondary education. The whole program is one single degree of D.D.S. After this, those wishing to specialize in a particular field may pursue higher education. Upon graduation, a dentist may need to fulfill a two year military requirement in order to start his/her private practice.
Dentistry in Italy
In
Italy dentists complete 5 years of undergraduate study to earn a degree. Nevertheless it is possible to agree on certain basic clinical competences common to all member states of the
European Union.
The following is an example of one such clinical competency : If a clinician is deemed to be clinically competent in the surgical removal of a buried root, this implies much more than the technical and surgical ability required to excise a buried piece of
root from
alveolus. It embraces a broad range of preclinical and clinical knowledge and understanding on which surgical treatment is based.
Dentistry in Malta
The first course leading to a degree in Dental Surgery, at the University of Malta, commenced in 1933. The qualification was recognized by the Medical Council of the United Kingdom in 1936.
Dental Surgery was established as a separate Faculty in 1954, previous to which the course was under the direction of a Board of Studies within the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. The Faculty caters for an undergraduate intake of 8 students annually. A B.Ch.D Degree is awarded at the completion of the 5 year course.
Dentistry in Norway
The 5-year dental education is offered at three universities:
All dentists in Norway are organized through "Tannlegeforeningen".
Dental services are free only for the children.
Dentistry in Pakistan
At present there are upwards of 20 dental schools throughout Pakistan, according to the the state regulatory body has upwards of 6200 registered dentists. The four year training culminates in achieveing a
Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree, which also requires a one year compulsory internship to be a registered dentist in Pakistan.
Dentistry in the Philippines
Most Filipino Dentists must earn a total of 6 years of dental school to obtain the degree Doctor of Dental Medicine . Presently, the country has a total of 17 dental schools, in which the board licensing is administered and regulated by the Board of Dentistry of the Professional Regulation Commission.
Centro Escolar University is noted to have the largest enrolment of Dentistry students every year in the country.
Dentistry in Slovakia
In
Slovakia, dentists complete 6 years of undergraduate study to earn a MUDr degree. Junior graduates work under a skilled doctor for at least 3 years to receive their license from The Slovak Chamber of Dentists.
Dentistry in Sweden
Dentistry in the United Kingdom
In the
United Kingdom, dentists complete 5 years of undergraduate study to earn a B.D.S. or BChD degree. After graduating most dentists will enter a V.T. scheme, of either 1 or 2 years length, to receive their full
National Health Service registration. Dentists must register with the G.D.C. , and meet their requirements as the governing body of the profession, before being allowed to practice.
Dentistry in the United States
In the
United States, dentists earn either a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree. There is no difference in the training for either degree. The degrees are equivalent, and recognized equally by all state boards of dentistry. There are 56 Accredited Dental schools in the United States requiring 4 years of post graduate study . Most applicants to dental school have attained at least a B.S. or B.A. degree, however, a small percentage are admitted after only fulfilling specific prerequisite courses. So unlike many other countries, it can take more than 8 years to become a dentist. The degrees D.D.S. and D.M.D. require equivalent education and are identical in every way. The difference relates to the history involved in the division of medicine and surgery in medical practice. There has been a recent movement to include a 5th year of education that focuses on purely practical training in the clinical setting. In at least one state, a state dental license can be received without taking the licensing exam upon completing this additional year of training.
Dentists are licensed and regulated by the state in which they practice. The license is only valid in the issuing state and is non-transferable. There are many cooperative agreements between states that allow recognition of another state's license so as to procure a license either via "licensure by credentials" or "licensure by reciprocity."
A dentist may go on for further training in a dental specialty which require an additional 1 to 7 years of post-doctoral training. There are 9 recognized dental specialties. They are Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dental Public Health. There is no specialty in esthetic dentistry or implantology, and no additional training is required for a dentist to make the claim of being an esthetic or cosmetic dentist. Dentists are forbidden to claim that they are specialists in areas of practice in which there is no recognized specialty. They may limit their practices to a single area of dentistry, and claim that their practice is limited to that area.
Any general dentist may perform those procedures designated within the enumerated specialties if they deem themselves competent. Many general dentists train in certain aspects of the above specialties such as the placement and restoration of dental implants, advanced prosthodontics and endodontics, and have limited or heavily focused their practices to these areas. When a general dentist performs any procedure that falls within the realm of a specialty, they are expected to perform with the same level of expertise as a certified specialist and are legally held to such standards with respect to any issues of malpractice.
Related dental topics
Dental floss is a bundle of thin nylon [i] filaments or a plastic ribbon used to remove food and plaque [i] ...
Organizations
Taiwan
- Taiwan Dental Association
- Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China
- Taipei Dental Association
- Taichung Dental Association
- Kaohsiung Dental Association
- Taiwan Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- ROC Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Taiwan Association of Orthodontists
Australia
Canada
- Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- Association of Prosthodontists of Canada
- Canadian Academy of Periodontology
- Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry
- Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Canadian Association of Orthodontists
- Canadian Dental Association
- Royal College of Dentists
Hong Kong
- Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong Dental Association
- The Dental Council of Hong Kong
India
- Indian Dental Association
- Indian Orthodontic Society
Miscellaneous
- Malta Association of Dental Students
- American Veterinary Dental College
- European Veterinary Dental College
United Kingdom
- General Dental Council
- British Dental Association
- British Dental Health Foundation
- The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry
- School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham
- University of Glasgow Dental Hospital and School
United States
- Advancing the standard of care for comprehensive implant dentistry since 1951.
- American Dental Education Association
- Amerkjflkjadfoijalkjdflkahtlaksjdofjican Dental Association
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- Academy of General Dentistry
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- American Association of Orthodontists
- American College of Prosthodonists
External links
- International Award Winning Initiative of the Restorative Dentistry Oncology Clinic
- Ask the dental experts
- from the Bureau of Labor Statistics's
- by the American Dental Association
