Dentistry is the known evaluation,
diagnosisDiagnosis is the identification of the nature of anything, either by process of elimination or other analytical methods...
, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the soft and hard tissues of the jaw (
mandibleThe mandible or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. It also refers to both the upper and lower sections of the beaks of birds; in this case the "lower mandible" corresponds to the mandible of humans while the "upper mandible" is functionally equivalent...
), the
oral cavityThe mouth, buccal cavity, or oral cavity is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food and begins digestion by mechanically breaking up the solid food particles into smaller pieces and mixing them with saliva...
, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is a part of
stomatologyStomatology is that part of medicine that relates to the mouth and its diseases; originally practiced by physicians, it was a standard medical specialty through the early 20th century but in the U.S. it is now the province of dentists...
. Dentistry is widely considered necessary for complete overall health.
Those in the practice of dentistry are known as dentists. Other people aiding in oral health service include
dental assistantDental assistants help the dental operator provide more efficient dental treatment, by preparing the patient with a bib or goggles, washing and sterilizing instruments, passing instruments during the procedure, holding a suction device, and other non-specialized tasks...
s,
dental hygienistthumb|right|200px|A dental hygienist at workA dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive medical care, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the scope of practice of dental hygienists. In most jurisdictions,...
s,
dental technicianA dental technician is a member of the dental team who, with a written work order, produces dental appliances such as a removable prothesis, including dentures and orthodontic appliances, and adjunctive services such as denture repairs, and fixed prostheses, such as crowns and bridges.Dental...
s, and
dental therapistA dental therapist is a licensed dental auxiliary in some countries, who specializes in treating children's teeth and oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the duties therapists are able to perform...
s.
Dentistry is that branch of medicine which deals with the study and practice of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the mouth, the
maxillaThe maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes , the maxilla is sometimes called "upper maxilla", with the mandible being the "lower maxilla"...
, and the face.
Surgery
Dentistry usually encompasses very important practices related to the oral cavity. The most common treatments involve the
dental surgeryDental surgery is any of a number of medical procedures which involve artificially modifying the dentition.-Types:Some of the more common are:* Endodontic ** Root canal...
on the teeth as a treatment for
dental cariesDental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavity, is a disease wherein bacterial processes damage hard tooth structure . These tissues progressively break down, producing dental cavities . Two groups of bacteria are responsible for initiating caries: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli...
. Decayed teeth can be filled with dental amalgam,
dental compositeDental composite resins are types of synthetic resins which are used in dentistry as restorative material or adhesives. Synthetic resins evolved as restorative materials since they were insoluble, aesthetic, and insensitive to dehydration and were inexpensive. It is easy to manipulate them as well...
,
dental porcelainDental porcelain is a porcelain used by a dental technician to create biocompatible lifelike crowns, bridges, and veneers for the patient...
and precious or non-precious metals.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeryOral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region...
is a more specialized form of dental surgery. Dentists can prescribe medication, radiographs (x-rays), and devices for home or in-office use. Many oral diseases (such as bilateral
odontogenic keratocystA keratocystic odontogenic tumour , abbreviated KCOT, is a rare and benign but locally aggressive developmental cystic neoplasm. It most often affects the posterior mandible....
s) and abnormalities (such as several unerupted teeth) can indicate systemic, neural, or other diseases. Most general practitioners of dentistry perform restorative, prosthetic, endodontic therapy, periodontal therapy, and exodontia, as well as performing examinations. Many general practitioners are comfortable treating complex cases, as well as placing implants and extracting third molars(wisdom teeth). All dentists must achieve a certain degree of skill in various disciplines in order to graduate from dental school and become an accredited dentist.
Prevention
Dentists also encourage prevention of dental caries through proper
hygieneHygiene, refers to the set of practices associated with the preservation of health and healthy living. Hygiene is a concept related to medicine, as well as to personal and professional care practices related to most aspects of living, although it is most often associated with cleanliness and...
(
tooth brushingTooth brushing is the act of cleaning teeth with a toothbrush.Modern medical research has shown that brushing teeth properly can prevent cavities, and periodontal, or gum disease, which causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss...
and flossing),
fluorideFluoride is the anion F
−, the reduced form of fluorine. Both organic and inorganic compounds containing the element fluorine are sometimes called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are distinct relative to other...
, and
tooth polishingTooth polishing is the act of smoothing the tooth surface. The purpose of polishing is to make it difficult for plaque to accumulate on the surface area. Tooth surface is rubbed by rubber cup or brush etc....
, although excessive brushing can cause damage to the gums.
Dental sealantDental sealants are a dental treatment consisting of applying a plastic material to one or more teeth, for the intended purpose of preventing dental caries or other forms of tooth decay.-Development:...
s are plastic materials applied to one or more teeth, for the intended purpose of preventing dental caries (cavities) or other forms of tooth decay. Recognized but less conventional preventive agents include
xylitolXylitol is an organic compound with the formula
32. This achiral species is one of four isomers of 1,2,3,4,5-pentapentanol...
, which is bacteriostatic, casein derivatives, and proprietary products such as Cavistat BasicMints.
Education and licensing
The first dental school,
Baltimore College of Dental SurgeryThe Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, , is the birthplace of the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree , and is known as the first dental college in the world.- History :...
opened in Baltimore, Maryland, USA in 1840. Philadelphia Dental College was founded in 1863 and is the second in the united states. In 1907 Temple University accepted a bid to incorporate the school. Studies showed that dentists graduated from different countries, or even from different dental schools in one country, may have different clinical decisions for the same clinical condition. For example, dentists graduated from
IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
i dental schools may recommend more often for the removal of asymptomatic impacted
third molarThird molar teeth consist of the mandibular and maxillary third molars; they usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. They are called wisdom teeth because usually they come in when a person is between age 17 and 25 or older—old enough to have supposedly gained some wisdom...
(wisdom teeth) than dentists graduated from Latin-American or Eastern European dental schools.
In England, the 1878 British Dentists Act and 1879 Dentists Register limited the title of "dentist" and "dental surgeon" to qualified and registered practitioners. The practice of dentistry in the United Kingdom became fully regulated with the 1921 Dentists Act, which required the registration of anyone practicing dentistry. The British Dental Association, formed in 1880 with Sir John Tomes as president, played a major role in prosecuting dentists practicing illegally.
In the United States, a dentist is a healthcare professional qualified to practice dentistry after graduating with a degree of either Doctor of Dental Surgery (
DDSThe Doctor of Dental Surgery is an academic degree awarded to dentists, along with the Doctor of Dental Medicine , Bachelor of Dentistry , Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Chirurgiae , Bachelor of Dental Science , Bachelor of Dental Medicine , Licentiate in Dental Surgery , Doctor of Dentistry ,...
) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). In other countries, some can practice after graduating with Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Chirurgiae (
BDSBachelor of Dental Surgery is a first professional degree programme in dentistry. Other equivalent dental degrees are the BChD, DDS, DMD, BDent, and BDSc....
) or (BChD) or equivalent. In most western countries, to become a qualified dentist one must usually complete at least 4 years of postgraduate study; within the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 Member States, located primarily in Europe. Committed to regional integration, the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community...
the education has to be at least 5 years. Dentists usually complete between 5–8 years of post secondary education before practicing. Though not mandatory, many dentists choose to complete an internship or residency focusing on specific aspects of dental care after they have received their dental degree.
Official specialties
In addition to general dentistry, there are about 9 recognized dental specialties in the US, Canada, and Australia. To become a specialist requires one to train in a residency or advanced graduate training program. Once residency is completed, the doctor is granted a certificate of specialty training. Many specialty programs have optional or required advanced degrees such as a masters degree: (MS, MSc, MDS, MSD, MDSc, MMSc, or MDent), doctoral degree: (DClinDent, DMSc, or PhD), or
medical degreeA medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine.In addition to a medical degree program, some medical schools offer programs leading to a Master's Degree, Doctor of Philosophy , or other post-secondary education. Medical schools can also...
: (MD/MBBS specific to
Maxillofacial SurgeryOral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region...
and sometimes
Oral MedicineOral medicine is the dental Speciality placed at the interface between both medicine and dentistry.- Scope :Oral medicine is concerned with diagnosis and non-surgical management of pathology affecting the oral and maxillofacial region...
).
- Dental public health
Dental public health is a non-clinical speciality of Dentistry.Dental public health is involved in the assessment of dental health needs and improving the dental health of populations rather than individuals....
(study of dental epidemiology and social health policies),
- Endodontics
Endodontics, from the Greek endo and odons , is one of the nine specialties of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association, and deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth...
(root canalA root canal is the space within the root of a tooth. It is part of a naturally occurring space within a tooth that consists of the pulp chamber , the main canal, and more intricate anatomical branches that may connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root.The smaller branches...
therapy and study of diseases of the dental pulp),
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Stomatognathic disease refers to the diseases of the mouth and jaw . The etymology is similar to that of the term Gnathostomata...
(study, diagnosis, and sometimes the treatment of oral and maxillofacial related diseases),
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Oral and maxillofacial radiology is a specialty of Dentistry; that is mainly concerned with performing ,understanding and interpretation of diagnostic imaging modalities used in dentistry and other health care professions related to facial, neck and oral...
(study and radiologic interpretation of oral and maxillofacial diseases),
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region...
(extractionsA dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons, including tooth decay that has destroyed enough tooth structure to prevent restoration...
, implantsA dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement and is used in prosthetic dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth. There are several types of dental implants. The major classifications are divided into osseointegrated implant and the fibrointegrated implant...
, and facial surgery),
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (straightening of teeth and modification of midface and mandibular growth),
- Periodontics (study and treatment of diseases of the periodontium
Periodontium refers to the specialized tissues that both surround and support the teeth, maintaining them in the maxillary and mandibular bones. The word comes from the Greek terms peri-, meaning "around" and -odons, meaning "tooth." Literally taken, it means that which is "around the tooth"...
(non-surgical and surgical), and placement and maintenance of dental implants),
- Pediatric dentistry
Pediatric Dentistry is the branch of dentistry dealing with children from birth through adolescence. It is one of the Specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.This discipline focuses intimately...
(i.e. dentistry for children, formerly known as "pedodontics"),
- Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons...
(dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants. Some prosthodontists further their training in "oral and maxillofacial prosthodontics"--a discipline concerned with the replacement of missing facial structures—such as ears, eyes, nose, etc.)
Specialists in these fields are designated registrable (U.S. "Board Eligible") and warrant exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, endodontist, pediatric dentist, periodontist, or prosthodontist upon satisfying certain local (U.S. "Board Certified"), (Australia/NZ: "FRACDS"), or (Canada: "FRCD(C)") registry requirements.
The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) provides board-certification examinations annually for qualified dentists. These dentists collaborate with sleep physicians at accredited sleep centers and can provide oral appliance therapy and upper airway surgery to treat sleep-related breathing disorders.
http://www.abdsm.org/ While Diplomate status granted by the ABDSM is not one of the recognized dental specialties, it is recognized by the
American Academy of Sleep MedicineThe American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a United States professional society for the medical subspecialty of sleep medicine. It was established in 1975. The is the only professional society that is dedicated exclusively to the medical subspecialty of sleep medicine...
(AASM).
A few other post-graduate formal advanced education programs:
GPR, GDR, MTP residencies-Australia:There are two forms of institution-based training for general dentistry available for dental school graduates in Australia:* General dental residency or Dental house officer, often abbreviated as GDR and DO respectively....
(advanced clinical and didactic training with intense hospital experience) and
AEGD, SEGD, and GradDipClinDent programs-Australia:There are two forms of institution-based training for general dentistry available for dental school graduates in Australia:* General dental residency or Dental house officer, often abbreviated as GDR and DO respectively....
(advanced training in clinical dentistry) are recognized but do not lead to specialization.
Other dental education exists where no postgraduate formal university training is required:
cosmetic dentistryCosmetic dentistry, is comprehensive oral care that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health, aesthetics and function.-Treatments:See the page for Prosthodontics for more information....
,
dental implantA dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement and is used in prosthetic dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth. There are several types of dental implants. The major classifications are divided into osseointegrated implant and the fibrointegrated implant...
,
temporo-mandibular joint therapyTemporomandibular joint disorder , or TMJ syndrome, is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull. The disorder and resultant dysfunction can result in significant pain and impairment...
. 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.
Other specialties
- Dental anesthesiology
Dental anesthesiology is the specialty of dentistry that deals with the management of pain through the use of advanced local and general anesthesia techniques.-Australia and New Zealand:...
, the study of how to relieve pain through advanced use of local and general anesthesia techniques is not yet considered to be one of the recognized dental specialties. However, CODA is in the process of accrediting all dental anesthesiology programs.
- Special needs dentistry
Special needs dentistry, also known as special care dentistry, is a specialty of dentistry concerned with the oral health of people who have intellectual disability, or who are affected by other medical, physical, or psychiatric issues....
is dentistry for those with developmental and acquired disabilities. It is a recognized specialty by the Royal Australasian College of Dental SurgeonsThe Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons or RACDS is a professional college established in 1965 that administers Fellowship Exams for both general and specialist dental practitioners in the Australasian region...
. It has also been recently recognised as a specialty by the General Dental Council in the United Kingdom. The American Board of Special Care Dentistry is hoping to also obtain accreditation for special needs dentistry by CODA.http://www.scdaonline.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=116,http://www.jdentaled.org/cgi/content/full/69/2/249
- Oral Biology - Research in Dental and Craniofacial Biology
- 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
Geriatric dentistry or gerodontics 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.-Links:* * * * *...
or geriodontics is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal ageing and age-related diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with other health care professionals.
- Veterinary dentistry
Veterinary dentistry is the field of dentistry applied to the care of animals. It 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 animals.In the United...
, a speciality of veterinary medicineVeterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, surgical, dental, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. Veterinary science is vital to the study and protection of animal production practices, herd health and monitoring the spread...
, is the field of dentistry applied to the care of animals.
- Aviation dentistry, a subcategory of (military) aviation medicine
Aviation medicine, also called flight medicine or aerospace medicine, is a branch of preventive or occupational medicine in which the patients/subjects are pilots and aircrews...
deals with dental topics related to aircrews, e.g., dental barotrauma and barodontalgiaBarodontalgia, commonly known as tooth squeeze and previously known as aerodontalgia, is a pain in tooth caused by a change in atmospheric pressure...
. In addition, the aircrew population is a unique high-risk group to several diseases and harmful conditions due to irregular work shifts with irregular self-oral care habits and irregular meals (usually carbonated drinks and high energy snacks) and work-related stress.
History
The
Indus Valley CivilizationThe Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization which centred mostly in the western part of the Indian Subcontinent and flourished around the Indus river basin....
in
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
has yielded evidence of dentistry being practiced as far back as 7000 BCE. This earliest form of dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with
bow drillThe bow drill or is an ancient tool. While it was usually used to make fire, it was also used for primitive woodworking and dentistry. It consists of a bearing block or handhold, a spindle or drill, a hearth or fireboard, and a simple bow...
s operated, perhaps, by skilled bead craftsmen. The reconstruction of this ancient form of dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective.
A
SumerianSumerian was the language of ancient Sumer, spoken in Southern Mesopotamia since at least the 4th millennium BCE . It was gradually replaced by Akkadian as a spoken language somewhere around the turn of the 3rd and the 2nd millennium BCE , but continued to be used as a sacred, ceremonial, literary...
text from 5000 BC describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of
dental cariesDental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavity, is a disease wherein bacterial processes damage hard tooth structure . These tissues progressively break down, producing dental cavities . Two groups of bacteria are responsible for initiating caries: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli...
. Evidence of this belief has also been found in ancient
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
,
EgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia...
,
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. The legend of the worm is also found in the writings of
HomerHomer is a legendary ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey...
, and as late as the 1300s AD the surgeon
Guy de ChauliacGuy de Chauliac , born in Chaulhac, Lozère, Paris, France, was the most eminent of surgeons during the European Middle Ages. He was the physician for Pope Clement VI and two successors. In Avignon, France, where he spent most of his life, he attended to the Pope and survived an infection of the...
still promoted the belief that worms cause tooth decay.
The
Edwin Smith PapyrusThe Edwin Smith Papyrus is the only surviving copy of part of an Ancient Egyptian textbook on trauma surgery. It is among the world's earliest surviving examples of medical literature, the Kahun Gynecological Papyrus being older, and is the world's oldest surgical document...
, written in the 17th century BC but which may reflect previous manuscripts from as early as 3000 BC, includes the treatment of several dental ailments. In the 18th century BC, the
Code of HammurabiThe Code of Hammurabi is a well-preserved ancient law code, created ca. 1790 BC in ancient Babylon. It was enacted by the sixth Babylonian king, Hammurabi...
referenced dental extraction twice as it related to punishment. Examination of the remains of some
ancient EgyptiansThe History of ancient Egypt spans the period from the early predynastic settlements of the northern Nile Valley to the Roman conquest in 30 BC...
and Greco-Romans reveals early attempts at dental prosthetics and
surgerySurgery is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, to help improve bodily function or appearance, or sometimes for some other reason...
.
Ancient GreekAncient Greece is the civilisation belonging to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca. 1100 BC and the Dorian invasion, to 146 BC and the Roman conquest of Greece after the Battle of Corinth. It is generally considered to be the seminal culture which provided the...
scholars
HippocratesHippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos - Greek: ; Hippokrátēs was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles, and was considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine...
and
AristotleAristotle was a Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He wrote on many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology.Together with Plato and Socrates , Aristotle is one of...
wrote about dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth, treating decayed teeth and
gum disease, extracting teeth with forceps, and using wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws. The first use of dental appliances or
bridgesA bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants....
comes from the Etruscans from as early as 700 BC.
RomanAncient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea, it became one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
medical writer Cornelius Celsus wrote extensively of oral diseases as well as dental treatments such as narcotic-containing emollients and astringents.
Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the
Middle AgesThe Middle Ages of European history is a period of European history covering roughly a millennium in the 5th century through 16th centuries. More specific starting and ending points are sometimes adopted by scholars to suit their respective specializations or current focus...
and throughout the 19th century, dentistry was not a profession in itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general
physicianA physician — also known as medical practitioner, doctor of medicine, medical doctor, or simply doctor — practices the ancient profession of medicine, which is concerned with maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease or injury...
s.
BarberA barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, give shaves, and trim beards. In previous times, barbers also performed surgery and dentistry. In more recent times, with the development of safety razors and the decreasing prevalence of beards, most barbers primarily cut hair...
s usually limited their practice to extracting teeth which alleviated
painPhysical Pain is the unpleasant feeling common to a headache and a stubbed toe. It typically consists of negative affect and aversion, and has location, duration, intensity and a distinctive quality...
and associated chronic tooth
infectionAn infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host's resources to multiply, usually at the expense of the host. The infecting organism, or pathogen, interferes with the normal functioning of the...
. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century,
Guy de ChauliacGuy de Chauliac , born in Chaulhac, Lozère, Paris, France, was the most eminent of surgeons during the European Middle Ages. He was the physician for Pope Clement VI and two successors. In Avignon, France, where he spent most of his life, he attended to the Pope and survived an infection of the...
invented the dental pelican (resembling a
pelicanA pelican is a large water bird with a distinctive pouch under the beak, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae.Along with the darters, cormorants, gannets, boobies, frigatebirds, and tropicbirds, pelicans make up the order Pelecaniformes. Modern pelicans are found on all continents except...
's beak) which was used up until the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the
dental keyThe dental key is an instrument that was used in dentistry to extract diseased teeth. Before the era of antibiotics, dental extraction was often the method of choice to treat dental infections, and extraction instruments date back several centuries...
which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 20th century.
The first book focused solely on dentistry was the "Artzney Buchlein" in 1530, and the first dental textbook written in English was called "Operator for the Teeth" by Charles Allen in 1685. It was between 1650 and 1800 that the science of modern dentistry developed. It is said that the 17th century French physician
Pierre FauchardPierre Fauchard was a significant French physician, he is credited to be the "father of modern dentistry". He is widely known for his book, Le chirurgien dentiste, "The Surgeon Dentist" 1728, where he described the basic oral anatomy and function, signs and symptoms of oral pathology, operative...
started dentistry science as we know it today, and he has been named
"the father of modern dentistry". Among many of his developments were the extensive use of
dental prosthesisProsthodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons...
, the introduction of
dental fillingsThis page is about types of dental restorative materials. For dental fillings see dental restorationsDental restorative materials are specially fabricated materials, designed for use as dental restorations , which are used to restore tooth structure loss, usually resulting from but not limited to...
as a treatment for
dental cariesDental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavity, is a disease wherein bacterial processes damage hard tooth structure . These tissues progressively break down, producing dental cavities . Two groups of bacteria are responsible for initiating caries: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli...
and the statement that sugar derivate acids such as
tartaric acidTartaric acid is a white crystalline diprotic organic acid. It occurs naturally in many plants, particularly grapes, bananas, and tamarinds, and is one of the main acids found in wine. It is added to other foods to give a sour taste, and is used as an antioxidant. Salts of tartaric acid are known...
are responsible for dental decay.
There has been a problem of
quackeryQuackery is a derogatory term used to describe unproven or fraudulent medical practices. Random House Dictionary describes a "quack" as a "fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or qualifications he or she...
in the history of dentistry, and accusations of quackery among some dental practitioners persist today.
Priority patients
UK NHS priority patients include patients with congenital abnormalities (such as cleft palates and
hypodontiaIn dentistry, hypodontia is the condition of naturally having fewer than the regular number of teeth. Hypodontia describes a situation when there is a missing number of 6 teeth or fewer excluding 3rd molars or wisdom teeth. The condition of missing over 6 teeth is called oligodontia excluding 3rd...
), patients who have suffered orofacial trauma and those being treated for
cancerCancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
in the head and neck region. These are treated in a multidisciplinary team approach with other hospital based dental specialties
orthodonticsOrthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions , which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both...
and maxillofacial surgery. Other priority patients include those with infections (either third molars or necrotic teeth which can often infect the brain) or avulsed permanent teeth, as well as patients with a history of smoking or smokeless tobacco with ulcers in the oral cavity also.
See also
- Barodontalgia
Barodontalgia, commonly known as tooth squeeze and previously known as aerodontalgia, is a pain in tooth caused by a change in atmospheric pressure...
- Biodontics
Biodontics dentistry was founded by Dr. Edward Rossomando in 2001 as an area of oral health. Biodontics is currently funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research . The purpose of Biodontics is to expand the dental profession in its research capacity, skill sets, and...
- Calculus
In dentistry, calculus is a form of hardened Dental plaque and is synonymous with tartar. It is caused by the continual accumulation of minerals from saliva on plaque on the teeth...
- Crown
A Crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant and is typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cement. Crowns can be made from many materials, which are usually fabricated using indirect methods...
- Dental amalgam
This page is about types of dental restorative materials. For dental fillings see dental restorationsDental restorative materials are specially fabricated materials, designed for use as dental restorations , which are used to restore tooth structure loss, usually resulting from but not limited to...
- Dental brace
Dental braces are a device used in orthodontics to align teeth and their position with regard to a person's bite. They are often used to correct malocclusions such as underbites, overbites, cross bite and open bites, or crooked teeth and various other flaws of teeth and jaws, whether cosmetic or...
- Dental cavities
- Dental extraction
A dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons, including tooth decay that has destroyed enough tooth structure to prevent restoration...
- Dental fear
Dental fear refers to the fear of dentistry and of receiving dental care. A pathological form of this fear is variously called dental phobia, odontophobia, dentophobia, dentist phobia, or dental anxiety...
- Dental implants
- Dental notation
Dentists, in writing or speech, use several different Dental notation systems for associating information to a specific tooth. The three most commons systems are the FDI World Dental Federation notation, Universal numbering system , and Palmer notation method...
- Dental restoration
A dental restoration or dental filling is a dental restorative material used to restore the function, integrity and morphology of missing tooth structure. The structural loss typically results from caries or external trauma. It is also lost intentionally during tooth preparation to improve the...
- Dentin
Dentin is a calcified tissue of the body, and along with enamel, cementum, and pulp is one of the four major components of teeth. Usually, it is covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root and surrounds the entire pulp...
- Eco-friendly dentistry
Dentistry has an impact on the environment and there are moves towards "eco-friendly dentistry". Eco-friendly dentistry uses a sustainable approach to encourage dentists to implement new strategies to try and reduce the energy being consumed and the large amount of waste being produced by the...
- Fluoridation
- Fluoride therapy
Fluoride therapy is the delivery of fluoride to the teeth topically or systemically in order to prevent tooth decay which results in cavities. Most commonly, fluoride is applied topically to the teeth using gels, varnishes, toothpaste/dentifrices or mouth rinse. Systemic delivery involves...
- Gingivitis
Gingivitis around the teeth is a general term for gingival diseases affecting the gingiva . As generally used, the term gingivitis refers to gingival inflammation induced by bacterial biofilms adherent to tooth surfaces.- Causes :Gingivitis can be defined as inflammation of the gingival tissue...
- Halitosis
Halitosis, or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant odors exhaled in breathing – whether the smell is from an oral source due to bacteria....
- Dental laboratory
A dental laboratory is a light manufacturing facility for the production of dental restorations on the order of a dentist. Dental laboratories may make dentures, crowns, or other dental restorations such as implant crowns....
- Minimal intervention dentistry
Minimal intervention dentistry is a modern dental practice designed around the principal aim of preservation of as much of the natural tooth structure as possible...
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region...
- Oral hygiene
Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque from teeth, to prevent cavities , gingivitis, and periodontitis. It is part of a complete program of oral hygiene.-Brushing:...
- Patron Saint of dentistry (Saint Apollonia)
Saint Apollonia was one of a group of virgin martyrs who suffered in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians prior to the persecution of Decius. According to legend, her torture included having all of her teeth violently pulled out or shattered...
- Periodontitis
- Plaque
Dental plaque is biofilm that builds up on the teeth. If not removed regularly, it can lead to dental cavities or periodontal problems ....
- Toothache
A toothache, also known as odontalgia or, less frequently, as odontalgy, is an aching pain in or around a tooth. In most cases toothaches are caused by problems in the tooth or jaw, such as cavities, gum disease, the emergence of wisdom teeth, a cracked tooth, infected dental pulp , jaw disease, or...
- Xerostomia
Xerostomia is the medical term for the subjective complaint of dry mouth due to a lack of saliva. Xerostomia is sometimes colloquially called pasties, cottonmouth, doughmouth or des . Xerostomia is also common in smokers....
Lists
External links