WHAT ARE THE BRANCHES OF DENTISTRY? - MEDICINE - 2024

The main branches of dentistry are endodontics, dental public health, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry, and prosthetic dentistry.

Dentistry is a branch of medicine that consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, commonly in the teeth, but also in the oral mucosa and neighboring and related structures and tissues, particularly to the maxillofacial area (maxillary and facial).

Although it is mainly associated with teeth among the general public, the field of dentistry or dental medicine is not limited to the teeth, but includes other aspects of the cranio-facial complex, including the mandibular-tempera and other supporting structures..

It is often understood that dentistry also encompasses the medical specialty of stomatology (the study of the mouth and its disorders and diseases), which is why the two terms are used interchangeably in certain regions.

Dentistry is important for general health as dental problems can lead to other, more serious health problems.

For this reason, dental treatments are carried out in private practices (primary care), dental hospitals, or secondary care institutions (prisons, military bases, etc.).

Scholars say that dentistry was the first known specialty of medicine and there are records dating back more than 9,000 years to support these claims.

Main branches of dentistry

Within dentistry there are branches or specializations that focus on certain specific areas of the oral cavity to promote comprehensive dental health.

Next, those that have been considered as official branches:

Dental public health

It is a specialty of dentistry that deals with the prevention and promotion of oral health.

Dental public health is involved in assessing major dental health needs and creating effective solutions to improve the dental health of populations rather than individuals.

Public health dentistry is generally practiced through government sponsored programs, which are for the most part aimed at public school children in the belief that their oral hygiene education is the best way to reach the general public.

The pattern for such programs in the past was an annual visit by dentists to a school to give lectures and demonstrate proper tooth brushing techniques.

Endodontics

Endodontics encompasses the study and practice of the basic and clinical sciences of normal dental pulp biology and the etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental pulp diseases and injuries along with associated conditions.

Endodontics has evolved enormously in the last decade and its applications have vastly improved the quality of dental treatment.

Endodontic therapy (commonly known as "root canal therapy"), endodontic retreatment, surgery, treatment of cracked teeth, and treatment of dental trauma are the main therapies exercised within endodontics.

Root canal therapy is one of the most common procedures. If the dental pulp (which contains nerves, arterioles, venules, lymphatic tissue, and fibrous tissue) becomes diseased or injured, endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth.

Oral and maxillofacial pathology

It deals with the diagnosis and study of the causes and effects of diseases that affect the oral and maxillofacial region.

Diseases of the mouth (oral cavity), jaws (maxillae), and related structures such as salivary glands, temporomandibular joints, facial muscles, and perioral skin (the skin around the mouth).

The mouth is an important organ with many different functions and is prone to a variety of medical and dental disorders that are preventable thanks to this branch of dentistry.

Oral and maxillofacial radiology

It is the branch of dentistry related to the performance and interpretation of the diagnostic image used to examine the cranio-facial, dental and adjacent structures.

OMFR, for its acronym in English, is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Australasia.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

He specializes in treating many diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and hard and soft tissues of the oral (mouth) and maxillofacial (jaws and face) region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty.

In countries such as the UK, Australia and most of Europe, it is recognized as a specialty of medicine and dentistry, and a dual degree in medicine and dentistry is mandatory.

The world-renowned cosmetic / aesthetic surgeries, corrective jaw surgery and others, are part of this branch.

Orthodontics

Orthodontics is derived from the Greek "orthos" (correct, straight) and "odont" (tooth) which derives from "correction of teeth".

It is the branch of dentistry that deals primarily with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of poorly positioned teeth and jaws.

Periodontics

Also known as periodontology, it is the branch of dentistry that studies the support structures of the teeth, as well as the diseases and conditions that affect them.

The supporting tissues are known as the periodontium, which includes the gingiva (gums), alveolar bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament.

Pediatric dentistry

It is the branch of dentistry that deals with the oral health of children from birth to adolescence.

Among its functions is the diagnosis of oral diseases, cleaning and treatment with fluoride as well as the prevention of cavities or diseases.

In addition, pediatric dentistry is responsible for controlling the growth of teeth and jaws and performing surgical procedures necessary to maintain oral health in children and adolescents.

Prosthetic dentistry

According to the American Dental Association this branch of dentistry is:

"The specialty related to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and / or oral and maxillofacial tissues that use biocompatible substitutes ”.

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