Dental Specialities

7/28/2019 Dental Specialities

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Dentalspecialities


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More and more trend is toward specialisation.

Dentistry is no exception. If you knowdifferent dental specialities then it will helpyou to know which type of dentist can solve

your problem most effectively. Most dentistsstill do allround work but because of extratraining specialist will do a better job forproblems in his field.


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This branch of dental practice deals with

the diagnosis and surgical treatment of anydisease, injury, malformation, or deficiency of

the jaws or associated structures. An importantaspect of oral surgery is the removal of teeth,which may be complicated by their location,peculiar formation, or attachment to thejawbone.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery


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Teeth that are embedded in the jawbone orsoft tissue are said to be impacted. In suchcases the surrounding bone or tissue may haveto be removed in order to reach the tooth. Oral

surgery also includes the removal of cysts andgrowths in the jaws and mouth, the setting offractures of the jaws, and operations for thecorrection of cleft palate and harelip.


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This division of dentistry deals withthe correction of badly aligned and protrudingteeth. If your child has habits like thumbsucking etc. or even a cut in the mouth (cleft

palate or Lip) or projecting lower jaw thisspecialist will be able to guide and help you.

Orthodontics


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It deals with the detection, study,prevention, and correction of the conditionknown as malocclusion, which involvesirregularities in tooth position and jaw

relationships and which can lead to deformitiesof the jaws and face. Malocclusion may behereditary or may be an acquired defect causedby faulty habits or early loss of teeth as aresult of decay. By applying special devices

and appliances to the teeth, sometimes incombination with surgery, a proper occlusion ofthe teeth can be effected by the orthodontist.


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These specialists deal with the variousmethods of providing artificial substitutes, ordentures, for missing teeth, the replacement ofwhich ensures the even distribution of the

forces involved in chewing and thus preventsthe loss of other teeth as a result of unduestress. The nature of the replacement dependson the health of the remaining teeth andsupporting structures. If feasible, a fixed

bridge is used to replace missing teeth. Thistype of replacement is accomplished byconstructing crowns, which cover all or a largepart of the adjacent teeth, and then byattaching the artificial teeth to the crowns.

Prosthodontics


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A fixed bridge made of gold coveredwith porcelain or acrylic (a plasticmaterial) is lifelike and cannot bereadily removed. If sufficient adjacent

teeth do not remain to support a fixedbridge, then a removable partial dentureis constructed. This type of prostheticdevice is usually secured by clasps,which embrace several of the remaining

teeth. The clasps may be made of gold orof a cobalt-steel alloy.


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This type of appliance must be removedfrequently to be cleaned. When all teeth mustbe replaced, a full denture is made. Theretention of this type of denture depends on

the firmness of the underlying tissues and theadhesion provided by the saliva in the mouth.Full dentures are usually made of acrylic,reinforced occasionally with metal.Prosthodontists also replace portions of the

oral cavity that are missing because ofmalformations or deficiencies.


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Another surgical approach to toothreplacement is the dental implant, which cantake a number of forms. Screws may be drilledinto the jawbone to serve as anchors for caps,

a metal blade may be fixed to the bone andteeth can then be cemented to posts on theblade, or a metal frame may be placed below thegum for tooth support when the bone itself istoo fragile. A full set of teeth may be

implanted by such means. These expensiveprocesses are not favored by all dentists, buta growing number of patients are choosingimplant surgery. Implantology is now fastdeveloping into a field by itself.


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Gum disease is the major cause of tooth lossin the thirties. Over 90% people suffer from itin India. And now it has been shown that peoplehaving gum disease are at higher risk of

getting heart problems. If you have gumsbleeding then this is the Doctor to see. Thisbranch of dentistry is concerned with the studyand treatment of the supporting structures andtissues surrounding the teeth.

Periodontics


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The gums, or gingivae, and the underlying bone aresubject to many disorders. Calculus encrustations on

the teeth, which form over and under the gum, act as

an irritant to the underlying tissues. Food

accumulating on the neck of the tooth and

irregularities such as cavities, malocclusions, orpoorly constructed dental appliances also act as

irritants. In addition, imbalance of tooth-cusp

relationships may force food particles into the gums.

When subjected to irritants, such soft tissues as the

gingivae become inflamed, and eventually the adjacent

bone may be destroyed. Thus, the tooth ultimately

becomes loosened because of the loss of bone around

its roots.


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Inflammation of the gum is calledgingivitis, and infections destroying the gumtissue and bone are called periodontitis.Although gum diseases are the greatest single

cause of tooth loss after the age of 21, theseconditions also occur in children. Anothercommon gum disorder is necrotizing ulcerativegingivitis, known commonly as trench mouth, orVincent's infection. When untreated, it

destroys the interdental papillae (smallprotuberances) of the teeth and causesloosening of the teeth; it is often associatedwith widespread infection. Other commondiseases of the mouth include thrush and viral

infections.


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Periodontal treatment includes the removal ofcalculus with curettes (tools for scraping) andscalers and the application of medicines to thesoft tissues. Loosened teeth may be splinted

together for support during the healingprocess; infected or necrotized gum tissue isexcised; and malocclusions are corrected bygrinding the teeth to obtain effective occlusalrelationships.


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This division deals with surgical andtherapeutic procedures involved in theprotection of the pulp (commonly known as thenerve) or its removal from the pulp cavity when

diseased or injured, and root canals. Bleachingof front teeth is also included in thisspecialty. The treatment commonly done by thesespecialist is known as Root Canal Therapy.

Endodontics


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Children have milk teeth and havespecial problems and thus special peopletake care of children knownas Pedodontist or pediatric dentist. The

field of pediatric dentistry (formerlycalled pedodontics) deals with thegeneral practice of dentistry forpatients under 20 years of age and, ingeneral, patients possessing wholly

deciduous or mixed dentition-that is,both primary and permanent teeth.

Pediatric Dentistry


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Such practice may include the use of suchappliances as space maintainers and bite platesfor the prevention or treatment ofmalocclusion. Another pediatric procedure

sometimes practiced is to apply a sealant toprotect the chewing surfaces of a child'smolars from bacteria. The teeth are firsttreated with a solution to make them moreporous to the plastic resin that is then

applied, making them more resistant to decay


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This field is concerned with the nature oforal disease, its causes, processes, andeffects, together with the alterations offunction and structure. Diagnosis of oral

disease is accomplished through the use oflaboratory tests of sputum, blood, and otherbody fluids, as well as through the microscopicexamination of tissues. The oral pathologist,who usually works in the laboratory of a

hospital, serves the patient only indirectlythrough consultation with the generalpractitioner.

Oral Pathology


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This field is concerned with the preventionand control of dental diseases and thepromotion of dental health through organizedcommunity efforts. It relates to three basic

career areas in dentistry: dental publichealth, research, and clinical dentistry. Eachof these career areas may involve practice,teaching, or administration.

Public Health Dentistry


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These specialist specialise intaking all kinds of x rays andtheir interpretation.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology


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Because of incresing awareness and demand

for dental treatment for cosmetic reason, thisfield of dentistry is also gradually gaining

importance.

Esthetic Dentistry

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