Dentistry, commonly referred to as dental science and dental medicine, is an academic branch of medicine which includes the study, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and preventative of dental disorders, diseases, and conditions. Dentistry includes professional training in the science of teeth, their structure and function; their colour, shape, size and sensitivity to light. Apart from these, there are many other aspects of dental science and dental medicine which include prevention of tooth decay and dental plaque. They also include prevention of periodontal disease, diagnosis of dental problems, treatment of dental problems, examination of a patient’s dental history, management of oral disease, administration of dental treatments, and education and training of professionals involved in the field of dentistry. These are some important points that you must know about dentistry.
Nowadays, dental problems have become one of the leading causes of mortality all over the world. There are numerous diseases and problems related to oral health like halitosis (bad breath), oral cancer, oral ulcers, periodontitis, and gum disease. A lot of people have no clue about advanced dental technologies like dental veneers, teeth whitening, laser whitening, dental bridges, dental implants, tooth extraction, tooth pinning, loupes, dental implants, etc. That is why it is very essential to be knowledgeable about all these advancements in dental technology.
A person pursuing a career in dentistry can either choose to get his/her degree from a public or private dental school. There are various dental schools and universities around the world that offer both public and private dental schooling. You need to choose a reputed and renowned dental school that has been associated with some famous institutions or has achieved good international rankings. All the diplomas you acquire will help you in getting a good job in a reputed dental clinic and will help you take up further specialized studies.
After you get your dental degree from a reputed dental school, you need to get into one of the two categories of practicing dentists or dental hygienists. A dental hygienist has to take care of all dental hygiene problems and look after oral health of all patients. Whereas a dentist can perform certain specific treatments like performing certain surgeries and performing minor extractions etc, but he cannot undertake all dental hygiene problems as he is only qualified to perform a certain procedure. The main difference between dentist and hygienist is that a dentist performs all his dental procedures as per the advice and guidance of a professional dentist whom he has learnt from.
The other type of dental device that a dental hygienist can use is dental instruments and appliances. These appliances include dental tools like dental scissors, dental drills, endodontic devices, etc. which are used to drill, cut, file, fill, move teeth and remove dental plaque and deposits. A dentist can also make use of dental ceramics, dental polymers and dental plastics to decorate teeth, fix dental crowns, to attach dental braces and many such appliances.
You can also get yourself fitted for dental implants if you don’t have natural teeth. Dental implants can help you to replace missing teeth and it can also be used to cover up broken or cracked teeth. It is important to understand that dental implants need to be filled every few months and they cannot be taken out so easily. There are three types of dental implants permanent, removable and dental bridges. You need to get yourself fitted for a dental implant in order to know what type of implants you are likely to get. Since dental implants are pretty expensive, you need to take care of few things like not eating junk food and drinking lots of water
