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Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.

dentist with a patient

The official emblem of dentistry

Branches of dentistry

• Oral surgery: the branch dealing with surgical treatment of oral and facial conditions.
• Orthodontics: focuses on correcting teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly.
• Periodontics: concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums.
• Prosthodontics: focuses on the design, manufacture, and fitting of artificial replacements for teeth and other parts of the mouth.
• Pediatric dentistry: dental care for children and adolescents.

Dentist

Important procedures

• Dental fillings: a treatment to restore the function and morphology of missing tooth structure.
• Root canal: a treatment to save a badly infected or damaged tooth.
• Tooth extraction: the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone.
• Teeth whitening: cosmetic procedure to lighten teeth.

Traveling Dentist Working on Student

Common dental problems

• Dental cavities: permanent damage to teeth that leads to tiny holes.
• Gum disease: inflammation of the gum tissue.
• Tooth sensitivity: discomfort or pain in teeth when encountering certain substances and temperatures.

Dental equipment and tools

• Dental chair: a chair designed for the patient to sit in during dental procedures.
• Dental drill: a tool used to remove decay and shape the tooth.
• Dental x-ray: a type of radiography used to visualize internal structures of the oral cavity.

Dentistry and society

• Dental ethics: principles and values that guide the dental profession.
• Dental education: the teaching of dentistry to aspiring dentists.
• Dental associations: organizations that support and represent the dental profession, such as the american dental association.

See also

• Oral health
• Cosmetic dentistry
• Dental research

References

• "Introduction to dentistry and the dental profession." american dental association.
• "Branches of dentistry." dental council of india.
• "Common dental procedures." world health organization.

External links

• American Dental Association official website
• Dental Council of india official website
• World Health Organization: oral health