Areas of Dentistry

A branch of medicine that works to diagnose, prevent, and treat oral diseases and conditions in connection with the teeth and mouth is called dentistry. Many dentists practice general dentistry and diagnose, treat, or restore missing or diseased and damaged teeth and provide preventative care for the mouth. Some dentists practice family dentistry and treat individuals of all ages while others treat adults only.

Dentists may focus in on a number of dental care areas. A person can visit a dentist directory to find a dentist just right for their needs.

There are nine sections of dentistry that deal with specific dental health conditions and treatments:

  • Periodontics: Periodontics specializes in the diagnosing and treating diseases of the oral mucous membranes, gums, and bones that support the teeth.
  • Oral pathology: Oral pathology deals with diseases of the mouth, and studies the diseases to identify the causes, effects, and progression. An oral pathologist is able to diagnose oral herpes, oral cancer and other oral conditions.
  • Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics focuses on tooth restoration and replaces missing natural teeth (dentures, dental implants, dental crowns, and dental bridges)
  • Oral surgery: Oral Surgery corrects and treats diseases and injuries in the mouth and jaw. Oral surgery can also help disorders such as temporomandibular disorder or TMJ.
  • Pediatric dentistry: Pediatric dentistry focuses on helping children to learn healthy oral hygiene habits. Pediatric dentists treat children and adolescents.
  • Dental public health: Dental public health is a type of dentistry that treats a community rather than individual patients to prevent and control periodontal diseases.
  • Oral radiology: Oral radiology focuses on the radiologic identification and interpretation of diseases and disorders of the jaw, mouth, and face.
  • Endodontics: Endodontics deals with nerve diseases and diseases of other dental tissues. Endodontists are trained to treat infections and perform a root canal.
  • Orthodontics: Orthodontics deals with tooth and oral structure development as well as treats abnormal and irregular dental development. An orthodontist also treats problems with dental bites with dental braces.

Cosmetic Dentistry is another area of dentistry that deals with the appearance of the teeth.

Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry is a technologically advanced branch of dentistry that uses dental lasers to perform multiple dental procedures, instead of using traditional dentistry tools such as rinse heads, brush heads or suctions.

Dental lasers offer a precise beam of light and make no actual physical contact with a person's mouth. Dental lasers may produce less pain and faster recovery than traditional dentistry procedures. Laser dentistry can be used for traditional dentistry procedures such as dental fillings, dental crowns and cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening.

For more comprehensive information about cosmetic dentistry, laser dentistry, dentists, or other dental procedures, visit Consumer Guide to Dentistry.