Oral health is an essential factor in human health, as dentistry services encompass a broad spectrum of services, catering to mouth and teeth needs.
New dental practices are not limited to simple check ups and polishing teeth for they also provide other services depending on the condition of each individual.
This article covers the various branches that exist in a dental clinic and so you can be in a better position to make choices for the better health of your teeth.
I hope that this article shall help you in navigating through the often confusing dental specialties and the work that they do, together with the particular procedures that dentists of such specialties are permitted to deliver.
From this article, you will get some knowledge about these specialties which can help you to choose the treatment for your oral cavity needs exclusively.
General Dentistry
Specialty dentistry as its name suggests is a branch of dentistry that is made up of various sub specialties as explained below Some of them include pedodontics, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery and oral pathology, oral medicine, orthodontics and others.
General dentists, who diagnose oral diseases, carry out procedures like check-ups, scale and polish, restorations, and preventive actions that teach patients how to keep their teeth healthy.
This is because they play a dual role of performing simple operation procedures with minor complication and diagnosing many dental problems, which may include cavities, gum disease among others.
It is recommended to see a general dentist on a regular basis to prevent worse-case-scenarios that, if not diagnosed and addressed on time, may become severe.
General dentists also assist their patients in oral hygiene practices, which in turn fosters long-term dental health and general human wellness.
Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of oral and dental health problems in children that are from babies to teenagers.
This is because pediatric dentists are specialists in dealing with children’s dental care as well as treatment of other dental needs inclusive of cleaning, application of fluoride and sealants as well as cavity prevention.
They have adopted various encouraging strategies in ensuring that children do not develop nasty feelings towards dentists which normally occur due to fear and panic.
For this reason, it is important for children to establish regular dental checkups with a pediatric dentist early to assess the progress of a child’s teeth and gums, prevent cavities and teach healthy habits.
Thus, having a healthy foundation, pediatric dentistry additionally helps in establishing a steady commitment to good oral health and a positive attitude towards the process in young individuals.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry that is involved with the analysis, prevention, and correction of the improper placement and/or positioning of the teeth and jaws that demands the application of braces, Invisalign, retainers or other forms of retainers.
Orthodontics deals with all corrective cases that involve the movement of teeth that are not relocated, spaces in-between, poor angle of bite as well as positions of jaws.
This does not only enhance the appearance of the smile but also reduces the vice like consequences of the process of treatment during dental hygiene hence making it perfectly easy to be cleaned, opportunities of tooth decay, as well as gum disease are minimized.
Particular emphasis is placed on the prevention of the dental diseases and the improvement in the functions of the bite and esthetics of the teeth and their positioning.
Periodontics
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry which is involved in the study of gingiva and osseous tissue, in the etiology, pathology, prevention and treatment of diseases of the mouth and jaw that affect the gingival and osseous tissues and their relation to teeth.
Some of the subspecialties in this field involve management of conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis; therapeutic processes in this branch include scaling and root planing, free gingival grafts, and regenerative procedures.
They also offer services in terms of dental implant procedures as well as dental implant maintenance.
Taking care of our gums is crucial mainly because if our gums are affected, it means we can lose control over the overall health of our oral cavity.
This kind of routine care assists in maintaining high functioning of the gums and teeth and also helps the patient to schedule their dental checkups to avoid severe periodontal problem.
Endodontics
Endodontology is the branch of dentistry that is concerned with pulpal and periradicular diseases which is usually practiced in the root canal.
Some of the common treatment that an endodontist may carry out include: root canal therapy where an endodontist will open the tooth structure and remove any infected or damaged pulp as well as wash the root canal then fill it adequately to stop the growth of bacteria.
This specialty is significant in maintaining and preserving teeth, which in other circumstances could require extraction because of deterioration or injury.
The utilization of endodontic treatment makes it possible to preserve natural teeth, which meet functional and aesthetic requirements, as well as contribute to the general health of the oral cavity.
They also deal with dental cases that are complicated such as those resulting from injury or persistent headache in the area of the mouth.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral is a surgical discipline of dentistry that involves diagnosis as well as surgical management of various diseases, injuries, deformities and defects in the head and facial region.
Those specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery are involved in surgeries like tooth extraction, removal of diseased or impacted wisdom teeth, surgery for jaw deformities, and placement of dental implants.
They also deal with the facial injuries, birth anomalies and other mandibular and maxillar abnormalities as well as other oral diseases and diseases of the oral cavity.
These surgeons are specially qualified to attend functional and esthetic issues, so that people receiving their treatment will have restored oral cavity function, besides which they look well.
They make sure that the treatment to be given to their clients is safe and effective as they manage severe dental and facial complications hence enhancing patient’s well-being.
Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics therefore means the sub specialty of dentistry that is associated with oral prosthetic treatment to replace the hard tissues that may be lacking or the teeth that are missing.
Prosthodontists on the other hand are a specialty of dentists with a major concentration on the prosthetic of teeth, crowning, bridging, and duplication, dental capping and the insertion of implants.
They are unique in handling complications associated with dental treatments especially when dealing with crowned, worn-out teeth, and teeth crowding in the jaw.
Prostheses can be designed with accuracy and strength of the prosthesis material and use related digital technology to bear a close resemblance to natural teeth, which will ensure a proper fit.
Aside from being more cosmetically fulfilling the appearance of the patient’s teeth, it also has useful functionalities as it aids in the correct positioning of the position of the teeth bite to best chew or even speak.
Cosmetic Dentistry
While orthodontics help to diagnose and treat conditions of mispositioned teeth and jaws necessitating their alignment, prosthetics deals with the illnesses affecting the teeth and gums that form the smile.
Cosmetic dentistry involves the carriage out of various dental operations which include tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental bonding and or reshaping in an endeavor to help rectify or enhance improper alignment of teeth, tooth fractures, spaces in between the teeth and stains.
Cosmetic dentists use modern techniques together with better quality dental materials during such procedures in the aim of getting natural and beautiful smile which in turn will improve the image of the individual.
If we were confined to a procedure that would improve the aesthetic value of the patient, then such treatments could also work in favor of dental health because like it was alluded to, such treatments are employed to treat other ailments and enhance dental cleanliness.
Cosmetic dentistry can be described as an interdisciplinary, that is an intersection specially coined common field of dentistry that focuses on the esthetic surgery of the oral cavity, focusing on the esthetics, function, and the social psychology of the smile.
Conclusion
This knowledge on the different dental specialties that exist in a dental clinic makes ones decision regarding treatment well informed.
Dentistry is quite a broad field with many branches including general dentistry and pediatrics, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics, cosmetic dentistry and dental anesthesiology; all are very crucial in managing and enhancing your dental health.
When you know when to turn to one specialist or another for various dental issues and concerns, you are sure to get the right care at the right time.
It explains why dental check-ups, even if they are not related to acute dental problems, should take place on a regular basis and why specialized services should be employed for total oral care.
