Career in Dentistry Pulling
Teeth by Josh Stone
Dentistry is the art and science
of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
conditions, diseases, and disorders of the oral
cavity, the maxillofacial region, and its associated
structures as it relates to human beings. A dentist
is a doctor qualified to practice dentistry. In most
countries, several years of training in a university
(usually 4-8) and some practical experience working
with actual patients' dentition are required to
become a qualified dentist. The patron saint of
dentists is Saint Apollonia, martyred in Alexandria
by having all her teeth violently extracted.
General Dental Practice includes most examination,
diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and
prevention of disease. The dentist frequently uses
X-rays and other equipment to ensure correct
diagnosis and treatment planning. Treatment may
include filling cavities, removing the nerves of
teeth, treating diseases of the gums, removing
teeth, and replacing lost teeth with Bridges and
Dentures (Dental Plates). Anesthesia is often used
in any treatment that might cause pain.
Teeth may be filled with Gold, Silver, Amalgam, or
Cements, and with fused Porcelain Inlays. Dentists
treat diseases of the mouth and gums such as trench
mouth and Periodontitis. An important part of
general dental practice is preventive dentistry. If
a dentist examines a patient's teeth at regular
intervals, a disease may be detected and treated
before it becomes serious. Dentists also demonstrate
proper methods of brushing and flossing the teeth.
They may advise their patients about what food to
eat or to avoid for good dental health. Dentists may
also treat teeth with Fluorides or other substances
to prevent decay.
In the United States, dentists earn either a D.D.S.
(Doctor of Dental Surgery) or D.M.D.(Doctor of
Dental Medicine) degree. There is no difference in
the training for either degree. The degrees are
equivalent, and recognized equally by all state
boards of dentistry.
There are 56 Accredited Dental schools in the United
States requiring 4 years of post graduate study
(except for one unique 3 year program at the
University of the Pacific)[14]. Most applicants to
dental school have attained at least a B.S. or B.A.
degree, however, a small percentage are admitted
after only fulfilling specific prerequisite courses.
So unlike many other countries, it can take more
than 8 years to become a dentist.
(List of dental schools in the United States) The
degrees D.D.S. and D.M.D. require equivalent
education and are identical in every way. The
difference relates to the history involved in the
division of medicine and surgery in medical
practice. There has been a recent movement to
include a 5th year of education that focuses on
purely practical training in the clinical setting.
In at least one state, a state dental license can be
received without taking the licensing exam (State
Board Exam) upon completing this additional year of
training.
Dentists are licensed and regulated by the state in
which they practice. The license is only valid in
the issuing state and is non-transferable. There are
many cooperative agreements between states that
allow recognition of another state's license so as
to procure a license either via "licensure by
credentials" or "licensure by reciprocity."
A dentist may go on for further training in a dental
specialty which requires an additional 1 to 7 years
of post-doctoral training. There are 9 recognized
dental specialties. They are Endodontics(root canal
treatment), Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral
and Maxillofacial Radiology, Pediatric Dentistry,
Periodontics(gums), Prosthodontics (complicated
dental reconstruction), Orthodontics(braces), Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgery(tooth removal and surgery
of the oral and related structures), and Dental
Public Health.
There is no specialty in esthetic dentistry or
implantology, and no additional training is required
for a dentist to make the claim of being an esthetic
or cosmetic dentist. Dentists are forbidden to claim
that they are specialists in areas of practice in
which there is no recognized specialty. They may
limit their practices to a single area of dentistry,
and claim that their practice is limited to that
area.
Any general dentist may perform those procedures
designated within the enumerated specialties if they
deem themselves competent. Many general dentists
train in certain aspects of the above specialties
such as the placement and restoration of dental
implants, advanced prosthodontics and endodontics,
and have limited or heavily focused their practices
to these areas. When a general dentist performs any
procedure that falls within the realm of a
specialty, they are expected to perform with the
same level of expertise as a certified specialist
and are legally held to such standards with respect
to any issues of malpractice.
There are nine dental specialties recognized by the
American Dental Association and require 2-6 years of
residency training after dental school.
The specialties are Dental Public Health (study of
dental epidemiology and social health policies),
Endodontics (root canal therapy), Oral and
Maxillofacial Pathology (study, diagnosis, and often
the treatment of oral and maxillofacial related
diseases), Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (study
and radiologic interpretation of oral and
maxillofacial diseases), Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery (extractions and facial surgery),
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics
(straightening of teeth), Pedodontics (pediatric
dentistry; i.e. dentistry for children),
Periodontics (treatment of gum disease),
Prosthodontics (replacement of missing facial
anatomy by prostheses such as dentures, bridges and
implants).
Specialists in these fields are designated
registrable (U.S. "Board Eligible") and warrant
exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral surgeon,
pedodontist, periodontist, or prosthodontist upon
satisfying certain local (U.S. "Board Certified")
registry requirements.
Two other post-graduate formal advanced education
programs: General Practice Residency (advanced
clinical and didactic training with intense hospital
experience) and Advanced Education in General
Dentistry (advanced training in clinical dentistry)
recognized by the ADA do not lead to specialization.
Other dental education exists where no post-graduate
formal university training is required: cosmetic
dentistry, dental implant, temporo-mandibular joint
therapy. These usually require the attendance of one
or more continuing education courses that typically
last for one to several days. There are restrictions
on allowing these dentists to call themselves
specialists in these fields. The specialist titles
are registrable titles and controlled by the local
dental licensing bodies.
Forensic odontology consists of the gathering and
use of dental evidence in law. This may be performed
by any dentist with experience or training in this
field. The function of the forensic dentist is
primarily documentation and verification of
identity.
Geriatric dentistry or geriodontics is the delivery
of dental care to older adults involving the
diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems
associated with normal aging and age-related
diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with
other health care professionals.
About the
Author
Freelance writer for over
eleven years.
