Dentistry is the art and science of diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases of the teeth, jaws, and surrounding soft tissues of the mouth. Dentists care for their patients in many ways, but mainly through their skill at recognizing, correcting, and preventing problems of the teeth and the tissues that support them. Dental treatment includes a wide range of dental services. Some of these services focus on correcting problems of the teeth caused chiefly by dental decay. Such treatment, called restoration, often involves the use of some kind of dental filling.
Other dental services deal with the prevention and treatment of diseases of the teeth and their supporting tissues and nerves. Still others concentrate on the position of the teeth in relation to each other and to the jawbones. Sometimes teeth require removal. This process, usually performed using an anesthetic (painkilling drug), is called extraction.
Dentists may also treat injuries, infections, tumors, and various other conditions of the teeth, jawbones, and related tissues. Dentistry is practiced in dental offices where one or a number of dentists treat patients. Dentistry is also practiced in large clinics, in hospitals, and in dental schools. Dental schools, in addition to training future dentists, also conduct research. This research provides improvements in the diagnosis and the treatment of dental disorders. Careers Dentistry in the United States and Canada is a large and well-organized profession.
The Essay on Sweet Tooth Dry Mouth
A healthy smile is a bonus at any age. Too often older people- especially those who wear false teeth (or dentures) -feel they no longer need dental checkups. If you haven't learned the basics of oral health care, it is not too late to start. And even if you have, it's a good time to review. Tooth Decay (Cavities) Tooth decay is not just a children's disease; it can happen as long as natural teeth ...
There are about 145, 000 dentists in the United States and about 14, 000 dentists in Canada. The great majority of these dentists have a private dental practice. Most of the remaining dentists work in the military, in public health, in various government organizations and dental societies, as consultants, or as teachers or researchers in dental schools. People who want to become dentists must first attend a school of dentistry. There are about 60 dental schools in the United States and about 10 in Canada. Educational requirements.
All dental schools require a high level of scholastic achievement before admission. Applicants must have at least two years of college education, but most dental students are college graduates. Prospective dental students must also take a dental aptitude test. This test identifies those students who are most likely to succeed in dental subjects. The usual course of study in dental school lasts four years. The first two years are devoted to studying basic medical and dental sciences, as well as dental laboratory techniques.
Clinical aspects of dentistry are emphasized in the final two years of dental school. During that time, students perform dental procedures on patients. Upon graduation, students receive either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D. D. S. ) degree or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.
M. D. ) degree. Licensing.
All U. S. states and Canadian provinces require that dentists be licensed to practice. To obtain a license, a person must have a D. D. S.
or D. M. D. degree from an approved school and must also pass a special examination. State and local dental societies work with state governments in administering licensing examinations. Organizations.
The main professional organization of dentists in the United States is the American Dental Association. Some functions of this organization are to promote dentistry in matters of legislation, to inspect and approve dental schools, and to produce educational material for the public. Its headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois. The Canadian Dental Association serves a similar purpose in Canada. It has headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.
