Dental medicine, also referred to as dental science and dentistry, is a field of medicine which includes the study, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of oral disorders, diseases, and malignancies of the teeth. Oral health encompasses a person’s overall health including all the organs of the body. Dentistry deals with the mouth and all its structures, such as teeth, gums, bone and gum support systems, nerves and pulp. The aim of a dentist is to provide total health by preventing disease and maintaining the health of the teeth and their supporting structures. Dentists play an important role in the development and maintenance of healthy teeth and the maintenance of the face and structure of the jawbones.
Dentistry provides general preventive care and services for gum disease, periodontal diseases, oral surgeries, dental implants, periodontal disorders of the jawbone and the bones around it, treatment for oral cancer, management of surgical conditions in the jaw, craniofacial diseases, orthodontics, sedation dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, speech pathology, and maxillofacial surgery. These are some of the treatments that a general dentist can do. General dentists generally have more advanced training than a periodontist or orthodontist. They can perform procedures such as teeth extraction, root canal treatment, gum surgery, dental implants, teeth whitening, bridges and orthodontics.
A periodontist is a specialist who treats gum diseases and oral infections. He can treat periodontitis by restoring the connective tissue and gingival tissues, while treating cavities and tooth loss. Cavities, if left untreated, will bring back bad breath, tooth loss, bad taste, swollen gums, and an ill-groomed mouth. Periodontists can perform dental root canal treatments, dental implants, dental braces, tooth removal, cosmetic dentistry, bridges, orthodontics, sedation dentistry, and orthodontic treatment.
If you are having problems sleeping at night, snoring, frequent urination, or breathlessness while you are sleeping, your dentist may recommend dental appliances. Dentists can prescribe dental appliances to help improve your sleep apnea, stop snoring, or eliminate excess saliva from your mouth. Oral appliances such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), oral appliances such as masks and pillows, dental appliances such as dentures and mouth guards, or dental surgery can bring back your overall health and prevent oral health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, and premature birth.
Impressions are great dental technologies that can change the way your mouth looks and feel. These impressions can be used to cover up missing teeth. Impressions can also be used to correct a smile that does not fit your face. A great impression technique is dental implants.
A dental bridge is a false tooth that is attached to a healthy tooth in the mouth. When a tooth has a cavity, it cannot be saved with filling and root canal techniques. A bridge allows a tooth to be saved, while restoring the tooth’s appearance and improving chewing function. The bridge is attached to the inside of the empty cavity, or the dental bridge. Your dentist will discuss which bridge is the best option for you, depending on your budget, your needs, your tooth structure, your smile, and your mouth’s teeth structure.