Dental specialty

Dental Specialty refers to a specific field of dentistry that requires additional training and certification beyond the basic dental degree. Dental specialties are recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) and other international dental organizations to maintain high standards of care in the dental profession.

Overview

Dental specialties encompass a wide range of areas within the field of dentistry, each focusing on a specific aspect of oral health care. These specialties include endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial radiology, and dental public health.

Specialties

Endodontics

Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the dental pulp and the periapical tissues.

Orthodontics

Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is a specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws.

Periodontics

Periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that studies supporting structures of teeth, diseases, and conditions that affect them.

Prosthodontics

Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues.

Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Oral and maxillofacial pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Oral and maxillofacial radiology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and data produced by all modalities of radiant energy that are used for the diagnosis and management of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region.

Dental Public Health

Dental public health is the specialty of dentistry that deals with the prevention and control of dental diseases and promotion of oral health through organized community efforts.

See Also

• Dentistry
• American Dental Association
• Oral health