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Dentistry Specialties
Dentistry has progressed significantly in recent centuries.
In addition to general dentistry, 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, endodontist,
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.
Veterinary dentistry, a specialty of veterinary medicine, is the field of
dentistry applied to the care of animals
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