Dentistry

Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is a subspecialty of medicine that focuses on the teeth, gums, and mouth. This area of the body is referred to as the oral cavity. It involves the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of illnesses, disorders, and conditions of the mouth. The dentition (the growth and arrangement of teeth) and the oral mucosa are the two areas that are most usually the primary focuses of this field of research and practise. Dentistry may also include the treatment of other components of the craniofacial complex, such as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

The oldest evidence of dentistry dates back to between 7000 and 5500 BC and suggests that it has been practised for a far longer period of time than the history of humans and civilization combined. It is generally agreed upon that dentistry was the first sub-field of medicine to evolve into its own independent academic discipline, complete with a set of specialised degrees and sub-fields to choose from.

A dental team, which most often includes a dentist and other dental auxiliaries, is responsible for providing dental care to patients (dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, as well as dental therapists). The vast majority of dentists are employed by either private practises (primary care), dental hospitals, or other institutions (secondary care) (prisons, armed forces bases, etc.).

Many places use the words dentistry and stomatology interchangeably since they both pertain to the study of the mouth and the illnesses and diseases that might affect it. Stomatology was a medical speciality that is now dead, although dentistry is often considered to include it. To practise some fields, however, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery (commonly known as face reconstruction), it may be necessary to possess degrees in both dentistry and medicine. In the annals of European history, it is often assumed that dentistry evolved from the efforts of barber surgeons.

Regarding oral diseases such as tooth decay and periodontitis, as well as systemic diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, celiac disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS, which may also affect the oral cavity, the modern movement of evidence-based dentistry requires the use of high-quality scientific research and evidence to guide decision-making. This involves the manual preservation of teeth, the use of fluoride-treated water and fluoride toothpaste, and the treatment of oral disorders such as tooth decay and periodontitis. Other practises relevant to evidence-based dentistry include radiology of the mouth to inspect teeth deformity or oral malaises, haematology (the study of blood) to prevent bleeding complications during dental surgery, cardiology (due to various severe complications arising from dental surgery with patients who have heart conditions, etc.), etc.