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What is dentistry? (a little about this field)

Dentistry is a branch of medical science that includes the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and problems of the oral cavity, teeth, as well as the oral mucosa, adjacent structures and tissues related to teeth. (especially in the jaw and face area)

Although the focus of this field is generally on teeth in the first place, the field of dentistry is not limited to teeth; It also includes parts of the skull and face, including the temporomandibular joint and other supporting, muscular, lymphatic, nervous, vascular and anatomical structures of the jaw and face.

Who is a general dentist?

The field of dentistry includes many sub-fields, but dentists first pass the general course of dentistry, and after participating in the specialized exam, they can pass other specialized fields such as dental orthodontics, etc. Those who have a basic and general degree in dentistry are called general dentists.

About 70% of dentists are only general dentists

A small percentage of dentists receive specialization. In fact, at least in a country like America, approximately 79% of all dentists are general dentists. These dentists perform almost all dental procedures (except for advanced dental procedures that require training and a specialized degree). General dentists serve at the forefront of diagnostic and preventive measures for the general public.

These dentists can detect the early stages of oral and dental diseases and treat the disease before it progresses. A general dentist also tries his best to appear in the role of a preventer and by providing the necessary training to patients and people to prevent the occurrence of problems such as tooth decay and other common problems in the future. In fact, general dentists focus more on timely treatment and prevention.

What actions do general dentists perform for patients and community members?

If you have questions about what general dentists do in their offices on a daily basis for their patients and clients, you can find the answer to your question by reading this section. In general, these dentists perform the following procedures and procedures in their offices for patients:

• Performing basic dental examinations (including early cancer diagnosis, emergency cases, periodical checkups, periodontal or gum examinations, oral examinations)
• X-ray imaging of the mouth, jaw and teeth
• Exclusive dental images
• Digital scanning
• Drawing the treatment chart required by the patient and referring him to other specialists (if needed)
• Tooth filling with dental bonding
• Installation of all types of dental crowns, including all-ceramic, metal-ceramic, zirconia, etc
• Dental bridge installation
• Perform gum surgery
• Dental implant placement
• Tooth extraction
• Bone grafting
• Treatment of TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) or TMJ (temporomandibular joint) syndrome
• Oral and dental guard prescription
• Indirect treatment to straighten teeth (non-orthodontic methods)
• Teeth whitening in the teeth bleaching process
• Sealant connection to prevent tooth decay in children and adults
• Botox treatment for migraines, TMJ
• Prescribing or considering all types of dental prostheses, including artificial teeth
  root canal
• Restorative and tooth buildup
• Temporary tooth filling
• Help to treat grinding teeth
• Installation of various dental veneers (including dental laminate, composite veneer, etc.)

Can general dentists perform specialized dental procedures?

Apart from the common procedures mentioned above, these dentists can perform more advanced dental procedures. But since dental specialists have been educated for several years more than general dentists, it is better to trust only qualified specialists to perform specialized dental procedures such as dental orthodontics, dental implant installation, advanced gum problems, etc. In the following, you will get to know the most important dental specialties.

Dental orthodontic specialist

An orthodontic specialist studies for a few more years in a university and medical environment and deals with the elimination of inconsistencies and misalignment of teeth and jaws. This specialist uses various devices (fixed orthodontics, mobile orthodontics, invisible and visible orthodontics) to straighten and correct dental problems. The problems that this specialist can solve with high power and skill are:

• Crooked teeth
• Distance between teeth
• Protrusion or retraction of the jaws
• Crowding of teeth
• Small jaw
• Types of malocclusions

This specialist also prevents teeth misalignment problems by performing 2-stage orthodontics at a young age and reduces the cost of possible orthodontics in the future.

Restorative and aesthetic dental specialist

It is possible that a general dentist can perform some of the tasks of this specialist, but the repair and modification of the smile design can only be done by a restorative and aesthetic dental specialist. This specialist performs the following measures for his patients to improve the smile design.

• Dental crown installation
• Dental veneer installation including dental laminate
• Specialized tooth restoration with various filling materials
• Dental inlays and onlays
• Teeth bleaching
• Increase crown length
• Gum cosmetic procedure
• Etc

Endodontist specialist

The area that this specialist specializes in treating or managing is the dental pulp or the soft tissue of the tooth. This section contains blood vessels and nerves. Endo specialists specialize in root canal and root canal treatment and keep the teeth firmly inside the mouth.

Other dental specialists

Other specialists that are better to refer to instead of a general dentist are:

• Specialist in pediatric dentistry
• Specialist in gum disease
• Maxillofacial radiology specialist
• Oral and maxillofacial pathologist
• Maxillofacial surgery
• Specialist in prosthetics and dental implants