Topics: Dental Specialties

Dental Specialties

In addition to general dentistry, there are about 9 recognized dental specialties in the US, Canada, and Australia. To become a specialist requires one to train in a residency or advanced graduate training program. Once residency is completed, the doctor is granted a certificate of specialty training. Many specialty programs have optional or required advanced degrees such as a masters degree: (MS, MSc, MDS, MSD, MDSc, MMSc, or MDent), doctoral degree: (DClinDent, DMSc, or PhD), or medical degree: (MD/MBBS specific to Maxillofacial Surgery and sometimes Oral Medicine).



* Dental public health (study of dental epidemiology and social health policies),

* Endodontics (root canal therapy and study of diseases of the dental pulp),

* Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (study, diagnosis, and sometimes 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, implants, and facial surgery),

* Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (straightening of teeth and modification of midface and mandibular growth),

* Periodontics (study and treatment of diseases of the periodontium (non-surgical and surgical), and placement and maintenance of dental implants),

* Pediatric dentistry (i.e. dentistry for children, formerly known as "pedodontics"),

* Prosthodontics (dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants. Some prosthodontists further their training in "oral and maxillofacial prosthodontics"--a discipline concerned with the replacement of missing facial structures—such as ears, eyes, nose, etc.)

Source: Wikipedia