The Work

Dentistry provides surgical, medical and other forms of treatment for oral and dental disorders and diseases. A dentist's job is to help the patients maintain a healthy mouth and teeth. This requires an examination of the mouth and teeth when there is a problem, and the preparation and execution of plans for the treatment and restoration of teeth.

Major Tasks Performed

A dentist's main work involves:

TREATMENT of diseased mouths and gums.

EXTRACTIONS of teeth that cannot be saved, or might spread an infection to the rest of the mouth.

FILLINGS in the treatment of cavities.

SURGERY of the mouth and jaw.

REPLACEMENT of extracted teeth through surgery or other processes.

CLEANING of the patient's mouth and teeth.

CORRECTIVE Work to align or straighten teeth.

DENTURES i.e. the making and fitting of false teeth.

PREVENTIVE WORK, which is probably the most important task, and involves routine check-ups for both adults and children.

Areas of Specialization

Dentistry has many specializations: 

ORTHODONTICS 

Deals with straightening and aligning teeth and jaws.

PERIODONTICS 

Specializes in the care of gums and the diseases that might afflict them.

OPERATIVE DENTISTRY 

For root canal jobs, fillings and cosmetic surgery.

PROSTHODONTICS 

Involves the making of artificial teeth.

ORAL SURGERY 

Deals specifically with operations on the mouth and jaw.

ORAL PATHOLOGY 

Provides the diagnosis for diseases that affect the mouth.