Washington DC Orthodontist SPECIALIZATIONS WITHIN DENTISTRY

Despite what many may think, dentistry is a large field of study. Different areas of study can be identified from its very definition.This is the definition which refers to dentistry as the art and science of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of conditions and disorders of the oral cavity, the maxillofacial regions and its associated structures as it relates to human beings. The following is a brief discussion on the various branches that a dentist may choose to specialize in.

Endodontics will be the first category of our discussion. This refers to the field of study which deals with the study of the tooth pulp and the tissues which surround the root of a tooth. Root canal therapy, surgery, treatment of cracked teeth and dental trauma are some of the key procedures that dentists who have studied endodontics will perform.

Of course, it is a no-brainer that root canal therapy that a dentist schooled in endodontics will perform. The tooth pulp is made of nerves, venules, arterioles, lymphatic tissue and fibrous tissue. In the event that any of these structures happens to get diseased, endodontic treatment will be the relevant treatment.

Another field of study open to a dentist is orthodontics. This field of study focuses on treating cases of improper teeth bites or alignment that may have resulted from tooth irregularity or disproportional jaw relationships. The key objective of orthodontics is the improvement of the general appearance of the teeth. There are, however, orthodontists, whose area of concern extends to reconstructing the entire face as opposed to just the teeth. An example of orthodontic treatment which is perhaps the most widely known is the use of dental braces.

This treatment involves having metal wires inserted into dental brackets which are either made of stainless steel or ceramic. The teeth are then moved into the desired positions through the interaction of the wires and the brackets. Another method that a dentist may use in his practice of orthodontics is invisalign. Invisalign is made of clear plastic aligners which allow the subtle realignment of teeth.

Prosthodontics is another branch of dentistry that a dentist may consider studying. Prosthodontics is the study of diagnosing, treating, planning and rehabilitating the oral function, appearance and health of patients who suffer from clinical conditions that are associated with missing or deficient teeth. In layman’s language, a prosthodontist is a dentist whose focal concern is that of replacement and restoration of teeth.

One other field that dentists choose to pursue is that of pediatric dentistry. As the name suggests, pediatric dentistry is concerned with the oral health of children. Specialized care is required by children since as they grow, they are exposed to a number of dental disorders.

These are just a few of the wide variety of subcategories within dentistry. Patients must strive to research on the area of specialty of a dentist so as to ensure that he is the right person to treat their specific disorder.