Dentistry
Dentistry is a specialized branch of medicine that deals with the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity (mouth with all structures within including teeth, gums, tongue, etc.). As per World Health Organization (WHO), it is appropriately defined as the ‘art and science’ of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth, jaws and mouth. It is really an art as well as science which makes smiles better while also treating many diseases.
DentistryA dentist is a medical professional who aims to improve the quality of lives by preventing and treating oral diseases and conditions. The dentist's supporting team is also very important, and it aids in providing oral health services and also handling many procedures apart from assisting the dentist. It includes dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and in some states, dental therapists.
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The dentists achieve the above by:
- Promoting good oral health practices and educating people about them
- Patient education
- Diagnosing dental diseases and conditions including dental decay, gum diseases, etc.
- They may also diagnose some general conditions by just looking at oral cavity, because some diseases and conditions have oral manifestations
- Providing preventive dental and oral care, like restoring slightly decayed teeth, covering them with thin layer of restorative materials, providing treatments to prevent further problems by cleaning, scaling, root planning, application of fluoride, etc.
- Prescribing appropriate medicines to treat some oral diseases, to prevent or allay infections, and for all three prophylactic, preventive and promotive purposes
- Treating and restoring decayed teeth by appropriate materials
- Replacing lost teeth by implants, dentures, partial dentures, etc.
- Treating other conditions of mouth, related structures and even jaw
- Also undertaking some surgical procedures, most common of them being tooth extraction
- Providing orthodontic treatment to adjust and correct mal-aligned teeth
- And many other functions as per further specialization.
Dental Pain
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| Symptom | Possible problem | What to do |
| Momentary sensitivity to hot or cold foods. | If the discomfort lasts only moments, sensitivity to hot and cold foods generally does not signal a problem. The sensitivity may be caused by a loose filling or by minimal gum recession which exposes small areas of the root surface. | Try using toothpastes made for sensitive teeth. Brush up and down with a soft brush, brushing sideways wears away exposed root surfaces. If this is unsuccessful, see your general dentist. |
| Sensitivity to hot or cold foods afterdental treatment. | Dental work may inflame the pulp, or nerves, inside the tooth, causing temporary sensitivity. | Dental work may inflame the pulp, or nerves, inside the tooth, causing temporary sensitivity. |
| Sharp pain when biting down on food. | There are several possible causes of this type of pain: decay, loose filling, or a crack in the tooth. There may be damage to the pulp tissue inside the tooth. | See a dentist for evaluation. If the problem is pulp tissue damage, your dentist may send you to an endodontist. Endodontists are dentists who specialize in pulp-related procedures. Your endodontist will perform a procedure that cleans out the damaged pulp and fills and seals the remaining space. This procedure is commonly called a root canal. |
| Lingering pain after eating hot or cold foods. | This probably means the pulp has been damaged by deep decay or physical trauma. | See your endodontist to save the tooth with root canal treatment. |
| Constant and severe pain and pressure, swelling of gum, and sensitivity to touch. | A tooth may have become abscessed, causing the surrounding bone to become infected. | See your endodontist for evaluation and treatment to relieve the pain and save the tooth. Take over-the-counter analgesics until you see the endodontist. |
| Dull ache and pressure in upper teeth and jaw. | The pain of a sinus headache is often felt in the face and teeth. Grinding of teeth, a condition known as Bruxism, can also cause this type of ache. | For sinus headache, try over the counter analgesics or sinus medicine. For Bruxism, consult your dentist. If pain is severe and chronic, see your physician or endodontist for evaluation. |
| Chronic pain in head, neck, or ear. | Sometimes pulp–damaged teeth cause pain in other parts of the head and neck, but other dental or medical problems may be responsible. | See your endodontist for evaluation. If the problem is not related to the tooth, your endodontist will refer you to an appropriate dental specialist or a physician. |
