Dental Specialties

Dental Specialties

By Alissa Li

Dental Specialties

Dental public health: concerned with prevention of dental disease; works with the community
Endodontics: concerned with pathology and morphology of the dental pulp (eg. root canals)
Oral and Maxillofacial pathology: diseases affecting the oral cavity (eg. weird lesions)
Oral and Maxillofacial surgery: surgical treatment of maxillofacial region (eg. molar removal)
Orthodontics: correction of malocclusion in dentofacial structure (eg. braces)
Pediatric dentistry: oral disease in children, birth to adolescence
Periodontics: diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the tooth
Prosthodontics: restoration of oral functions (eg. replace missing teeth)
Forensic dentistry: identification of bite marks on the body or tooth restorations

Multiple Choice

Diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the tooth

• Prosthodontics

• Periodontics

• Endodontics

• Oral and Maxillofacial pathology

Multiple Choice

Concerned with pathology and morphology of the dental pulp (eg. root canals)

• Endodontics

• Pediatric dentistry

• Oral and Maxillofacial surgery

• Forensic dentistry

Multiple Choice

Correction of malocclusion in dentofacial structure (eg. braces)

• Prosthodontics

• Periodontics

• Pediatric dentistry

• Orthodontics

Dental Assistants

• training is one year (has didactic, lab, and clincal content)

• duties vary from intraoral procedures (placing retracting cord and dental dams) to extraoral (patient education)

• allow dentists to care for many more patients than they could alone

Dental Receptionist

• Use computers to handle insurance claims

• Front office management, computer tech, marketing, accounting

• First contact for patient; critical that they greet them positively

Sterilization assistant

• Sterilize treatment rooms and instruments

• Monitor sterilizers, water lines, ultrasonic, cold chemical solutions, biohazard materials

Dental hygienists

• Provide dental prophylaxis (removal of plaque, stains, and calculus from teeth)

• Apply tooth sealants, conduct dental radiographs, administer local anesthetics

Multiple Choice

Handles insurance claims

• Dental assistants

• Sterilization assistant

• Dental receptionist

• Dental hygienists

Multiple Choice

Provides dental prophylaxis (eg. remove plaque)

• Dental assistants

• Dental hygienists

• Sterilization assistant

• Dental receptionist

Multiple Choice

Allows dentists to care for many more patients than if working alone

• Dental assistants

• Dental receptionals

• Sterilization assistant

• Dental hygienists