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Portal:Dentistry

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Hello and welcome to Wikiversity school of dentistry!

Aims:

  • Teach anyone who is interested about dentistry, from the general public, to people interested in a career in dentistry, university students, and graduates
  • Network with others engaged in this aim and have fun

What Wikiversity school of dentistry cannot do is provide you with any formal degree

Learning resources

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About dentistry

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Dentistry is the art and science of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions, diseases, and disorders of the oral cavity, the maxillofacial region, and its associated structures. A dentist is qualified to practice dentistry. In most countries, several years of training in a university (usually 4-8) and some practical experience working with patients is required to become a qualified dentist. The patron saint of dentists is Saint Apollonia, martyred in Alexandria in 249 by having all her teeth violently extracted. On February 9, 1259, she was declared a saint, and since then the 9th of February is the day dentists celebrate as the "Appolonia day."

The first printed textbook in dentistry was Artznen Buchlein, published in 1530 in Germany. Dentistry at that time was performed by laymen, often barbers and blacksmiths. Because of failed treatments related to no or minimal training of the laymen, the Collegium Medicum in Berlin introduced in 1685 the requirement that an examination is taken before a government commission for the actual practicing of dentistry. In 1699 Paris requires that individuals practicing dentistry must have passed a theoretical and practical examination at the College de St. Come. That college is also the first college in the world that offers a university training for future dentists.

The first dental school in the USA, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, opened in Baltimore, Maryland on November 3, 1840. In 1867, Harvard Dental School was the first dental school in the USA to affiliate with a university (renamed Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1940.)

 
Dentistry has progressed significantly in recent centuries

Dental Practice includes examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and prevention of oral diseases. The dentist with the help of other dental auxiliaries frequently uses X-rays and other equipment to ensure correct diagnosis and treatment planning. Treatment may include filling dental cavities, removing the pulps of teeth (R.C.T or Root Canal Treatment), treating diseases of the gums, removing teeth (Extraction), and replacing lost teeth with bridges and dentures (Dental Plates). Anesthesia is often used in any treatment that might cause pain. Teeth may be filled with gold, silver, amalgam, composite, and with fused porcelain inlays. Dentists treat diseases of the mouth and gums such as trench mouth and Periodontitis. An important part of general dental practice is preventive dentistry. If a dentist examines a patient's teeth at regular intervals, a disease may be detected and treated before it becomes serious. Dentists also demonstrate proper methods of brushing and flossing the teeth. They may advise their patients about what food to eat or to avoid for good dental health. Dentists may also treat teeth with Fluorides or other substances to prevent decay.

In addition to general dentistry, there are nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association and require 2-6 years of residency training after dental school. The specialties are:

  • Dental Public Health (study of dental epidemiology and social health policies),
  • Endodontics (root canal therapy),
  • Oral Diagnosis and medicine [clinical diagnosis and management of lesions affecting the maxillofacial region ,providing the dental management and emergency care of patients with temporomandibular disorders ,orofacial pain,salivary gland disorders and systemic diseases]
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (study, diagnosis, and often 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 and facial surgery-- although the scope of OMFS is different to this in other parts of the world),
  • Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (straightening of teeth),
  • Pedodontics (pediatric dentistry; i.e. dentistry for children),
  • Periodontics (treatment of gum disease),
  • Prosthodontics (replacement of missing facial anatomy by prostheses such as dentures, bridges and implants).

Specialists in these fields are designated registrable (U.S. "Board Eligible") and warrant exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral surgeon, endodontist, pedodontist, periodontist, or prosthodontist upon satisfying certain local (U.S. "Board Certified") registry requirements.

Two other post-graduate formal advanced education programs: General Practice Residency (advanced clinical and didactic training with intense hospital experience) and Advanced Education in General Dentistry (advanced training in clinical dentistry) recognized by the ADA do not lead to specialization.

Other dental education exists where no post-graduate formal university training is required: cosmetic dentistry, dental implant, temporo-mandibular joint therapy. These usually require the attendance of one or more continuing education courses that typically last for one to several days. There are restrictions on allowing these dentists to call themselves specialists in these fields. The specialist titles are registrable titles and controlled by the local dental licensing bodies.

Forensic odontology consists of the gathering and use of dental evidence in law. This may be performed by any dentist with experience or training in this field. The function of the forensic dentist is primarily documentation and verification of identity.

Geriatric dentistry or geriodontics is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with other health care professionals. Geriatric dentistry is currently a recognized specialty in Brazil, Austrailia and New Zealand.

Veterinary dentistry, a specialty of veterinary medicine, is the field of dentistry applied to the care of animals.

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Why not visit the School of Dentistry, Birmingham UK to see examples of how elearning has transformed the learning experience for undergraduate dentists. http://www.dentistry.bham.ac.uk/ecourse

Explore the Dental Procedure Education System (DPES), an online multimedia repository of dental content developed by the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry|Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto. http://dpes.dentistry.utoronto.ca/

Browse dental ebooks for download: http://dentalebooks.com/

School news

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  Life Sciences portal
  • December 25, 2006 - School founded!

Active participants

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Inactive participants

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Oral care

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