DISEASES AND CONDITIONS IN DENTISTRY

Cold Sores (Fever Blisters):

Cold Sores are fluid-filled blisters that erupt on your lips, under your nose or around your chin caused by a virus known as herpes simplex virus type 1. 

Once you have them, you’re likely to get them again. 

Extremely contagious, they can be passed to others from the time you feel the first symptoms (like itching or tingling by your mouth) to the time they heal completely. 

Cold sores are often red, yellow or gray and usually heal within a week or two on their own. 

Your dentist can prescribe antiviral drugs within the first few days of an outbreak to help it heal more quickly. 

Over the counter drugs are available to help with pain, itching and burning they might cause.

Cavities:

One in every four adults has an untreated cavity, nearly every adult will have tooth decay at some point. 

You might have a cavity if you experience pain, food gets caught in your tooth, your tooth feels rough to your tongue or it hurts to eat something cold or sweet. 

Depending on their severity, cavities can be treated with Fillings, Crowns or Rootcanals. 

If the damage is too extensive or involves nerve damage, the tooth may need to be removed. 

To reduce your chance of developing cavities, brush twice daily, use dental Floss once a day, drink flouridated water, use a flouride Toothpaste, Stay away from Sugary Foods and Drinks,Make regular visit to a Dentist.

Chipped/Fractured Tooth/Teeth:

If you regularly chomp on hardened foods ,ice cubes,grinding of teeth , you’re at a higher risk for a chipped tooth. You might feel pain, depending on how much tooth has been lost. You may also feel a rough edge when you run your tongue along it.

If this happens, see your dentist. A small chip might be able to be smoothed down. Your dentist can use a tooth-colored filling, a veneer or a crown to shape up your smile after a larger chip.


Teeth Grinding:

Grinding your teeth 



(bruxism) is most likely to happen when you’re sleeping, though it can occur anytime during the day if you’re stressed, have a new filling or crown that’s higher than the rest of your teeth or have an abnormal bite. Over a long period of time, the surface of your teeth will become worn. You could experience toothaches, dull headaches or earaches, and jaw pain (TMJ). Your teeth may also appear more yellow because the white outer covering is worn away.

A custom mouthguard from your dentist can protect your teeth during sleep and correct bite issues. If stress is the cause, find a way to relax. Meditation, counseling and exercise can help reduce stress and anxiety (and the likelihood that you will grind your teeth).

Gingivitis:

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, an infection of the tissues around your teeth caused by plaque. 

If you have gingivitis, your gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. You may also experience bad breath. 

Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it.

You are more likely to develop gum disease if you skip brushing and flossing, use tobacco, have crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean, are pregnant, have diabetes or take certain medications. 


When in its early stages, the disease is still reversible and your gums can be returned to good health with a professional cleaning from your dentist, along with daily brushing and flossing.

Periodontitis:

Periodontitis is the more advanced form of gum disease, a major cause of tooth loss in adults. According to the CDC, nearly half of U.S. adults suffer from it. 

The disease can be reversed in early stages, but damage may be permanent the longer it goes untreated. 

Although you may not be aware of the gum disease in your mouth, abscesses can develop which usually painful. Symptoms include bleeding, swollen gums, persistent bad breath or bad taste, loose permanent teeth and a change in bite. 

Your teeth may appear to become longer as gums and bone recede. 

There are many treatments available, including deep cleanings known as scaling and root planing. Talk to your dentist to find out what’s best for you.

Oral Thrush:

Thrush is a yeast infection that looks like white film in your mouth. You’re more likely to get thrush if you have an illness that affects your immune system. 

This includes people with HIV/AIDS or cancer, as well as people using steroids to manage their asthma. 

People with untreated or uncontrolled diabetes are also susceptible because sugar in saliva encourages yeast to grow. 

Thrush is also common in people who wear dentures. 


If you have symptoms, see your dentist. After a scraping to confirm you have thrush, your dentist can prescribe medicine to clear it up.

Discoloured Tooth:

There are two reasons your tooth may change color after trauma: It’s either trying to protect the nerve or it’s dying. 

If it’s protecting the nerve, your tooth may look a little darker than the ones next to it. 

If it changes colors like a bruise (from pink to gray), this means your tooth is most likely dead. 

You may need a root canal, usually followed by a crown. In some cases it may be necessary to remove the tooth. 

If it is a baby tooth, you may be able to leave it alone until it falls out.

Canker Sores:

Canker sores are small white or gray sores with a red border that appear your lips, the back of your throat or under your tongue. Their exact cause is uncertain but some suggest that immune system problems, bacteria or viruses may be play a role. They are also more common in women.

Canker sores aren’t contagious and usually heal on their own after one or two weeks. Over-the-counter creams and mouthwashes may give you temporary relief. Until it heals, stay away from hot, spicy or acidic foods because these can irritate the sore.

Oral Cancer:

Each year, approximately 40,000 new cases of oral cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue are diagnosed. 

Tobacco use, alcohol abuse and HPV all increase your chance of developing these cancers. 

Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer than women. 

During regular checkups, your dentist will check your mouth for symptoms like red or white patches, sores that won’t heal and rough, crusty spots. 

If anything suspicious is found, your dentist will order more testing or refer you to a specialist. 

The image above is only one example of how oral cancer might appear.

CLASSIFICATION OF DEPARTMENTS IN DENTISTRY

Seven major branches of Dentistry:

 

Dentistry is divided into 7 departments :

 

Oral Medicine.(Treatment with Medicines).

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.(Major and Minor Surgeries).

Periodontics.(Teeth cleaning and Gums).

Orthodontics.(Treatment with Braces).

Pedodontics.(Dentistry in Children).

Prosthodontics.(Missing tooth/teeth).

Conservative Dentistry(Endodontics /Endodontia).

 

1. Oral Medicine : 

 

Oral medicine is the dental specialty placed at the interface between medicine and dentistry.

 

Oral medicine is concerned with diagnosis and non-surgical management of non-dental pathology affecting the oral and maxillofacial region, such as oral lichen planus, Behçet's disease and pemphigus vulgaris. 

 

Moreover, it often involves the diagnosis and follow-up of pre-malignant lesions of the oral cavity, like leukoplakia or erythroplakia. 

 

Another aspect of the speciality is managing the oral condition of medically compromised patients. 

 

For example, cancer patients who suffer from related oral mucositis, bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws or oral pathology related to radiation therapy. 

 

Additionally, it is involved in the diagnosis and management of dry mouth conditions, such as Sjögren's syndrome, and non-dental chronic orofacial pain conditions, such as burning mouth syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia and temporomandibular joint disorder.

 

The main facets of oral medicine are:

 

* Clinical care

 

* Research

 

* Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching

 

 

2. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery : 

 

Oral Surgery (Oral and Maxilloafacial Surgery) is a recognized international specialty in dentistry. 

 

It includes the diagnosis, surgical and related treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws and neck.

 

It involves, but is not limited to: dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, apicoectomy, TMJ disorder, facial trauma, corrective jaw surgery, oral pathology, osseous tissue surgery, anesthesia and bone grafts.

 

 

3. Periodontics : 

 

Periodontology or Periodontics (from Greek peri "around"; and odous "tooth" genitive odontos is the specialty of dentistry that studies supporting structures of teeth, diseases, and conditions that affect them. 

 

The supporting tissues are known as the periodontium, which includes the gingiva (gums), alveolar bone, cementum, and the periodontal ligament. 

 

A professional who practises this speciality field of dentistry is known as a periodontist.

 

Periodontal diseases take on many different forms but are usually a result of a coalescence of bacterial plaque biofilm accumulation of the gingiva and teeth, combined with host immuno-inflammatory mechanisms and other risk factors which lead to destruction of the supporting bone around natural teeth. 

 

Untreated, these diseases lead to alveolar bone loss and tooth loss and, to date, continue to be the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

 

 

4. Orthodontics : 

 

 Orthodontics, orthodontia, or orthodonture (from Greek orthos "straight or proper"; and odous "tooth") is the first specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. 

 

Orthodontic treatment can focus on dental displacement only, or can deal with the control and modification of facial growth. In the latter case it is better defined as "dentofacial orthopaedics". 

 

Orthodontic treatment can be carried out for purely aesthetic reasons with regards to improving the general appearance of patients' teeth. 

 

However, there are orthodontists who work on reconstructing the entire face rather than focusing exclusively on teeth. 

 

Edward Angle was the first orthodontist—the first dentist to limit his practice to orthodontics only. He is considered the "father of modern orthodontics."

 

 

5. Pedodontics : 

 

Pediatric Dentistry (formerly Pedodontics/Paedodontics) is the branch of dentistry dealing with children from birth through adolescence. It is one of the Specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

 

This discipline focuses intimately on pediatric/adolescent growth and development, disease causality and prevention, child psychology and management, and all aspects of the highly-specialized Pediatric restorative techniques and modalities. 

 

Some Pediatric Dentists also specialize in the care of "special needs" patients, such as people with cerebral palsy, mental retardation and autism.

 

Pediatric Dentists require an extra two to three years of post-doctoral dental training after attaining their dental degree. 

 

They are then eligible for board certification by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (Diplomate ABPD) or Fellowship with either the Royal College of Dentists of Canada ( FRCDC (Paed) ), or Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons ( FRACDS (Paed) ). 

 

Most states (excluding Texas) and provinces require a Specialty Permit or License in order to limit professional practice to Pediatric Dentistry or to represent oneself as a Pediatric Dentist. 

 

Differentiating itself from general dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry emphasizes the establishment of trust and confidence in children with their dentists. Consequently, one of the main components of pediatric training is child psychology. 

 

This manifests itself in special office designs, different communication styles and an emphasis on teaching preventative dental habits to children in an effort to make dental visits enjoyable.

 

 

6. Prosthodontics :

Prosthodontics, also known as dental prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry. Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.

 

 

7. Conservative Dentistry : 

 

 

Conservative Dentistry is the branch of dentistry which is concerned with the conservation of teeth in the mouth. It embraces the practice of operative dentistry and endodontics, and includes various kinds of direct and indirect restorations of individual teeth in the mouth.

 

Primary goal of Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of sequelae of dental caries and includes the techniques and procedures to restore the teeth to full function & appearance in an aesthetically pleasing manner with as little loss of healthy tooth structure as possible. 

 

It also involves performing root canal treatment and associated surgical procedures to rid the tooth of its offending malady The treatment provided include various fillings, root canal treatment surgical endodontics, endodontic implants, bleaching, & management of traumatized teeth.

HISTORY OF DENTISTRY IN INDIA

The Dental Council of India was incorporated under The Dentists Act, 1948 to regulate dental education and the profession throughout India. It is financed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and through the local state dental councils.

Website: dciindia.org.in

 The Bachelor of Dental Surgery at any University in india  is a five-year undergraduate degree that provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to become a competent practitioner of  dentistry.


 It is a broad-based program that includes all aspects of dental practice and focuses on issues., particularly those relating to tropical, rural and Indigenous practice. The curriculum integrates the basic sciences with dental clinical sciences and preventive oral health strategies.


 In consonance of the provisions of the Act, Dental Council of India is entrusted with the following objectives.
 

• Maintenance of uniform standards of Dental Education – both at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. (a) It envisages inspections/visitations of Dental Colleges for permission to start Dental colleges, increase of seats, starting of new P.G. courses (as per provisions of section 10A of the Act).
• To prescribe the standard curricula for the training of dentists, dental hygienists, dental mechanics and the conditions for such training.
• To prescribe the standards of examinations and other requirements to be satisfied to secure for qualifications recognition under the Act.

 
To achieve these, the needs are:

• Uniformity of curriculum standards of technical and clinical requirements, standards of examinations; 
• Affiliation of every dental college to an University;
• Supervision over all the dental institutions to ensure that they maintain the prescribed standards;
• Regulation of the profession of dentistry.

 ANCIENT HISTORY:

 An ancient Sumerian text describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of dental caries. Evidence of this belief has also been found in ancient India, Egypt, Japan, and China. ... In ancient Egypt, Hesi-Re is the first named "dentist" (greatest of the teeth).