Dental, also called dentistry and oral surgery, is an academic branch of medical science which includes the study, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and prevention of disorders, diseases, and problems of the teeth, jaw, and mouth. This branch of dentistry deals with all parts of oral health. It involves a wide range of aspects of oral health such as mouth maintenance and hygiene, assessment, identification, treatment, prevention, planning, and care. Oral specialists can perform many laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor diseases and disorders of the teeth and mouth. In fact, there are hundreds of laboratory and office techniques used in dentistry to study and diagnose oral problems.
A dentist is considered as an oral surgeon when he or she treats a toothache by treating the gum around it or by inserting and removing dental bridges, crowns, and dentures. Oral surgeons can perform minor reconstructive procedures like fitting and general cosmetic procedures like tooth whitening, removing dental plaque, correcting chipped and broken teeth, and cosmetic dentistry procedures like gum lifts, veneers, contouring, and bonding of teeth. Oral surgeons can perform more complicated procedures such as removing molars or jaws, making a chipped tooth align properly, cleaning and repairing damaged teeth, making gum softening remedies, treating temporomandibular joint syndrome, treating and preventing serious diseases like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. On the other hand, orthodontists are also dental professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating problems related to the alignment, malocclusion, proper positioning, structure, maintenance, shape, strength, and function of teeth. Oftentimes, orthodontists are also dentists. In addition to their roles as dental professionals, orthodontists also teach and conduct research in the field of orthodontics.
The roles and responsibilities of a general dentist and an orthodontist are quite different from the roles and responsibilities of a dental hygienist and an oral surgeon. A dental hygienist is a dentist that takes care of all the health aspects of a patient’s mouth and teeth. In this role, he or she would give medications for oral diseases and recommend treatment options for patients. Additionally, the hygienist would also inspect patients’ teeth for any possible decay, abscess, nerve damage, gum disease, gum swelling, birth defects, or other dental problems.
In contrast, an oral surgeon is someone who performs operations on people’s jaws and other facial bones. This person performs surgeries like extracting a tooth or a group of teeth, replacing a tooth, making a crown, reshaping a tooth, cutting the gum tissue, cleaning the face, removing dental implants, repairing broken teeth, making a jaw abutment, repairing a deviated septum, or constructing a full-face prosthetic. Furthermore, the surgeon can perform dental implants like helping a patient regain a normal bite. He or she can also help a patient who has lost all or part of one or more teeth through accidents or disease. Overall, the dental implants are artificial teeth that are made to look like a person’s original teeth so that the patient will still be able to chew and talk normally.
Dental implants are created from titanium alloy. This metal is used by dentists to create replacement teeth and jaws because it is malleable and ductile. The process of creating dental implants starts with the fabrication of a titanium screw. The titanium screw is then shaped into its final form by using any machinery. The new tooth or teeth are then placed in the jaw after they are prepared by smoothing them out using various tools and powders such as dentin, gels, and fillers.
Dental implant placement is done under general anesthesia because it is invasive. The process involves the placement of titanium screws and the shaping of the jawbone and surrounding gum tissue to form the abutment. The abutment is held in place by plastic rods that have been bent to fit the shape of the jaw. When the abutment is ready, the dentist fits a temporary crown to protect it from the incisions and grinding that will take place during the healing process. After two weeks, the crown is removed and the new, complete, durable dental implant crown is attached to the abutment.