"Dentistry
is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment
(nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders
and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or
the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human
body; provided by a dentist, within the scope of his/her education,
training and experience, in accordance with the ethics of the profession
and applicable law."
(Definition adopted by the 1997 American Dental Association House
of Delegates)
The
American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes nine professional specialties
in the field of dentistry. These designations are approved by the
Council on Dental Education and Licensure of the American Dental
Association:
1. Dental Public Health
Dental
public health is the science and art of preventing and controlling
dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community
efforts. It is that form of dental practice which serves the community
as a patient rather than the individual. It is concerned with the
dental health education of the public, with applied dental research,
and with the administration of group dental care programs as well
as the prevention and control of dental diseases on a community basis.
(Adopted by the ADA May, 1976)
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2. Endodontics
Endodontics is
the branch of dentistry which is concerned with the morphology, physiology
and pathology of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues.
Its study and practice encompass the basic and clinical sciences including
biology of the normal pulp, the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular
conditions. (Adopted by the ADA December, 1983)
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of dental specialties
3. Oral and Maxillofacial
Pathology
Oral pathology is the specialty
of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature,
identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and
maxillofacial regions. It is a science that investigates the causes,
processes, and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral pathology
includes research and diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic,
microscopic, biochemical, or other examinations. (Adopted by the ADA
May, 1991)
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4. Oral and Maxillofacial
Radiology
Oral and maxillofacial radiology
is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned
with the production and interpretation of images and data produced
by all modalities of radiant energy that are used for the diagnosis
and management of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral and
maxillofacial region. (Adopted by the ADA April, 2001)
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5. Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical
and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving
both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues
of the oral and maxillofacial region. (Adopted by the ADA October,
1990)
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6. Orthodontics and
Dentofacial Orthopedics
Orthodontics is the area of
dentistry concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction
of the growing or mature dentofacial structures, including those conditions
that require movement of teeth or correction of malrelationships and
malformations of their related structures and the adjustment of relationships
between and among teeth and facial bones by the application of forces
and/or the stimulation and redirection of functional forces within
the craniofacial complex. Major responsibilities of orthodontic practice
include the diagnosis, prevention, interception and treatment of all
forms of malocclusion of the teeth and associated alterations in their
surrounding structures; the design, application and control of functional
and corrective appliances; and the guidance of the dentition and its
supporting structures to attain and maintain optimum occlusal relations
in physiologic and esthetic harmony among facial and cranial structures.
(Definition Adopted by the ADA December, 1980)
(Designation Adopted by the ADA October, 1994)
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7. Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric Dentistry is an
age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive
preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children
through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.
(Adopted by the ADA 1995)
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8. Periodontics
Periodontics is the specialty
of dentistry which encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and treatment
of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth
or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and
esthetics of these structures and tissues. (Adopted by the ADA December,
1992)
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9. Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics
is the branch of dentistry pertaining to the restoration and maintenance
of oral functions, comfort, appearance and health of the patient by
the restoration of natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing
teeth and contiguous oral and maxillofacial tissues with artificial
substitutes.
(Adopted by the ADA May, 1976)
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(Designations
and descriptions used with permission of the American Dental Association)
