Dentistry

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The section discusses the following topics :

>What Is a Dentist?

>What Do Dentists Do?

>Where Do Dentists Work?

>Education & Preparation

>Professional Associations

>Licensure

What Is a Dentist?

A Dentist is an individual who practices dentistry. Dentistry is the examination, diagnosis, treatment, planning or care of conditions within the human oral cavity or its adjacent tissues and structures.

What Do Dentists Do?

Dentists diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth and mouth. They improve a patient’s appearance by using a variety of cosmetic dental procedures, and educate on how to better care for teeth and prevent oral disease. They perform surgical procedures such as implants, tissue grafts and extractions. They also teach future dentists and oral hygienists. In addition, they perform research directed to improving oral health and developing new treatment methods. While most dentists are general practitioners, others may practice in any of nine specialty areas:

• Orthodontists,
• Oral and Maxillofacilal surgeons
• Pediatric dentistists
• Periodontists
• Prosthodontists
• Endodontists
• Public Health Dentists,
• Oral Pathologists, or
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologists.

Where Do Dentists Work?

Most dentists work in private practice. However, they also work in public health agencies, hospitals, the military and other settings.

Education & Preparation

Admission to Ontario’s dental schools requires completion of at least two years of an accredited undergraduate degree program, as well as submission of Dental Aptitude Test scores.

Professional Associations

• Ontario Dental Association
  http://www.oda.on.ca/
• Canadian Dental Association
  http://www.cda-adc.ca/

Licensure

Dental Hygienists are regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Dental Hygiene Act, 1991.
Dental hygienists must successfully complete a two-year program to be regulated under the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario.