Official Dental Specialties
- Anesthesiology: Deals with general anesthesia, sedation, and pain management for dental procedures.
- Dental public health: Focuses on dental epidemiology and social health policies.
- Endodontics: Involves root canal therapy and the study of dental pulp diseases.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: Studies, diagnoses, and sometimes treats diseases related to the mouth and face.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: Focuses on the study and interpretation of oral and maxillofacial diseases.
Other Specialties or Studies
- Special needs dentistry: Provides dental care for individuals with developmental and acquired disabilities.
- Oral Biology: Involves research in dental and craniofacial biology.
- Forensic odontology: Uses dental evidence in law enforcement for identification purposes.
- Geriatric dentistry or Geriodontics: Provides dental care for older adults, considering age-related issues.
- Oral medicine: Evaluates and diagnoses oral mucosal diseases and provides dental treatment for medically compromised patients.
Sports Dentistry
- Branch of advanced dentistry focused on dental health in sports and exercise.
- Prevents, treats, and manages dental injuries and oral diseases associated with sports.
- Can be pursued as a post-graduation specialization after BDS/DDS or equivalent.
- Offers various degrees of study, including certificate courses, diplomas, fellowships, and masters.
- Works as an individual consultant or as part of a Sports Medicine Team.
Veterinary Dentistry
- Applies dentistry to the care of animals.
- A specialty within veterinary medicine.
- Provides dental care for animals, similar to human dentistry.
- Requires specialized training and knowledge in animal dental health.
- Addresses dental issues in various animal species.
References
- Specialist Orthodontist Harley Street: Archived website providing information on finding a specialist orthodontist.
- Dental Board of Australia - Specialist Registration: Information on specialist registration in Australia.
- Anesthesiology recognized as a dental specialty: Recognition of anesthesiology as a dental specialty.
- ADA.org: Website of the American Dental Association.
- Special Care Dentistry: Education & Courses: Information on education and courses in special care dentistry.
In the United States and Canada, there are twelve recognized dental specialties in which some dentists choose to train and practice, in addition to or instead of general dentistry. In the United Kingdom and Australia, there are thirteen.
To become a specialist requires training in a residency or advanced graduate training program. Once a residency is completed, the doctor is granted a certificate of specialty training. Many specialty programs have optional or required advanced degrees such as a master's degree, such as the Master of Science (MS or MSc), Master of Dental Surgery/Science (MDS/MDSc), Master of Dentistry (MDent), Master of Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Master of Medical Science (MMS or (MMSc); doctorate such as Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent), Doctor of Medical Science/Sciences (DMSc), or PhD;or medical degree: Doctor of Medicine/Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MD/MBBS) specific to maxillofacial surgery and sometimes oral medicine).
