Dental profession
Dentists are health professionals who see to the prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of deficiencies and abnormalities of the teeth, mouth, jaws and surrounding tissues in the human body. They use diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, to identify and treat diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth and gums. They prescribe and supply preventive care and may perform certain surgical procedures, such as tooth extraction. Dentists may also be involved in research.
Dentists with specific skills and interests may choose to pursue post-graduate studies in one of the 10 specialties recognized by the Ordre des dentistes du Québec (ODQ).
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide more specialized surgical care than traditional dentists, for example for injuries or malformations and jaw and facial bone deformities.
- Pediatric dentists specialize in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral diseases, anomalies and trauma to the teeth of children, from birth to adolescence.
- Public health dentists are involved in the development and management of public health programs.
- Endodontists specialize in treatments concerned with the pulp chamber, i.e., the central cavity of the tooth containing dental pulp, nerves and blood vessels, and the root canals, which carry blood vessels and nerves toward the dental pulp. These dentists are specialists in root canal treatments.
- Orthodontists specialize in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of anomalies in the positioning of the teeth and bones that can lead to malocclusions (improperly positioned teeth), or improper contact between teeth, for functional and esthetic purposes. They are the specialists in fixed corrective devices (braces) and removable corrective devices.
- Periodontists specialize in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the gums and bone that support the teeth.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathologists specialize in the clinical and microscopic diagnosis, management and treatment (mainly non surgical) of diseases and physiological problems affecting the mouth or jaw.
- Prosthodontists restore and replace natural teeth by means of prostheses, veneers, crowns and bridges that they fashion and fit.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiologists specialize in the interpretation of images obtained by various imaging technologies in order to establish a radiological diagnosis of diseases of the oral cavity, jaws and face.
- Oral medicine specialists are experts in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of diseases and lesions of the mouth and chewing disorders (joints, muscles, dental occlusion, tongue, etc.).