Approved
by the Council on Dental Education, American Dental Association
It is recognized
there are overlapping responsibilities among the recognized areas of dental
practice. However, as a matter of principle, a specialist shall not provide
routinely procedures that are beyond the scope of his specialty. (Approved
May 1976) Back
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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 May 1976) Back
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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 December 1983) Back
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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
May 1991) Back
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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 October 1990) Back
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Orthodontics
and Dentofacial Orthopedics: Orthodontics is that 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 December 1980)
(Designation Adopted October 1994) Back
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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
1995) Back
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Periodontics:
is that 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 December 1992)
Back
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Prosthodontics:
Prosthodontics is that 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 May 1976) Back
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Definition
of Dentistry
Dentistry:
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. (As
adopted by the 1997 ADA House of Delegates) Back
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DDS:
doctor of dental surgery
DMD:
doctor of dental medicine
Indicates the degree
awarded upon graduation from dental school to become a general dentist.
There is no difference between the two degrees; dentists who have a DMD
or DDS have the same education. Universities have the prerogative to determine
what degree is awarded. Both degrees use the same curriculum requirements
set by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Generally, three or more years of undergraduate education plus four years
of dental school is required to graduate and become a general dentist.
State licensing boards accept either degree as equivalent, and both degrees
allow licensed individuals to practice the same scope of general dentistry.
Additional post-graduate training is required to become a dental specialist,
such as an orthodontist, periodontist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
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