Odontology and Dentistry

Odontology is the scientific study of the teeth.

Odontology is often used by forensic scientists to identify a victim by his or her teeth. Being that teeth are unique to specific person and often out last the body they can be considered individual evidence as well as class evidence.


As years pass, the concept of dentistry has changed. From the mere definition of "dentist" as the study of the teeth, the word has changed to a more complex and complete concept: Odontology. This means that it is not only the study of the teeth, but also the study of the entire oral cavity and its relation with the rest of the human body as a whole. The new advances in knowledge and technology has expanded the studies of the dentist to a new level, where the practitioner is now able to diagnose and treat diverse affections of the oral cavity and their direct affection to the rest of the human body, from a simple cavity or a rooth canal, to the diagnose and treatment of different types of oral cancer in conjuction with other health pratitioners, early detection of sistemic diseases like HPV, HIV, among other things.

Ondontology has raised its level, improving its techniques and using cutting-edge technology in the treatment of oral diseases, dividing now into several areas where the practioner specializes: orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, aesthetic and restorative dentistry, prosthetics, estomatology,( peso inspired terminology) oral oncology, maxillo-facial surgery, pediatric dentistry, etc.

Nowadays, odontologic paractice stands parallel to other health areas like cardiology, pneumonology, inmunology, etc., and teeth, as organs within the body's system, should be a part of treatment programs considered by the attending physician.

Dentistry
A Dentist and Dental Assistant perform surgery on a patient.

Dentistry, more appropriately "dental medicine", is the art and science of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions, diseases, and disorders of the oral cavity, the maxillofacial region, and its associated structures as it relates to human beings. While the work of dentists is often surgical in nature, dentists can and do treat many diseases of the oral cavity and face chemotherapeutically (i.e. with prescribed medicines).

A dentist is a doctor, qualified to practice dentistry after graduating with a degree of either Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). In most western countries to become a qualified dentist you must usually complete at least 8 years of study; an undergraduate degree (usually in the sciences) and 4 years dental training. At least 2 years of practical experience working with patients in the educational setting during the last two years of training are required.

The first dental school, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, opened in Baltimore, Maryland in 1840. Harvard Dental School was the first dental school to affiliate with a university in 1867 (renamed Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1940.)