Dental Specialties

There are 13 recognised specialties within dentistry and a few other alternative careers within dentistry

Special Care Dentistry
Special Care Dentistry is concerned with the improvement of the oral health of individuals and groups in society who have a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical, emotional or social impairment or disability or, more often, a combination of these factors. It pertains to adolescents and adults.

Useful Links

British Society for disability and oral health http://www.bsdh.org.uk

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Oral Surgery
Deals with the treatment and ongoing management of irregularities and pathology of the jaw and mouth that require surgical intervention.  This includes the specialty previously called Surgical Dentistry.

Useful Links

Royal College of Surgeons England - www.rcseng.ac.uk

British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons - www.baoms.org.uk

OMFS courses at The Royal College of Surgeons -
www.rsceng.ac.uk/education/courses/specialty/oralcourses.html

Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Project (ISCP) -
http://www.iscp.ac.uk/Syllabus/Overview.aspx?Spec=OMFS

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Orthodontics
The development, prevention, and correction of irregularities of the teeth, bite and jaw. 

Useful Links

British Orthodontic Society http://www.bos.org.uk

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Paediatric Dentistry
Concerned with comprehensive therapeutic oral health care for children from birth through adolescence, including care for those who demonstrate intellectual, medical, physical, psychological and/or emotional problems.

Useful Links

The British Society of Paediatric dentistry http://www.bspd.co.uk

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Endodontics
Concerned with the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the tooth root, dental pulp, and surrounding tissue.

Useful Links

British Endodontic Society http://www.britishendodonticsociety.org.uk/

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Periodontics
Periodontics - Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders (infections and inflammatory) of the gums and other structures around the teeth

Useful Links

British Society of Periodontology http://www.bsperio.org.uk/

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Prosthodontics
Replacement of missing teeth and the associated soft and hard tissues by prostheses (crowns, bridges, dentures) which may be fixed or removable, or may be supported and retained by implants.

Useful Links

British Society for the Study of Prosthetic Dentistry http://www.bsspd.org/

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Restorative Dentistry
Deals with the restoration of diseased, injured, or abnormal teeth to normal function.
Includes all aspects of Endodontics, Periodontics and Prosthodontics.

Useful Links

British Society for restorative dentistry http://www.bsrd.org.uk/

European Association of Osseointegration http://www.eao.org/

Association of Consultants and Specialists in Restorative Dentistry http://www.restdent.org.uk/

Association of Dental Implantology UK http://www.adi.org.uk/

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Dental Public Health
This is a non-clinical specialty involving the science and art of preventing oral diseases, promoting oral health to the population rather than the individual.  It involves the assessment of dental health needs and ensuring dental services meet those needs. 

Useful Links

The British Association for the study of Community Dentistry

http://www.bascd.org/

EADHP - European Association of Dental Public Health
www.eadph.org/

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Oral Medicine
Concerned with the oral health care of patients with chronic recurrent and medically related disorders of the mouth and with their diagnosis and non-surgical management.

Useful Links

British Society for Oral Meicine http://www.bsom.org.uk/

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Oral Microbiology
Diagnosis and assessment of facial infection - typically bacterial and fungal disease. This is a clinical specialty undertaken by laboratory based personnel who provide reports and advice based on interpretation of microbiological samples.

Useful Links

Oral Microbiology and immunology Group  http://www.ncl.ac.uk/dental/oralbiol/omig/

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Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Diagnosis and assessment made from tissue changes characteristic of disease of the oral cavity, jaws and salivary glands. This is a clinical specialty undertaken by laboratory based personnel.

Useful Links

The British Society for Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology www.bsomp.org/

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Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology
Involves all aspects of medical imaging which provide information about anatomy, function and diseased states of the teeth and jaws.

Useful Links

The British Society of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology www.bsdmfr.org.uk/

European Academy of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology http://www.eadmfr.org/

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Specialisms not requiring accreditation by the GDC

 

Academic dentistry

Academic dentistry has two main fields; research and teaching. Normally you enter academic dentistry through involving yourself in research during your specialty training. You will have an advantage if you get involved in audits and research during your time at dental school and Dental Foundation Training.

Useful Links

British Society for Dental Research http://www.bsdr.org.uk/

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Forensic Odontology
A branch of forensic medicine which involves identifying human remains using dental evidence and analysis of bite marks and other injuries.

Useful Links
The British Association for Forensic Odontology
http://www.bafo.org.uk

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