Medical Healthcare - Dental Care

Dental care practitioners

A dental care practitioner is a health worker who provides care and treatment to promote and restore oral health. These include dentists and dental surgeons, dental assistants, dental auxiliaries, dental hygienists, dental nurses, dental technicians, dental therapists, and related professional titles.

Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, the maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures, and their impact on the human body. Dentistry tends to be perceived as being focused primarily on human teeth, though it is not limited strictly to this. Dentistry is widely considered necessary for complete overall health. Doctors who practice dentistry are known as dentists. The dentist's supporting team – which includes dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and dental therapists – aids in providing oral health services.

Lets take an example of Maxillofacial.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the surgical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.
Consultant specialists working in this area are variously termed oral surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons or oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

So this may come under dental care practitioners and can come under surgical also. This type of treatment are included in most of healthcare insurance policies and plan .

Dentist also encourage prevention of oral disease through proper and regular brushing of teeth and regular checkups. Many studies have proved that gum disease is one of the main factor in increased risk of diabetes , heart disease etc.

About the specialties of dentist different part of world have different opinions. Lets take about world's leading Healthcare Insurance country America (US Healthcare). They recognize nine dental specialties .
Public health dentistry
Endodontics
Oral and Maxillofacial pathology
Oral and Maxillofacial radiology
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Orthodontics
Pediatric dentistry
Periodontics
Prosthodontics
General dentistry




There are other dental niches which are recognized in other countries and categorized under Medical Healthcare insurance in their areas.


Australian dentistry ( Australian Healthcare Insurance ) is overseen by the Australian Dental Council and the Dental Board of Australia while specialization is overseen by the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. The professional body for dentists is the Australian Dental Association. Dentists trained in Australia must meet the entry requirements of one of the Australian institutions offering dental courses, and then complete the required full-time academic training leading to a dental degree. If dentists wish to specialize, they must complete extra study after having had clinical experience.

The practice of dentistry in Brazil is overseen by Conselho Federal de Odontologia, a federal entity that coordinates the 27 State bodies. This institution has 340,000 registered dentists and 191 universities and/or colleges in Brazil.

The practice of dentistry in Canada(Canada Healthcare) is overseen by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), while specialization is overseen by the Royal College of Dentists. Today, Canada has about 16,000 dentists. Canadian dentistry is not publicly run  however, some provinces provide for free dental care for children and the elderly. Other Canadians are mostly covered by workplace dental plans, but many have to pay out-of-pocket.

In Chile dentists require six years of post secondary education. The first dental school was established at the Universidad de Chile in the year 1888. Other institutions providing professional dental education in Chile are Universidad Austral de Chile Universidad de Concepción, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (since 2009), Universidad de Valparaíso, Universidad de Talca, Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello, Universidad Mayor, Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Diego Portales, and more .

In all European countries, there exist public dental services and/or subsidies that ensure that most  citizens have access to the dental services they require, regardless of their ability to pay. Information regarding the various levels of dental care provision throughout Europe can be found in the Manual of Dental Practice, published by the Council of European Dentists.

In Finland, education in dentistry is through a 5.5 year Licenciate of Dental Medicine (DMD or DDS) course, which is offered after high school graduation. Application is by a national combined dental and medical school entry examination.

Dentists in Greece complete a 5 year program that leads to the Degree of Dental Surgeon (equivalent to D.D.S). Two Universities in Greece provide training for Dentists.

In India (Healthcare in India), training in dentistry is through a 5 year BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) course, which includes 4 years study and 1 year compulsory internship. Dental education in India is regulated by the Dental Council of India.

In the United Kingdom (UK Healthcare) , dentists complete 5 years of undergraduate study to earn a B.D.S. or BChD degree. After graduating most dentists will enter a V.T. (vocational training) scheme, of either 1 or 2 years length, to receive their full National Health Service registration. Dentists must register with the G.D.C. (General Dental Council), and meet their requirements as the governing body of the profession, before being allowed to practice.

To know more about other Healthcare Providers please read page Healthcare Providers.