Dentistry as a branch of medicine

Dentistry is the branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental diseases and abnormalities of the teeth, gums, oral mucosa and related structures and tissues, particularly in the maxillofacial (jaw and facial) area. Tooth decay and gum diseases are health problems made worse by the kinds of food we eat.

It is estimated that in the United States alone, 29 million people have no teeth of their own. One person in 3 over the age of 35 needs dentures (false teeth), while half the adults over 40 have some teeth missing because of gum disease. Until the middle of the 19th century, most dental operations were performed by barbers. Today the dentist, like the doctor, is a highly-qualified professional whose work is vital to the health of the community.

Dentistry is widely considered important for overall health. Dental treatment is carried out by the dental team, which often consists of a dentist and dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and dental therapists. Most dentists work in private practices, although some work in dental hospitals and hospitals.

The majority of dental treatments are carried out to prevent or treat the two most common oral diseases which are dental caries and periodontal diseases (gum disease or pyorrhea). Common treatments involve the restoration of teeth, extraction or surgical removal of teeth and root canal treatment.

Dentists also carry out prevention of oral diseases through proper hygiene and regular, twice yearly, checkups for professional cleaning and examination.

The professional training of dentists lasts 5 years. For the first two years, most student dentists undergo general medical training. They study subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and also special anatomy and physiology concerning the structure of the mouth and teeth, how the teeth grow, and how they become unhealthy or diseased.

Gradually they specialize in dental subjects such as pediadontology (treatment of milk teeth), prosthodontics (the use and manufacture of false teeth, also called dentures), orthodontics (straightening crooked teeth), conservative dentistry (inserting fillings), and oral surgery (extraction of teeth, operations on the teeth, gums, jaws and other nearby parts).

Notes:barber - парикмахер (чоловічий), цирюльник

Exercise 6. Give the English equivalents to the following words and word combinations.

1. tooth decay	a) виготовлення протезів
2. to undergo general medical training	b) пломбування зубів
3. the most common oral disease	c) вирівняння зубів
4. fillingteeth	d) відсутні зуби
5. straighteningteeth	e) профілактика захворювань
6. manufactureofdentures	f) проходити регулярне обстеження
7. preventionofdiseases	g) видалення зубів
8. teethextraction	h) найпоширеніше захворювання ротової порожнини
9. missingteeth	i) проходити загальну медичну підготовку
10. to have regular check-ups	j) гниття зубів

Exercise 7. Answer the questions.

What is dentistry concerned with?

What does most of dental treatment consist of?

Who was performing dental operations until the middle of 19th century?

How long does the training of dentists last?

What does the prevention of oral disease consist of?

What does orthodontics deal with?

What is the aim of prosthodontics?

What is oral surgery connected with?

What does pediadontology deal with?

What is the aim of conservative dentistry?

Exercise 8. Match the sentence halves.

1. Today the dentist 2. Tooth decay and gum diseases 3. Half the adults over 40 4. Most dental operations 5. Pediadontist 6. Dental therapist 7. Orthodontics is concerned with 8. Prosthodontics deals with

a. have some teeth missing because of gum diseases. b. the manufacture of dentures and false teeth. c. straightening the teeth d. are a health problem made worse by the kinds of food we eat. e. deals with the restoration of teeth by means of fillings and emergency treatment of dental pain. f. were performed by travelling tooth drawers and barbers. g. is a specialist dealing with oral diseases and dental pathologies of patients up to 14 years of age. h. is a highly-trained person whose work is vital to the health of the community.

Exercise 9. Give the English equivalents to the following words and word combinations.

Виготовлення штучних зубів, дорослі люди понад 40 років, високваліфікований спеціаліст, відсутні зуби, видалення зубів, терапія кореневого каналу, професійна освіта, проходити курс загальної медицини, аномалії зубів та ясен, структура ротової порожнини, відповідна гігієна ротової порожнини, профілактика захворювань, вирівняння зубів, проходити регулярне обстеження, найпоширеніше захворювання ротової порожнини.

Exercise 10. Find synonyms to the following words in the text.

A field of medicine, a tooth illness, a tooth decay, to estimate, grown-ups, a highly-trained specialist, a regular inspection, a gingiva, a removal, artificial teeth, prostheses.

Exercise 11. Substitute the words given in italics with their synonyms:

Periodontology is a field of medicine that deals with the study of tissues surrounding teeth.

Dental forceps are used for the removal of teeth.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gingiva treated by the periodontist.

Many grown-ups suffer from tooth illnesses all over the world.

The formation of cavities in the teeth by the action of bacteria is called tooth decay.

Most elderly people have to be manufactured prostheses or artificial teeth.

Every person should undergo a regular dental inspection at least twice a year.

A lot of highly-trained specialists work at hospital and polyclinics for the protection of people’s health.