Why is dentistry a separate course rather than a specialization after medical school? Dentistry is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis (detection), and treatment of diseases and conditions of teeth, gums, jaws, and oral-facial structures. The field of dentistry is not just limited to teeth. It is like any other branch of Medicine e.g., ENT doctors specialize in ear, nose, and throat diseases, Orthopedic surgeons treat bone diseases/disorders, and Ophthalmologists specialize in eyes, and so on. In fact, there are many medical specialties and super-specialties after a basic medical degree. Some doctors have extra expertise in any one of these specialties or another. However, dentistry is more than a specialty of medicine. Dentistry is more than a specialty of Medicine Have you seen everyone affected by cancer or diabetes, or heart problems? Have you seen a separate college for the liver or heart, in spite of the fact that we can’t live without these vital organs? Some people have skin problems; some have kidney issues but every one of us has dental problems and needs regular dental prophylaxis or treatments. The mouth is a constant source of microbial inflammation. Fortunately, most people are asymptomatic (painless) because we evolved and adapted to oral germs and constant inflammation. Just imagine, what would have happened if oral inflammation was painful for everyone. The mouth is the only natural way of food intake. It has the second largest diverse microbiota after the gut because of the easy availability of food and shelter. Furthermore, the modern refined(soft and sticky) diet has aggravated the situation and made our mouth the constant source of microbial inflammation. That’s why tooth decay and gum diseases are one of the most common diseases affecting mankind. Oral microflora, their toxins, and inflammatory products from mouth diseases get easy access to the inner body through our inflamed gums and can cause heart attacks, pneumonia, diabetes, cancers, infertility, sepsis, and many other ill-effects on our vital organs. Poor oral hygiene during pregnancy can affect the developing baby which can lead to complications such as miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature delivery. Poor oral health is not only linked with systemic diseases/conditions but badly influences their entire course. The mouth is the gateway to your systemic health. You must have noticed, the mouth is the only organ of your body that needs a variety of hygiene/preventive measures i.e., toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, tongue blade/brush, interdental brushes, mouthwashes, professional prophylaxis/treatments, etc. on a regular basis to maintain your oral as well as overall health. Most importantly, dental tissues once damaged cannot be regenerated or repaired by themselves, unlike other body cells. That’s why; Dentistry is not just a science but an art and engineering to rebuild lost tissues. Dentists have to be both doctors and engineer

1. Why Dentistry is a separate course?
Contents hide
1 Dentistry is more than a specialty of Medicine
2 Conclusion
3 FAQ
3.1 Ques – 1. What is dentistry?

2. 3.2 Ques – 2. Why everyone has dental problems?
3.3 Ques – 3. How oral health affects our overall health?
3.4 Ques – 4. Can poor oral hygiene affect unborn babies?
3.5 Ques – 5. Which body parts cannot regenerate or repair after an injury?
3.6 Ques – 6. How many sets of teeth do humans have?
3.6.1 Humans get two complete sets of teeth over a lifetime:
Why is dentistry a separate course rather than a specialization after medical
school? Dentistry is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention,
diagnosis (detection), and treatment of diseases and conditions of teeth, gums,
jaws, and oral-facial structures. The field of dentistry is not just limited to teeth.
It is like any other branch of Medicine e.g., ENT doctors specialize in ear, nose,
and throat diseases, Orthopedic surgeons treat bone diseases/disorders, and
Ophthalmologists specialize in eyes, and so on. In fact, there are many medical
specialties and super-specialties after a basic medical degree. Some doctors
have extra expertise in any one of these specialties or another. However,
dentistry is more than a specialty of medicine.
Dentistry is more than a specialty of
Medicine

3. ● Have you seen everyone affected by cancer or diabetes, or heart
problems? Have you seen a separate college for the liver or heart,
in spite of the fact that we can’t live without these vital organs?
Some people have skin problems; some have kidney issues but
every one of us has dental problems and needs regular dental
prophylaxis or treatments. The mouth is a constant source of
microbial inflammation. Fortunately, most people are asymptomatic
(painless) because we evolved and adapted to oral germs and
constant inflammation. Just imagine, what would have happened if
oral inflammation was painful for everyone.
● The mouth is the only natural way of food intake. It has the second
largest diverse microbiota after the gut because of the easy
availability of food and shelter. Furthermore, the modern
refined(soft and sticky) diet has aggravated the situation and made
our mouth the constant source of microbial inflammation. That’s why
tooth decay and gum diseases are one of the most common
diseases affecting mankind.
● Oral microflora, their toxins, and inflammatory products from mouth
diseases get easy access to the inner body through our inflamed
gums and can cause heart attacks, pneumonia, diabetes,
cancers, infertility, sepsis, and many other ill-effects on our vital
organs. Poor oral hygiene during pregnancy can affect the
developing baby which can lead to complications such as
miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature delivery. Poor oral
health is not only linked with systemic diseases/conditions but
badly influences their entire course. The mouth is the gateway to
your systemic health.
● You must have noticed, the mouth is the only organ of your body
that needs a variety of hygiene/preventive measures i.e.,
toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, tongue blade/brush,
interdental brushes, mouthwashes, professional
prophylaxis/treatments, etc. on a regular basis to maintain your oral
as well as overall health.
● Most importantly, dental tissues once damaged cannot be
regenerated or repaired by themselves, unlike other body cells.
That’s why; Dentistry is not just a science but an art and
engineering to rebuild lost tissues. Dentists have to be both doctors

4. and engineers. Hence, Dentistry demands extensive,
time-consuming, rigorous training to master its art and science. In
Medicine, the prognosis of any disease depends on the doctor and
patient. However, in dentistry, it depends on the doctor, the patient,
and the bio-materials used to restore lost tissues.
● As everyone is a dental patient, dentists routinely encounter
medically compromised patients (i.e., heart patients on blood
thinner need dental extraction/cleaning). They have to be
diagnosticians as well as surgeons. They have to manage
anesthesia and its complications without the assistance of an
Anaesthetist. They also have to take and interpret X-rays without
the assistance of a Radiologist. They have to be multifaceted.
● Furthermore, teeth, gums, jaws, salivary glands, and oral-facial
structures are interconnected members of the same family.
Therefore, to become a master in any one branch of dentistry, you
require an additional three years of advanced training e.g.,
Endodontist (Restorative specialist), Periodontist (Gum
specialist), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (extraction and surgical
management of oral-facial diseases), and so on.
● Quantity also plays an important role in maintaining oral-facial
harmony.
Humans have two sets of teeth in their life:
1. Primary (milk or deciduous) dentition comprises 10 teeth in each
jaw (a total of 20 teeth).
2. Permanent (adult) dentition comprises 16 teeth in each jaw (a
total of 32 teeth).
Milk teeth play an essential role in the growth and development of jaws. They
hold the spaces for permanent teeth to come in. Even if any one tooth is
damaged, it affects the whole oral-facial ecosystem.
Conclusion

5. The modern refined (soft and sticky) sugary diet has made our mouth the
constant source of microbial inflammation and worsened oral and systemic
health. Therefore, every one of us is a dental patient. However, good oral health
is necessary for an individual’s overall health and well-being. Teeth, gums,
jaws, salivary glands, and oral-facial structures are interconnected members of
the same family. You need special skills and knowledge to manage all.
Furthermore, dental tissues once damaged cannot be regenerated or repaired by
themselves. Dentists have to be both doctors and engineers. Hence, dentistry
demands extensive, time-consuming, rigorous training to master its art and
science. That’s why dentistry is more than a specialty of medicine. Please keep
in mind, dentistry is not just limited to teeth.
FAQ
Ques – 1. What is dentistry?
Dentistry is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis
(detection), and treatment of diseases and conditions of teeth, gums, jaws, and
oral-facial structures. Remember, the field of dentistry is not just limited to teeth.
Ques – 2. Why does everyone have dental problems?
The modern refined (soft and sticky) sugary diet has made our mouth the
constant source of microbial inflammation. The bacteria produce more acids from
such refined sugary food and damage teeth structures. That’s why Tooth decay
and gum diseases are one of the most common diseases affecting mankind.
Ques – 3. How does oral health affect our overall health?
The mouth is a constant source of microbial inflammation. Oral microflora, their
toxins, and inflammatory products from mouth diseases get easy entry into our
inner body through dilated blood vessels of inflamed gums and can cause ill
effects on vital organs resulting in systemic diseases.

6. Ques – 4. Can poor oral hygiene affect unborn babies?
Poor oral hygiene during pregnancy can affect not only your health but the
development of developing baby. It can lead to complications such as
miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature delivery. Poor oral health also
increases the risk of infertility in both males and females.
Ques – 5. Which body parts cannot regenerate or repair after an
injury?
Teeth are the only body parts that cannot regenerate or repair themselves.
Ques – 6. How many sets of teeth do humans have?
Humans get two complete sets of teeth over a lifetime:
1. Primary (milk or deciduous) dentition comprises 10 teeth in each jaw
(a total of 20 teeth).
2. Permanent (adult) dentition comprises 16 teeth in each jaw (a total
of 32 teeth).
Milk teeth are essential in the growth and development of jaws. Milk teeth do
many important functions in children until they get their own complete set of
permanent teeth to chew on.