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Dentistry is the practical application of knowledge of dental science (the science of placement, arrangement, function of teeth) to human beings. A dentist is a professional practitioner of dentistry. In most countries, to become a qualified dentist, one needs several years of training in a university (usually 4-8) and some practical experience working with actual patients' dentition. The patron saint of dentists is Saint Apollonia, martyred in Alexandria by having all her teeth violently extracted, not, one would have thought, such a very desirable exempla.
In Australia, graduating dentists have either a B.D.S. (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) or B.D.Sc degree (Bachelor of Dental Science).
In the United Kingdom, there is 5 years of undergraduate study before obtaining a B.D.S. degree. After graduating most dentists will enter a V.T. (vocational training) scheme, of either 1 or 2 years length, to receive their full NHS registration. In the UK a dentist 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.
In the United States, dentists obtain either a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree after 4 years of postgraduate education. (That is another 4 on top of the 4 years of an undergraduate college.)
Specialties in dentistry such as orthodontics (straightening of teeth), oral and maxillofacial surgery, pedodontics (treatment for children), periodontics (treatment of gum disease), prosthodontics (replacement of missing teeth by prostheses such as dentures, bridges and dental implants), operative dentistry (restoration of existing teeth), endodontics ( root canal therapy), dental public health (study of dental epidemiology and social health policies), forensic odontology (gathering and use of dental evidence in law), oral radiology and oral pathology (study of oral and dentally related diseases) would require usually between 2-3 years of further formal university training after dental school. Specialists in these fields might be designated registrable (U.S. "Board Eligible") and can sometimes lay claim to exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral surgeon, pedodontist, periodontist, prosthodontist upon satisfying certain local (U.S. "Board Certified") registry requirements.
Other dental "specialties" exists where no post-graduate formal university training is required : cosmetic dentistryCostmetic dentistry is elective work performed on teeth to improve their appearance. For example, tooth bleaching. Patients do not require this type of work to have a healthy set of teeth, but often want a 'whiter' smile. This type of work is often used t, dental implantA dental implant is used in restorative dentistry. There are several types. The most widely accepted and successful is the osseointegrated implant. Based on the discovery by Professor Branemarke that titanium could be successfully incorporated into bone w, temporal-mandibular joint therapy . These usually require the attendance of one or more "hotel courses" that typically last for one to several days. There is usually no restrictions on allowing these dentists to call themselves specialists in these fields when the "specialist" titles are not restrictive and registrable titles controlled by the local dental licensing bodies.
Canadian dentistry is overseen by the Canadian Dental Association . While specialization is overseen by the Royal College of DentistsThe Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC) is the governing body for specialization in the Dentistry profession in Canada. The RCDC was established federally in 1965 to regulate specialization in the field of dentistry through the administration of ex. Today Canada has about 16,000 dentists. Canadian dentistry is not publicly run (see Medicare (Canada)The term medicare (in lowercase) (French: assurance-maladie is the unofficial name for Canada's universal public health insurance system. Under the terms of the Canada Health Act, the provinces provide all residents with health insurance cards, which enti); only children and the elderly can have free dental care. Other Canadians are mostly covered by workplace dental plans, but many have to pay out of pocket.