36^th Annual World Dentistry Summit

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and cause extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain. Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract from one's appearance. The benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth, a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to last a lifetime.

Periodontology or periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that studies supporting structures of teeth, as well as diseases and conditions that affect them. The supporting tissues are known as the periodontium, which includes the gingiva (gums), alveolar bone, cementum, and the periodontal ligament. Periodontal diseases take on many different forms but are usually a result of a coalescence of bacterial plaque biofilm accumulation of the red complex bacteria (e.g., P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and T. denticola) of the gingiva and teeth, combined with host immuno-inflammatory mechanisms and other risk factors which lead to destruction of the supporting bone around natural teeth. Untreated, these diseases lead to alveolar bone loss and tooth loss and, to date, continue to be the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

A dental laser is a type of laser designed specifically for use in oral surgery or dentistry. Lasers can be used as a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of dental procedures and are often used in conjunction with other dental instruments. Dental lasers can be used to: reduce the discomfort of canker and cold sores, expose partially erupted wisdom teeth, remove muscle attachments that limit proper movement, manage gum tissue during impressions for crowns or other procedures, remove overgrown tissues caused by certain medications, perform biopsy procedures, remove inflamed gum tissues and aid in the treatment of gum disease, remove or reshape gum and bone tissues during crown lengthening procedures, help treat infections in root canals and speed up tooth whitening procedures.There are several advantages. Dentists may not need to use a drill or administer anesthesia in some procedures, allowing the patient to enjoy a more relaxed dental experience. Laser procedures can be more precise.

Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person's teeth, gums and/or bite. It primarily focuses on improvement dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance.

Restorative Dentistry is the study, diagnosis and integrated management of diseases of the oral cavity, the teeth and supporting structures. It includes the rehabilitation of the teeth and the oral cavity to functional, psychological and aesthetic requirements of the individual patient, including the co-ordination of multi-professional working to achieve these objectives. Restorative dentistry encompasses the dental specialties of Endodontics, Periodontics and Prosthodontics (fixed and removable) and its foundation is based upon the interaction of these specialties in cases requiring complex, multi-faceted care. Restorative Dentistry is often aptly called ‘Oral Rehabilitation’ due to the increasing need for multidisciplinary and integrated care within and out with the speciality including Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,Paediatric Dentistry and Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, due to the increasing complexity of dental health problems as people live longer. The focus of the Restorative Dentistry speciality is to work with other dental, medical and surgical specialists and other clinical colleagues, to provide and support the integrated management and oral rehabilitation of patients with complex treatment.

Dental Implantology is the study of surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodontic anchor. The basis for modern dental implants is a biologic process called osseointegration where materials, such as titanium, form an intimate bond to bone. The implant fixture is first placed, so that it is likely to osseointegrate, then a dental prosthetic is added. A variable amount of healing time is required for osseointegration before either the dental prosthetic (a tooth, bridge or denture) is attached to the implant or an abutment is placed which will hold a dental prosthetic. Success or failure of implants depends on the health of the person receiving it, drugs which affect the chances of osseointegration and the health of the tissues in the mouth. The amount of stress that will be put on the implant and fixture during normal function is also evaluated. T In the presence of healthy tissues, a well integrated implant with appropriate biomechanical loads can have 5-year plus survival rates from 93 to 98 percent and 10 to 15 year lifespans for the prosthetic teeth.

Craniofacial surgery is a surgical subspecialty of plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery and otolaryngology-head & neck surgery that deals with congenital and acquired deformities of the head, skull, face, Neck, jaws and associated structures. Although craniofacial treatment often involves manipulation of bone, craniofacial surgery is not tissue-specific, i.e., craniofacial surgeons deal with bone, skin, nerve, muscle, teeth, etc. Defects typically treated by craniofacial surgeons include craniosynostosis (isolated and syndromic), rarecraniofacial clefts, acute and chronic sequellae of facial fractures.

In the year 2000, the term and may be the field of nanodentistry were born. As nanomedicine advanced, dentistry also started evolving in the field of Nanotechnology. It is envisaged that nanotechnology will affect the fields of diagnosis, materials, restorative dentistry, and surgery. These exciting new branches namely nanorobotics, nanodiagnosis, nanomaterials, and nanosurgery and nanodrugs would profoundly impact clinical dentistry in the not-so-distant future. Various nanomaterials can be used for restoration of decayed, carious, missing, and fractured teeth. Recent advances in nanomaterials have brought nanocomposites, nanoimpression and nanoceramic into the domain of clinical dentistry. Nanocomposite artificial teeth are also a new development in this field. Nanoinorganic fillers are diffused in the matrix of composite. These are more durable as well as highly resistant to abrasion with superior color.

Hypnodontics is the art and science of using hypnosis to induce comfortable and pain free dental visits. Hypnosis is used to reduce stress and induce anesthesia so that less medication is used. Hard to manage patients often present the majority of problems the dentist encounters in their daily routine. They take extra time and require special consideration by the dentist. Hard to manage patients often put off going to the dentist until the pain or dental problem can no longer be ignored. There are numerous reasons why these patients are fearful, tense, nervous and anxious before, during, and even after the dental visit. The hypnotherapist should meet with this type of dental patient two or three days prior to the dental appointment.

Dental Ergonomics is the study to define work related musculoskeletal disorders, risk factors and stressful individual behaviours in dentistry which lead to injures and implementing preventive strategies. These problems can be avoided by increasing awareness of the postures used during the work, redesigning the work station to promote neutral positions, examining the impact of instrument use on upper extremity pain, and following healthy work practices to reduce the stress of dental work on the practitioner’s body.