Keoni Buenavista
Date: 05/18/2022
Prompt: Dentistry is one of the most important industries today. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? State your opinion and give reasoning.
The field of oral medicine (or also referred to as Dentistry) is one of the most important medical fields because the oral cavity is a vital part of the human body. The functions as a way for people to eat, drink and speak. Without those abilities, people would not be able to live or communicate easily. Dentistry is a field that is dedicated specifically to preventing, providing diagnosis, studying, and treating all types of oral diseases that can severely affect one’s quality of life, and normal human functions.
Historically, oral diseases and forms of treatment have been around for centuries. In less advantaged socio-economic groups, dental issues have been the most prevalent, as access to oral healthcare is not generally available. Additionally, the World Health Organization states that “oral diseases are major public health problems due to their high incidence and prevalence across the globe..”. Some of the most common dental treatments are related to tooth decay and gum disease, which many populations need. With the other types of diseases or issues about oral health or appearance, different fields within dentistry tend to those specific problems.
Studies or practices within the General Dentistry field are Oral Anesthesia, Dental Public Health, Cosmetic dentistry, Endodontics, Older adult Dental care (periodontics), oral and maxillofacial pathology, radiology, and surgery, oral biology, implants, forensics, medicine, pediatrics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and orthodontics. Out of these specific fields, one of the most popular practices in dentistry that has shown demand among the public is Orthodontics. Essentially, this field maintains a process that straightens the teeth of patients as well as modifies the growth of the mandible, and midface. This field along with cosmetic and pediatric dentistry help to improve the quality of life of individuals. Generally, with oral issues such as crooked teeth or bad teeth appearance, it keeps some people from smiling, which indirectly affects the approachability of someone in a social environment.
Another way that the dental industry has shown its importance, even outside of traditional healthcare is in the field of crime, animal welfare, veterinary medicine, and sometimes in the field of paleontology. Forensic odontology is the main contributor to solving cases involving a crime, whether it be to identify a body or to find the individual who committed the crime. Also, veterinary medicine has benefited from the study of the oral cavity by extending to animals as well, which may have oral health diseases that need treatment. The field of Paleontology as it studies pre-existing life may come across fossils containing dental structures, that could be documented in a field of dentistry, such as with ancient humans, or with other forms of life as well.
On a global scale, the individuals have benefited from dentistry through the field of Dental public health as well. Essentially, this specific sector in dentistry handles the promotion of oral health and the prevention of oral diseases around the world. One of the main functions of this field is to reduce demand on health care systems by redirection of resources to priority areas. Many regions around the world all face similar issues about dental disease, especially in developing countries. The issues that professionals in the Dental Public Health space aim to solve as well as the implementation of policies and principles but they vary due to the availability of resources. Similar to public health, an understanding of the many factors that influence health will assist the implementation of effective strategies.
In conclusion, the industry of dentistry is a vital function in healthcare and outside of it as well. Studies in this field have made major contributions in history to the quality of life of people and to solve other problems as well.