42^th Annual Congress on Oral Care & Dentistry December 13-14, 2021 Singapore City, Singapore

Prosthodontics is one of the divisions of dentistry that deals with the replacement of missing teeth and the associated soft and hard tissues by prostheses (crowns, bridges, dentures) which may be fixed or removable or may be sustained and retained by implants. Prosthodontics is also known as dental prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry is the area of dentistry that emphases on dental prostheses. The American Dental Association defines it as the dental speciality pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions related to missing or deficient teeth or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.

Periodontology or periodontics is the speciality of dentistry that studies secondary structures of teeth, as well as diseases and conditions that affect them. The supportive 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 complicated bacterium of the gum and teeth, combined with host immuno-inflammatory mechanisms and other risk factors that can lead to the destruction of the supporting bone around natural teeth. Periodontology additionally involves the position and maintenance of dental implants, together with treatment of peri-implantitis. The aetiology of peri-implantitis is thought to be very similar to periodontal disease.

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are placed unsuitably. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit collected correctly are harder to possess clean, are at risk of being gone early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and reason additional stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain. Teeth that are crooked or not within the right place also can cut down one’s appearance.

Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening out or moving teeth, to improve the exterior of the teeth and how they work. It also can facilitate to the long-term health of your teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all your teeth.

Pediatric dentistry is the branch of dentistry dealing with children from birth through adolescence. Pedodontics, most recently referred to as pediatric dentistry, involves caring for the teeth of children. It focuses on providing dental care for kids from birth through their teen years. Pediatric dentist, provide both children and their parents with information about oral hygiene, including how to prevent tooth decay by forming a healthy dental regimen.

Esthetic dentistry is the marriage between the ‘art and science of dentistry’. Esthetic dentistry has transformed patients’ perspectives of dentistry tremendously. It came into vogue, people realized how painless bonding was and how beautiful the results could be. Everyone wants to look better, and patients quickly realized that dentists could be artists, improving smiles and appearances in very short periods of time.  The importance of diagnosis and treatment planning prior to any procedure cannot be over-emphasized, remembering that oral health and function are integral to successful esthetic dentistry.

Oral Medicine & Radiology Oral medicine is the discipline in the dentistry which is used for analysis and non-surgical treatment of oral cavity and oral appearances of systemic disease. Oral radiology is the division of dentistry which deals with the use of x-rays, radioactive substances, and other forms of radiant energy in diagnosis and treatment of illness. Oral Medicine Diagnosis & Radiology is the first department where the patient is received. The Department of Radiology goes hand in hand with Oral Medicine as long as facilities for all dental radiographic investigations to patient.

Oral surgery is frequently used to repair fractured jaws and broken facial bones. Oral surgeons can take a small section of abnormal growth or tissue and then send it for laboratory analysis for identification. Some lesions can be managed medically or can be removed by the oral surgeon. Pain and swelling in the face, neck, or jaws may indicate an infection. Infections in this area of the body can sometimes develop into life-threatening emergencies if not treated promptly and effectively. An oral surgeon can assist in diagnosing and treating this problem. Surgical treatment, if needed, may include cutting into and draining the infected area, as well as extracting any teeth that might be involved.

Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions (Mouth and Jaw). The mouth is an important organ with many different functions. It is also prone to a variety of medical and dental disorders. A great many diseases involve the mouth, jaws and orofacial skin. If the tumor is deeper inside the mouth or throat, the biopsy may need to be performed in an operating room. General anesthesia is administered to eliminate any pain.

Dental Public Health is a non-clinical speciality of dentistry that deals with the prevention of oral disease and the promotion of oral health. Dental public health is involved in the assessment of key dental health needs and coming up with effective solutions to improve the dental health of populations rather than individuals. Public health dentistry is practised generally through government-sponsored programs, which are for the most part directed toward public-school children in the belief that their education in oral hygiene is the best way to reach the general public.

Dental instruments are tools that dental professionals use to provide dental treatment. They include tools to examine, manipulate, treat, restore and remove teeth and surrounding oral structures. Some example tools that are used in dentistry are Dental handpieces, Dental laser, Dental torque wrench, Burns, Excavators, Burnishers, Pluggers etc...   Laser Dentistry is a new method of dental care involves using a powerful but safe laser. This means that there’s little to no pain and thus little need for anaesthesia. Dental X-ray Machines are being replaced by a new digital X-ray machine. Similar to how a digital camera improves upon a standard camera, digital X-rays are easier to process and download to a computer for comparisons with your past X-rays. Veneers are a dental procedure to help with the visual element of the teeth. A thin shell, specially made by the dentist for that patient, is made to cover the front of a crooked, damaged or otherwise unappealing tooth.

Water Fluoridation and the appropriate use of fluorides play a major part in public health Policy in the prevention and management of tooth decay. Water fluoridation is one of the most widely studied public health policy initiatives in the world, with approximately 350 million people in some 60 countries globally residing in areas served by optimally fluoridated water supplies. At the Sixtieth World Health on oral health: an action plan for promotion and integrated disease prevention, supported water fluoridation as a central strategy in oral health promotion. Water fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that helps protect teeth against tooth decay, resulting in fewer cavities.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery specializes in treating many diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral (mouth) and maxillofacial (jaws and face) region. It is widely recognized as one of the specialties of dentistry. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons cover a much broader scope of practice, utilizing advanced 3-D imaging and traditional surgical techniques, to treat cleft and craniofacial disorders, oral cancer, jaw reconstruction, snoring and sleep apnea, dental implants and facial cosmetic surgery.

Geriatric Dentistry is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving diagnosis, prevention, management and treatment of problems associated with age-related diseases. The most common oral conditions in geriatric patients are tooth loss, dental caries, periodontitis, dry mouth and oral cancer. Each can affect the quality of life. Geriatric dentistry is a crucial part of the health maintenance mechanism for the elderly and medically compromised individuals.

Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance of teeth, gums and/or bites. It primarily focuses on improvement in dental aesthetics in colour, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance. Cosmetic dentistry may involve the addition of a dental material to teeth or gums, the removal of tooth structure or gums, and straightening of teeth accompanied by improvement in the appearance of face – orthodontics. Cosmetic dentistry includes endodontics and also periodontics.

Restorative dentistry encompasses the dental specialities of endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics and its foundation is based upon how these interact in cases requiring multifaceted care. It is the study, diagnosis and integrated management of diseases of the teeth and their supporting structures and the rehabilitation of the dentition to functional and aesthetic requirements of the individual. In addition, restorative needs not to derive from only diseases of the teeth like cavities and medical conditions but also from trauma. Traumatic injuries to anterior (front) teeth are frequently encountered in children and adults.

Digital dentistry refers to the use of dental technologies or devices that incorporates digital or computer-controlled components to carry out dental procedures rather than using mechanical or electrical tools. It can make carrying out dental procedures more efficient than using mechanical tools, both for restorative as diagnostic purposes.

Some of the technologies used in digital dentistry including

• Computer-aided implant dentistry, Computer-aided crown manufacturing
• Intra-oral Cameras
• Digital radiography and 3D Printing

Pharmacology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of drug action, where a drug can be broadly defined as any man-made, natural, or endogenous molecule which exerts a biochemical or physiological effect on the cell, tissue, organ, or organism. Dental pharmacology is the study of drugs used to treat conditions of the oral cavity. Some of these drugs include antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-periodontitis agents. Pharmacological research has extensively used the organ bath preparation, where tissue samples are connected to recording devices, such as a myograph, and physiological responses are recorded after drug application.