Odontology refers to the study of teeth and adjoining tissues, their diseases and their treatment, as well as dental surgery and dentistry.

Dentistry includes several disciplines:

• oral surgery, which involves extracting the teeth;
• oral epidemiology, which refers to the study of the causes of oral diseases as well as their prevention;
• implantology, which refers to the fitting of dental prostheses and implants;
• conservative dentistry, which treats decayed teeth and canals;
• theorthodontics, which corrects the misalignment, overlap or advancement of the teeth, in particular with the help of dental appliances;
• laparodontics, which is concerned with the supporting tissues of the tooth (such as the gum, bone, or cement);
• or even pedodontics, which refers to dental care carried out with children.

Note that oral health occupies a large place in general health, contributing to social, physical and mental well-being. This is why good hygiene, through regular tooth brushing and dental visits, is important.

The odontologist, depending on his specialty, has many ailments to treat, including:

• unecarie;
• periodontal disease (diseases affecting the supporting tissues of the teeth);
• loss of teeth;
• infections of bacterial, fungal or viral origin and which affect the oral sphere;
• oral trauma;
• a cleft lip;
• lip fissures;
• or even a bad alignment of the teeth.

Some people are at greater risk for oral diseases. Some of the factors favoring this type of problem include:

• a poor diet ;
• smoking;
• Alcohol consumption ;
• or insufficient hygiene of the mouth.

The consultation with an odontologist does not involve any particular risks for the patient. Of course, if the practitioner performs surgical procedures, then the risks exist and are typically:

• related to anesthesia;
• blood loss;
• or a nosocomial infection (refers to an infection contracted in a health establishment).

Training to become an odontologist in France

The dental surgery curriculum is as follows:

• it begins with a common first year in health studies. An average of less than 20% of students manages to cross this milestone;
• once this step is successful, the students carry out 5 years of study in odontology;
• at the end of the 5th year, they continue in the 3rd cycle:

Finally, the state diploma of doctor in dental surgery is validated by a thesis defense, which thus authorizes the exercise of the profession.

Training to become a dentist in Quebec

The curriculum is as follows:

• students must follow a doctoral degree in dentistry, for 1 years (or 4 years if college or university candidates do not have sufficient training in basic biological sciences);
• then they can:

– either follow an additional year of study to train in multidisciplinary dentistry and be able to exercise general practice;

– or carry out a post-doctoral dental specialty, lasting 3 years.

Note that in Canada, there are 9 dental specialties:

• public dental health;
• endodontics;
• oral and maxillofacial surgery;
• oral medicine and pathology;
• oral and maxillofacial radiology;
• orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics;
• pediatric dentistry;
• periodontie;
• prosthodontie.

Before going to the appointment, it is important to take any recent prescriptions, any x-rays, or other examinations carried out.

To find an odontologist:

• in Quebec, you can consult the website of the Ordre des dentistes du Québec or that of the federation of specialist dentists of Quebec;
• in France, via the website of the National Order of Dentists.

Anecdotes

Dentistry is also practiced in the legal world. Indeed, the teeth record information, through their physiological variations or the treatments they receive. And this information lasts for life and even after death! Teeth can also be used as weapons and possibly leave valuable data on the identity of the person who caused the bite. So dentists have a role to play in keeping dental records up to date… just in case.

Odontophobia refers to the phobia of oral care.