EN 
ES Dr. Arabella Michelén
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Every October 3, dentists in Latin America celebrate their day. In 1917, the First Congress of Dentistry was held in Chile, with the participation of important professionals from the region. The Federation of Latin American Dentists, FOLA, was formed. Its second edition was not until 1925, when it was established that every October 3 would be dedicated to oral health professionals.
The evolution of Dentistry has gone from the dentist/barber to the current professional who has integrated scientific and technological advances to provide a comprehensive service every day, ensuring oral health as part of general health, concerned from prevention to beauty.
Currently the main areas of service or specialization within Dentistry are:
- Prevention: This area is responsible for preventing injuries and diseases that affect oral health, as well as mitigating and delaying the consequences of those already established.
- Oral rehabilitation: replace and repair lost tooth tissue, sometimes from one tooth to a completely edentulous patient.
- Endodontics: commonly known as root canal treatment, it deals with everything related to the vascular-nervous bundle of the tooth.
- Pediatric Dentist: dental services applied to children.
- Oral surgery: The most common service provided by an oral surgeon is tooth extractions, however, this specialty includes treatment and minor surgeries of the soft tissues of the oral cavity.
- Periodontics: handles everything related to the prevention and care of the tissues that surround and support the teeth.
- Orthodontics and orthopedics of the jaws: It is the branch that deals with dental alignment and facial bone structures, the most common treatment is the placement of braces.
- Geriatric dentistry: It is a relatively new specialty, dedicated to older adults.
- Orofacial harmonization: seeks balance of facial asymmetries, uniting facial stoicism with a smile.
- Forensic odontology: Through dental studies, deceased persons are identified.
Each one has an important role in maintaining oral health. Consultations between the different specialties, as well as the understanding that the mouth is an important part of the human body and that its health is closely related to general health, has given a great turn to the practice of this profession. This is how today the health of a diabetic patient is worked on together with periodontal health, just to mention an example.
Many of these specialties are offered by universities in the Dominican Republic and throughout Latin America with an excellent professional and ethical level, which places them at a competitive level worldwide.
In the Dominican Republic, the Dominican College of Dentists, CDO, holds the National Congress of Dentistry, CONAOD, every two years, this year in its twenty-fifth version, under the coordination and direction of Dr. Virginia Laureano, president of the College of Dentists and a support committee. With the participation of more than fifty national and international exhibitors.
Happy Dentist Day to all dentists!
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