Overview of Department of Dentistry

Dentistry is a branch of medicine that deals with the health of the mouth, teeth, gums and jaws. This specialty includes the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders that affect the mouth, such as tooth decay, gum disease and mouth ulcers. It also includes cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and orthodontics. The history of dentistry dates back thousands of years, as primitive dental treatment tools were found in parts of India and Pakistan dating back to 7000 BC. In ancient times, there were medicinal prescriptions for treating toothache derived from natural herbs, as documented in ancient Egyptian papyri. The study of dentistry usually requires at least five years in addition to practical training in clinics or medical centers. There are many subspecialties in dentistry, such as dental prosthetics, dental treatment and repair, pediatric dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and periodontics.