Atrium Health Dental Clinic

Dentistry

Atrium Health Dental Clinic is a Dentistry practice in Charlotte, NC with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in diagnosis and treatment of problems with patients' teeth, gums, lips, and jaw. Dentists at Atrium Health Dental Clinic perform dental procedures focused on prevention of oral diseases such as tooth decay and periodontal disease. Dentistry is a branch of medicine concerned with study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases affecting the oral cavity. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Dentistry practices include tooth cavities, gum disease, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, mouth sores, tooth erosion, and dental emergencies. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Dentistry practices include dental examinations, filling cavities, removing tooth decay, repairing cracked teeth, performing root canals, and removing teeth.

A dentist is a person qualified by a doctorate in dental surgery (D.D.S.) or dental medicine (D.M.D.), licensed by the state to practice dentistry, and practicing within the scope of that license. There is no difference between the two degrees: dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. Universities have the prerogative to determine what degree is awarded. Both degrees use the same curriculum requirements set by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Generally, three or more years of undergraduate education plus four years of dental school is required to graduate and become a general dentist. State licensing boards accept either degree as equivalent, and both degrees allow licensed individuals to practice the same scope of general dentistry. Additional post-graduate training is required to become a dental specialist.

Periodontics

Atrium Health Dental Clinic is a Periodontics practice in Charlotte, NC with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in diagnosing, preventing, and treating disease and disorders of oral bone structure and gums. Periodontists at Atrium Health Dental Clinic perform medical diagnosis and treatment of gum disease and bone disorders, screening for oral cancer, and placing and adjusting dental implants. Periodontics is a dental specialty focused on oral bone structure, gum health, and artificial dental implants. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Periodontics practices include gum disease, tooth loss, oral inflammation, oral cancer, tooth and jaw alignment, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, gingivitis, bleeding or sensitive gums, and cosmetic dental implants. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Periodontics practices include x-ray imaging, gum recession assessment, bite assessment, tooth scaling, root planing and debridement, oral cancer screening, TMJ disorder relief, oral health education, and dental implant placing.

That specialty of dentistry which encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of these structures and tissues.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.