Statistics show that most Americans do not pay enough attention to good dental and oral health. By age 18, 78 percent of American children have had at least one cavity, and 69 percent of Americans age 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. Efforts by the Surgeon General's office and the Centers for Disease Control have marked some improvement in recent years, but the fact remains that people need to keep themselves informed about proper dental and oral hygiene. The Encyclopedia of Dental and Oral Health is a new, comprehensive A-to-Z reference to this topic, covering proper dental care, dental practices and procedures, infectious diseases and related diseases, anatomy of the teeth and mouth, the causes of tooth decay, and much more. Topics include: Cosmetic dentistry Dental adhesive Dental emergencies Fillings Gender and oral health Mouthwash Oral cancer Oral surgery Orthodontics Pediatric dentistry Pregnancy and dental health Root canal treatment.