BACKGROUND Dentistry is the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. The diseases or conditions may be of hard and soft tissues and include tooth decay, infections, malformations, malocclusion, tumours and traumatic injuries. These conditions cause pain, discomfort, and morphological defects and impede normal function in the head and neck region. They may be debilitating and affect the social well-being of individuals thus impacting negatively on the quality of life.