The dental profession is the branch of health care devoted to maintaining the health of the teeth, gums and other tissues in and around the mouth.
What is a Dentist?
A dentist is a doctor, scientist and clinician dedicated to the highest standards of health through prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases and conditions.
Dentists play a key role in the early detection of oral cancer and other systemic conditions of the body that manifest themselves in the mouth. They often identify other health conditions, illnesses, and other problems that sometimes show up in the oral cavity before they are identified in other parts of the body.
What does a Dentist do?
- Evaluates the overall health of their patients while advising them about oral health and disease prevention.
- Performs clinical procedures, such as exams, fillings, crowns, implants, extractions and corrective surgeries.
- Identifies, diagnoses and treats oral conditions.
- Performs general dentistry or practices in one of nine dental specialties.
Advances in dental research, including genetic engineering, the discovery of links between oral and systemic diseases, the development of salivary diagnostics and the continued development of new materials and techniques, make dentistry an exciting, challenging and rewarding profession.
-American Dental Education Association