dentistry

Introduction
History of dentistry
- Early dentistry
- Development of dentistry in Europe
- Dentistry in 18th- and 19th-century America
- Dentistry in 19th-century Europe
- Advances in dentistry in the 20th century
The practice of dentistry
- Licensure requirements
  - Canada
  - United States
  - Europe
  - Japan
- Types of practice
  - Private practice
  - Hospital dental practice
  - Public health practice
  - Military practice
  - Governmental practice
- Dental specialties and subspecialties
  - Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics
  - Pediatric dentistry
  - Periodontics
  - Prosthodontics
  - Oral and maxillofacial surgery
  - Oral and maxillofacial pathology
  - Endodontics
  - Public health dentistry
  - Oral and maxillofacial radiology
  - Cosmetic dentistry
  - Reconstructive dentistry
  - Implant dentistry
  - Oral microbiology
  - Geriatric dentistry
  - Other disciplines
- Dental education
  - Predental programs
  - Dental school and training
Ancillary dental fields
- Dental hygienists
- Dental nurses and dental auxiliaries
  - Dental assistants
  - Dental technology
Organizations

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Infographic titled Fluoride Facts featuring a central tooth illustration and surrounding labeled boxes explaining what fluoride is, its sources, health effects, recommended levels, and common products containing fluoride, along with statistics on global water fluoridation.

teeth whitening

illustration of primary teeth and permanent teeth

An anatomical illustration of the human mandible viewed from an anterolateral superior angle, showing labeled features such as the condylar and coronoid processes, submandibular and sublingual fossae, mandibular foramen, alveolar process, mental foramen, chin, ramus, and body.

root canal: cutaway view

Gypsum plaster dental model showing upper and lower teeth in occlusion, set against a black background.

At a Glance

A dentist wearing a mask examines a boy's teeth as he reclines in a dental chair, while a dental assistant stands nearby in a modern dental office.

dentistry summary

Related Questions

Dentistry — Dentistry The practice of dentistry involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease, as well as correcting deformities of the jaws, teeth, and oral cavity.

dentistry

Written by

Saul KamenAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

dentistry, the profession concerned with the prevention and treatment of oral disease, including diseases of the teeth and supporting structures and diseases of the soft tissues of the mouth. Dentistry also encompasses the treatment and correction of malformation of the jaws, misalignment of the teeth, and birth anomalies of the oral cavity such as cleft palate. In addition to general practice, dentistry includes many specialties and subspecialties, including orthodontics and dental orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics,...

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