Professional Associations Dentists examine, prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of teeth, gums, and adjacent tissues and structures of the mouth.
Most dentists are general practitioners although there are many specialty areas.
Dentists supervise the work of dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratory technicians. They have the final responsibility for all dental services in the work settings. Dentists' work involves highly personal contact with patients, which demands maturity, integrity, intellectual honesty, ethics, and a sense of responsibility. Good hand and eye coordination, visual memory, and judgment of space and shape are also important. There are eight dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.