View source for Medicine:Dentistry

{{short description|Branch of medicine}}
{{Infobox occupation
| name               = Dentistry
| image              = [[File:GI at Guantanamo visits the dentist.JPG|220px]]
| caption            = A dentist treats a patient with the help of a dental assistant.
| official_names     = {{flatlist|* Dentist
* Dental Surgeon
* Doctor
<ref>{{cite report |author = Neil Costley |author2 = Jo Fawcett |title = General Dental Council Patient and Public Attitudes to Standards for Dental Professionals, Ethical Guidance and Use of the Term Doctor |url = http://www.gdc-uk.org/Newsandpublications/research/Documents/GDC%20Public%20Attitudes%20to%20Standards%20for%20Dental%20Professionals.pdf |publisher = General Dental Council/George Street Research |date = November 2010 |access-date = 11 January 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091233/https://www.gdc-uk.org/Newsandpublications/research/Documents/GDC%20Public%20Attitudes%20to%20Standards%20for%20Dental%20Professionals.pdf |archive-date = 4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref group="nb">Whether Dentists are referred to as "Doctor" is subject to geographic variation. For example, they are called "Doctor" in the US. In the UK, dentists have traditionally been referred to as "Mister" as they identified themselves with barber surgeons more than [[Medicine:Physician|physician]]s (as do surgeons in the UK, see [[Social:Surgeon#Titles|Surgeon]]). However more UK dentists now refer to themselves as "Doctor", although this was considered to be potentially misleading by the British public in a single report  (see Costley and Fawcett 2010).</ref>}}
| type               = Profession
| activity_sector    = [[Medicine:Health care|Health care]], [[Biology:Anatomy|Anatomy]], [[Biology:Physiology|Physiology]], [[Biology:Pathology|Pathology]], [[Medicine:Medicine|Medicine]], [[Biology:Pharmacology|Pharmacology]], [[Medicine:Surgery|Surgery]]
| competencies       = {{flatlist|
* Sub-Millimeter Surgical Dexterity
* Knowledge of human health, disease, pathology, and anatomy
* Communication/Interpersonal Skills
* Analytical Skills
* Critical Thinking
* Empathy/Professionalism
}}
| formation          = Dental Degree
| employment_field   = {{hlist|Private practices|Primary care clinics|Hospitals}}
| related_occupation = {{hlist|[[Medicine:Physician|Physician]]|dental assistant|dental technician|dental hygienist||various [[Medicine:Specialty (dentistry)|dental specialists]]}}
}}
{{Infobox medical intervention
|  Name              =
|  ICD10             = <!--  0C?W-X) -->
|  ICD9              = {{ICD9proc|23}}-{{ICD9proc|24}}
|  MeshID            = D003813
|  OPS301            =
|  OtherCodes        =
|  HCPCSlevel2       =
}}
[[File:Dental surgery aboard USS Eisenhower, January 1990.JPEG|thumb|right|An oral surgeon and dental assistant removing a wisdom tooth]]

'''Dentistry''', also known as '''dental medicine''' and '''oral medicine''', is the branch of [[Medicine:Medicine|medicine]] focused on the [[Medicine:Human tooth|teeth]], [[Medicine:Gums|gums]], and [[Biology:Human mouth|mouth]]. It consists of the study, [[Medicine:Diagnosis|diagnosis]], prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the mouth, most commonly focused on [[Biology:Dentition|dentition]] (the development and arrangement of teeth) as well as the oral mucosa.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ada.org/glossaryforprofessionals.aspx |title = Glossary of Dental Clinical and Administrative Terms |publisher = American Dental Association |access-date = 1 February 2014 |archive-date = 6 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306022116/http://ada.org/glossaryforprofessionals.aspx |url-status = dead }}</ref> Dentistry may also encompass other aspects of the craniofacial complex including the [[Medicine:Temporomandibular joint|temporomandibular joint]]. The practitioner is called a dentist.

The history of dentistry is almost as ancient as the history of humanity and civilization, with the earliest evidence dating from 7000 BC to 5500 BC.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=6 April 2006 |title=Stone age man used dentist drill |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4882968.stm |access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref> Dentistry is thought to have been the first specialization in [[Medicine:Medicine|medicine]] which has gone on to develop its own accredited degree with its own specializations.<ref name="Suddick1990">{{cite journal |last1=Suddick |first1=RP |last2=Harris |first2=NO |date=1990 |title=Historical perspectives of oral biology: a series |journal=Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=135–51 |doi=10.1177/10454411900010020301 |pmid=2129621|doi-access=free }}</ref> Dentistry is often also understood to subsume the now largely defunct medical specialty of stomatology (the study of the mouth and its disorders and diseases) for which reason the two terms are used interchangeably in certain regions. However, some specialties such as [[Medicine:Oral and maxillofacial surgery|oral and maxillofacial surgery]] (facial reconstruction) may require both medical and dental degrees to accomplish. In European history, dentistry is considered to have stemmed from the trade of barber surgeons.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-04-15|title=When barbers were surgeons and surgeons were barbers|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/bodysphere/when-barbers-were-surgeons-and-surgeons-were-barbers/6391468|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Radio National|language=en-AU}}</ref>

Dental treatments are carried out by a dental team, which often consists of a dentist and dental auxiliaries (dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, as well as dental therapists). Most dentists either work in private practices (primary care), dental hospitals, or (secondary care) institutions (prisons, armed forces bases, etc.).

The modern movement of [[Evidence-based dentistry|evidence-based dentistry]] calls for the use of high-quality scientific research and evidence to guide decision-making such as in manual tooth conservation, use of fluoride water treatment and fluoride toothpaste, dealing with oral diseases such as [[Medicine:Tooth decay|tooth decay]] and [[Medicine:Periodontal disease|periodontitis]], as well as systematic diseases such as [[Medicine:Osteoporosis|osteoporosis]], [[Medicine:Diabetes|diabetes]], celiac disease, [[Medicine:Cancer|cancer]], and HIV/AIDS which could also affect the oral cavity. Other practices relevant to [[Evidence-based dentistry|evidence-based dentistry]] include [[Medicine:Radiology|radiology]] of the mouth to inspect teeth deformity or oral malaises, [[Medicine:Hematology|haematology]] (study of blood) to avoid bleeding complications during dental surgery, [[Medicine:Cardiology|cardiology]] (due to various severe complications arising from dental surgery with patients with heart disease), etc.

==Terminology==
The term dentistry comes from ''dentist'', which comes from French ''dentiste'', which comes from the French and Latin words for tooth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=dentistry|title=dentistry |website=Etymonline.com|access-date=17 May 2018}}</ref> The term for the associated scientific study of teeth is '''odontology''' (from {{Lang-grc|ὀδούς|translit=odoús|lit=tooth}}) – the study of the structure, development, and abnormalities of the teeth.

==Dental treatment==
Dentistry usually encompasses practices related to the oral cavity.<ref name=Gambhir2015>{{cite journal| author=Gambhir RS| title=Primary care in dentistry – an untapped potential | journal= Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care| year= 2015 | volume= 4 | issue= 1 | pages= 13–18 | pmid=25810982 | doi=10.4103/2249-4863.152239 | pmc=4366984 | type=Review | doi-access=free }}</ref> According to the [[Organization:World Health Organization|World Health Organization]], oral diseases are major public health problems due to their high incidence and prevalence across the globe, with the disadvantaged affected more than other socio-economic groups.<ref name=WHOoraldisease>{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/oral_health/disease_burden/global/en/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040630165431/http://www.who.int/oral_health/disease_burden/global/en/|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2004|title=What is the burden of oral disease?|publisher=[[Organization:World Health Organization|WHO]]|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

The majority of dental treatments are carried out to prevent or treat the two most common oral diseases which are dental caries (tooth decay) and [[Medicine:Periodontal disease|periodontal disease]] (gum disease or pyorrhea). Common treatments involve the [[Medicine:Dental restoration|restoration of teeth]], [[Medicine:Dental extraction|extraction]] or surgical removal of teeth, [[Medicine:Scaling and root planing|scaling and root planing]], endodontic root canal treatment, and cosmetic dentistry<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aacd.com/|title=American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry {{!}} Dental CE Courses|website=aacd.com|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref>

By nature of their general training, dentists, without specialization can carry out the majority of dental treatments such as restorative (fillings, crowns, bridges), prosthetic (dentures), endodontic (root canal) therapy, periodontal (gum) therapy, and extraction of teeth, as well as performing examinations, radiographs (x-rays), and diagnosis. Dentists can also prescribe medications used in the field such as [[Chemistry:Antibiotic|antibiotic]]s, [[Chemistry:Sedative|sedative]]s, and any other drugs used in patient management. Depending on their licensing boards, general dentists may be required to complete additional training to perform sedation, dental implants, etc.

[[File:Enamel celiac.jpg|thumb|right|Irreversible enamel defects caused by an untreated celiac disease. They may be the only clue to its diagnosis, even in absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, but are often confused with fluorosis, [[Chemistry:Tetracycline|tetracycline]] discoloration, acid reflux or other causes.<ref name=NIHCDdiagnosis>{{cite web|url=https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease/diagnosis |title=Diagnosis of Celiac Disease |publisher=National Institute of Health (NIH) |access-date=6 June 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515223010/https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease/diagnosis |archive-date=15 May 2017 }}</ref><ref name=NIHCDdentalenamel>[http://celiac.nih.gov/PDF/Dental_Enamel_Defects_508.pdf Dental Enamel Defects and Celiac Disease] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305124250/http://celiac.nih.gov/PDF/Dental_Enamel_Defects_508.pdf |date=March 5, 2016 }} National Institute of Health (NIH)</ref><ref name=PastoreCarroccio2008>{{cite journal| vauthors=Pastore L, Carroccio A, Compilato D, Panzarella V, Serpico R, Lo Muzio L| title=Oral manifestations of celiac disease | journal=J Clin Gastroenterol | year= 2008 | volume= 42 | issue= 3 | pages= 224–32 | pmid=18223505 | doi=10.1097/MCG.0b013e318074dd98 | type=Review | hdl=10447/1671 | s2cid=205776755 | hdl-access=free }}</ref> The National Institutes of Health include a dental exam in the diagnostic protocol of celiac disease.<ref name=NIHCDdiagnosis /> ]]

Dentists also encourage the prevention of oral diseases through proper hygiene and regular, twice or more yearly, checkups for professional cleaning and evaluation. Oral infections and inflammations may affect overall health and conditions in the oral cavity may be indicative of systemic diseases, such as [[Medicine:Osteoporosis|osteoporosis]], [[Medicine:Diabetes|diabetes]], celiac disease or [[Medicine:Cancer|cancer]].<ref name=Gambhir2015 /><ref name=NIHCDdiagnosis /><ref name=EstrellaBoynton2010>{{cite journal| vauthors=Estrella MR, Boynton JR| title=General dentistry's role in the care for children with special needs: a review | journal=Gen Dent | year= 2010 | volume= 58 | issue= 3 | pages= 222–29 | pmid=20478802 | type=Review }}</ref><ref name=daFonseca2010>{{cite journal| author=da Fonseca MA| title=Dental and oral care for chronically ill children and adolescents | journal=Gen Dent | year= 2010 | volume= 58 | issue= 3 | pages= 204–09; quiz 210–11 | pmid=20478800 | type=Review  }}</ref> Many studies have also shown that gum disease is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and [[Medicine:Preterm birth|preterm birth]]. The concept that oral health can affect systemic health and disease is referred to as "oral-systemic health".

==Education and licensing==
[[File:Cross sections of teeth labels.png|thumb|right|A sagittal cross-section of a molar tooth; 1: crown, 2: root, 3: enamel, 4: dentin and dentin tubules, 5: pulp chamber, 6: blood vessels and nerve, 7: periodontal ligament, 8: apex and periapical region, 9: alveolar bone]]

[[File:Early dental chair, Shamrock, TX IMG 6151.JPG|right|thumb|Early dental chair in Pioneer West Museum in Shamrock, Texas]]

John M. Harris started the world's first dental school in Bainbridge, Ohio, and helped to establish dentistry as a health profession. It opened on 21 February 1828, and today is a dental museum.<ref>Owen, Lorrie K., ed. Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places. Vol. 2. St. Clair Shores: Somerset, 1999, 1217–1218.</ref> The first dental college, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, opened in Baltimore, Maryland, US in 1840. The second in the United States was the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, established in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1845.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Teeth: the story of beauty, inequality, and the struggle for oral health in America|last=Mary|first=Otto|publisher=The New Press|year=2017|isbn=978-1-62097-144-4|location=New York|pages=70|oclc=958458166}}</ref> The Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery followed in 1852.<ref>{{cite web |title = History |url = http://www.dental.upenn.edu/about_us/history |website = Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine |access-date = 13 January 2016 }}</ref> In 1907, Temple University accepted a bid to incorporate the school.

Studies show that dentists that graduated from different countries,<ref>{{cite journal |author = Zadik Yehuda |author2 = Levin Liran |title = Clinical decision making in restorative dentistry, endodontics, and antibiotic prescription |journal = J Dent Educ |volume = 72 |issue = 1 |pages = 81–86 |date = January 2008 |doi = 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2008.72.1.tb04456.x |pmid = 18172239 }}</ref> or even from different dental schools in one country,<ref>{{cite journal |author = Zadik Yehuda |author2 = Levin Liran |title = Decision making of Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University Dental Schools graduates in every day dentistry—is there a difference? |journal = J Isr Dent Assoc |volume = 23 |issue = 2 |pages = 19–23 |date = April 2006 |pmid = 16886872 }}</ref> may make different clinical decisions for the same clinical condition. For example, dentists that graduated from [[Place:Israel|Israel]]i dental schools may recommend the removal of asymptomatic [[Medicine:Tooth impaction|impacted]] third molar (wisdom teeth) more often than dentists that graduated from Latin American or Eastern European dental schools.<ref>{{cite journal |author = Zadik Yehuda |author2 = Levin Liran |title = Decision making of Israeli, East European, and South American dental school graduates in third molar surgery: is there a difference? |journal = J Oral Maxillofac Surg |volume = 65 |issue = 4 |pages = 658–62 |date = April 2007 |pmid = 17368360 |doi = 10.1016/j.joms.2006.09.002 }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the first dental schools, the London School of Dental Surgery and the Metropolitan School of Dental Science, both in London, opened in 1859.<ref name="MedHist2005">{{cite journal |last1=Gelbier |first1=Stanley |title=Dentistry and the University of London |journal=Medical History |date=1 Oct 2005 |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=445–462 |doi=10.1017/s0025727300009157 |pmid=16562330 |pmc=1251639 }}</ref> The British Dentists Act of 1878 and the 1879 Dentists Register limited the title of "dentist" and "dental surgeon" to qualified and registered practitioners.<ref name="125years">Gelbier, Stanley. [http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v199/n7/full/4812875a.html 125 Years of Developments in Dentistry]. British Dental Journal (2005); 199, 470–73. The 1879 register is referred to as the "Dental Register".</ref><ref name="bdatimeline" /> However, others could legally describe themselves as "dental experts" or "dental consultants".<ref>{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BEdAAAAAIBAJ&pg=2752%2C3609354 |title = Banning Clerks, Colliers and other Charlatans |author=J Menzies Campbell |work = The Glasgow Herald |date = 8 February 1955 |page=3 |access-date = 5 April 2017}}</ref> The practice of dentistry in the United Kingdom became fully regulated with the 1921 Dentists Act, which required the registration of anyone practising dentistry.<ref>[http://www.museum.rcsed.ac.uk/media/4014/dentistry_history.pdf History of Dental Surgery in Edinburgh (PDF)], hosted on the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh website. Page accessed 11 December 2007.</ref> The British Dental Association, formed in 1880 with Sir John Tomes as president, played a major role in prosecuting dentists practising illegally.<ref name="125years" /> Dentists in the United Kingdom are now regulated by the General Dental Council.

In many countries, dentists usually complete between five and eight years of post-secondary education before practising. Though not mandatory, many dentists choose to complete an internship or residency focusing on specific aspects of dental care after they have received their dental degree. In a few countries, to become a qualified dentist one must usually complete at least four years of postgraduate study;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.purdue.edu/preprofessional/documents/Dentist.pdf|title=Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.)|website=Purdue.edu|access-date=17 May 2018|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109193952/https://www.purdue.edu/preprofessional/documents/Dentist.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Social:Dental degree|Dental degree]]s awarded around the world include the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) in North America (US and Canada), and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Baccalaureus Dentalis Chirurgiae (BDS, BDent, BChD, BDSc) in the UK and current and former British Commonwealth countries.

All dentists in the United States undergo at least three years of undergraduate studies, but nearly all complete a bachelor's degree. This schooling is followed by four years of dental school to qualify as a "Doctor of Dental Surgery" (DDS) or "Doctor of Dental Medicine" (DMD). Specialization in dentistry is available in the fields of Anesthesiology, Dental Public Health, Endodontics, Oral Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine, Orofacial Pain, Pathology, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics), Periodontics, and Prosthodontics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/specialties/|title=Canadian Dental Association|website=cda-adc.ca|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref>

==Specialties {{anchor|Specialities<!--alt spelling-->}}==
{{Main|Medicine:Specialty (dentistry)}}
[[File:Armilan hammashoitola, Lappeenranta.jpg|thumb|A modern dental clinic in Lappeenranta, {{wipe|Finland}}]]
Some dentists undertake further training after their initial degree in order to specialize. Exactly which subjects are recognized by dental registration bodies varies according to location. Examples include:
*Cosmetic dentistry- Focuses on improving the appearance of the mouth, teeth and smile.
* Anesthesiology<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2019-archive/march/anesthesiology-recognized-as-a-dental-specialty|title=Anesthesiology recognized as a dental specialty|website=www.ada.org|access-date=2019-03-12|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921061215/https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2019-archive/march/anesthesiology-recognized-as-a-dental-specialty|url-status=dead}}</ref> –  The specialty of dentistry that deals with the advanced use of general anesthesia, sedation and pain management to facilitate dental procedures.
* Dental public health – The study of [[Social:Epidemiology|epidemiology]] and social health policies relevant to oral health.
* Endodontics (also called ''endodontology'') – Root canal therapy and study of diseases of the dental pulp and periapical tissues.
* Forensic odontology – The gathering and use of dental evidence in law. This may be performed by any dentist with experience or training in this field. The function of the forensic dentist is primarily documentation and verification of identity.
* Geriatric dentistry or ''geriodontics'' – The delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with other health care professionals.
* [[Medicine:Oral and maxillofacial pathology|Oral and maxillofacial pathology]] – The study, diagnosis, and sometimes the treatment of oral and maxillofacial related diseases.
* Oral and maxillofacial radiology – The study and radiologic interpretation of oral and maxillofacial diseases.
* [[Medicine:Oral and maxillofacial surgery|Oral and maxillofacial surgery]] (also called ''oral surgery'') – Extractions, [[Engineering:Dental implant|implants]], and surgery of the jaws, mouth and face.<ref group="nb">The scope of Oral and maxillofacial surgery is variable. In some countries, both a medical and dental degree is required for training, and the scope includes head and neck oncology and craniofacial deformity.</ref>
* Oral biology – Research in dental and craniofacial biology
* Oral Implantology – The art and science of replacing extracted teeth with dental implants.
* Oral medicine – The clinical evaluation and [[Medicine:Medical diagnosis|diagnosis]] of oral mucosal diseases
* Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics  – The straightening of teeth and modification of midface and mandibular growth.
* Pediatric dentistry (also called ''pedodontics'') – Dentistry for children
* Periodontology (also called ''periodontics'') – The study and treatment of diseases of the [[Medicine:Periodontium|periodontium]] (non-surgical and surgical) as well as placement and maintenance of dental implants
* Prosthodontics (also called ''prosthetic dentistry'') – Dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants. 
** Some prosthodontists super-specialize in maxillofacial prosthetics, which is the discipline originally concerned with the rehabilitation of patients with congenital facial and oral defects such as cleft lip and palate or patients born with an underdeveloped ear (microtia). Today, most maxillofacial prosthodontists return function and esthetics to patients with acquired defects secondary to surgical removal of head and neck tumors, or secondary to trauma from war or motor vehicle accidents.
* [[Medicine:Special needs dentistry|Special needs dentistry]] (also called ''special care dentistry'') – Dentistry for those with developmental and acquired disabilities.
* Sports dentistry – the branch of [[Medicine:Sports medicine|sports medicine]] dealing with prevention and treatment of dental injuries and oral diseases associated with sports and exercise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fdiworlddental.org/resources/policy-statements-and-resolutions/sports-dentistry|title=Sports dentistry|publisher=FDI World Dental Federation|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023161722/https://www.fdiworlddental.org/resources/policy-statements-and-resolutions/sports-dentistry|url-status=dead}}</ref> The sports dentist works as an individual consultant or as a member of the Sports Medicine Team.
* Veterinary dentistry – The field of dentistry applied to the care of animals.  It is a specialty of [[Medicine:Veterinary medicine|veterinary medicine]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.avdc.org/ |title = AVDC Home |publisher = Avdc.org |date = 29 November 2009 |access-date = 18 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.evdc.info/ |title = EVDC web site |publisher = Evdc.info |access-date = 18 April 2010 |archive-date = 5 September 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180905020518/http://www.evdc.info/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:A wealthy patient falling over because of having a tooth ext Wellcome V0012058.jpg|thumb|''A wealthy patient falling over because of having a tooth extracted with such vigour by a fashionable dentist'', {{circa|1790}}. History of Dentistry.]]
[[File:Johann Liss 002a.jpg|thumb|''Farmer at the dentist'', Johann Liss, {{circa|1616–17}}]]
Tooth decay was low in [[Unsolved:Paleolithic diet|pre-agricultural]] societies, but the advent of [[Earth:Agriculture|farming]] society about 10,000 years ago correlated with an increase in [[Medicine:Tooth decay|tooth decay]] (cavities).<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160229-how-our-ancestors-drilled-rotten-teeth |title = How our ancestors drilled rotten teeth |last = Barras |first = Colin |publisher = BBC |date = 29 February 2016 |access-date = 1 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519063141/https://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160229-how-our-ancestors-drilled-rotten-teeth |archive-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> An infected tooth from Italy partially cleaned with flint tools, between 13,820 and 14,160 years old, represents the oldest known dentistry,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://news.discovery.com/history/oldest-dentistry-found-in-14000-year-old-tooth-1507156.htm |title = Oldest Dentistry Found in 14,000-Year-Old Tooth |publisher = Discovery Channel |date = 16 July 2015 |access-date = 21 July 2015 |archive-date = 18 July 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150718211808/http://news.discovery.com/history/oldest-dentistry-found-in-14000-year-old-tooth-1507156.htm |url-status = dead }}</ref> although a 2017 study suggests that 130,000 years ago the Neanderthals already used rudimentary dentistry tools.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.ku.edu/2017/06/23/analysis-neanderthal-teeth-marks-uncovers-evidence-prehistoric-dentistry |title = Analysis of Neanderthal teeth marks uncovers evidence of prehistoric dentistry |publisher = The University of Kansas |date = 28 June 2017 |access-date = 1 July 2017 }}</ref> The Indus valley has yielded evidence of dentistry being practised as far back as 7000 BC, during the Stone Age.<ref name="Coppa">Coppa, A. et al. 2006. [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7085/pdf/440755a.pdf "Early Neolithic tradition of dentistry" (PDF)]. ''Nature''. Volume 440. 6 April 2006.</ref> The Neolithic site of Mehrgarh (now in Pakistan's south western province of Balochistan) indicates that this form of dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with [[Engineering:Bow drill|bow drill]]s operated, perhaps, by skilled bead-crafters.<ref name="bbc" /> The reconstruction of this ancient form of dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective.<ref>NBC News (2008). [http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12168308 ''Dig uncovers ancient roots of dentistry''].</ref> The earliest [[Medicine:Dental restoration|dental filling]], made of [[Chemistry:Beeswax|beeswax]], was discovered in Slovenia and dates from 6500 years ago.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0044904 | pmid=23028670 | pmc=3446997 | volume=7 | issue=9 | title=Beeswax as Dental Filling on a Neolithic Human Tooth | journal=PLOS ONE | pages=e44904| year=2012 | last1=Bernardini | first1=Federico | last2=Tuniz | first2=Claudio | last3=Coppa | first3=Alfredo | last4=Mancini | first4=Lucia | last5=Dreossi | first5=Diego | last6=Eichert | first6=Diane | last7=Turco | first7=Gianluca | last8=Biasotto | first8=Matteo | last9=Terrasi | first9=Filippo | last10=De Cesare | first10=Nicola | last11=Hua | first11=Quan | last12=Levchenko | first12=Vladimir | bibcode=2012PLoSO...744904B | doi-access=free }}</ref> Dentistry was practised in prehistoric Malta, as evidenced by a skull which had a [[Medicine:Dental abscess|dental abscess]] lanced from the root of a tooth dating back to around 2500 BC.<ref>{{cite news|title=700 years added to Malta's history|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180316/life-features/700-years-added-to-maltas-history.673498|work=Times of Malta|date=16 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316111529/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180316/life-features/700-years-added-to-maltas-history.673498|archive-date=16 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

An ancient [[Social:Sumerian language|Sumerian]] text describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of dental caries.<ref name="adahistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.ada.org/public/resources/history/timeline_ancient.asp |title=History of Dentistry: Ancient Origins |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705105101/http://www.ada.org/public/resources/history/timeline_ancient.asp |archive-date=5 July 2007 |work=American Dental Association |access-date=9 January 2007 |df=dmy |url-status=dead }}</ref> Evidence of this belief has also been found in ancient India, [[Place:Egypt|Egypt]], Japan, and China. The legend of the worm is also found in the ''Homeric Hymns'',<ref>{{Cite journal|last=TOWNEND|first=B. R.|title=The Story of the Tooth-Worm|date=1944|journal=Bulletin of the History of Medicine|volume=15|issue=1|pages=37–58|jstor=44442797|issn=0007-5140}}</ref> and as late as the 14th century AD the surgeon Guy de Chauliac still promoted the belief that worms cause tooth decay.<ref name="suddickhistorical">{{cite journal|author=Suddick Richard P., Harris Norman O. |year=1990 |title=Historical Perspectives of Oral Biology: A Series |url=http://crobm.iadrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/1/2/135.pdf |journal=Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=135–51 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218025641/http://crobm.iadrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/1/2/135.pdf |archive-date=18 December 2007 |doi=10.1177/10454411900010020301 |pmid=2129621 }}</ref>

Recipes for the treatment of toothache, infections and loose teeth are spread throughout the [[Chemistry:Ebers Papyrus|Ebers Papyrus]], Kahun Papyri, Brugsch Papyrus, and Hearst papyrus of Ancient Egypt.<ref name="blomstedt">{{cite journal |author = Blomstedt, P. |year = 2013 |title = Dental surgery in ancient Egypt |journal = Journal of the History of Dentistry |volume = 61 |issue = 3 |pages = 129–42 |pmid = 24665522 }}</ref> The Edwin Smith Papyrus, written in the 17th century BC but which may reflect previous manuscripts from as early as 3000 BC, discusses the treatment of dislocated or fractured jaws.<ref name="blomstedt" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071226035425/http://students.ou.edu/D/Andrew.J.Dunlevy-1/episode1.html Ancient Egyptian Dentistry], hosted on the University of Oklahoma website. Page accessed 15 December 2007. Version archived by the [[Wayback Machine]] on 26 December 2007.</ref> In the 18th century BC, the Code of Hammurabi referenced dental extraction twice as it related to punishment.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Wilwerding |first1 = Terry |title = History of Dentistry 2001 |url = http://www.dentalofficesantaclarita.com/history2001.PDF |access-date = 3 November 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141103094821/http://www.dentalofficesantaclarita.com/history2001.PDF |archive-date = 3 November 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Examination of the remains of some ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveals early attempts at dental prosthetics.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.arabworldbooks.com/articles8c.htm |title = Medicine in Ancient Egypt 3 |publisher = Arabworldbooks.com |access-date = 18 April 2010 }}</ref> However, it is possible the prosthetics were prepared after death for aesthetic reasons.<ref name="blomstedt" />

{{wipe|Ancient Greece}} scholars [[Biography:Hippocrates|Hippocrates]] and [[Biography:Aristotle|Aristotle]] wrote about dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth, treating decayed teeth and gum disease, extracting teeth with [[Engineering:Forceps|forceps]], and using wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws.<ref name="History Of Dentistry">{{cite web |url = http://completedentalguide.co.uk/history-of-dentistry/ |title = History Of Dentistry |work = Complete Dental Guide |access-date = 29 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160714150814/http://completedentalguide.co.uk/history-of-dentistry/ |archive-date = 14 July 2016 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> Some say the first use of dental appliances or bridges comes from the Etruscans from as early as 700 BC.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://edwardmoondds.com/history-of-dentistry-research-group/ |title = History of Dentistry Research Page, Newsletter |publisher = Rcpsg.ac.uk |access-date = 9 June 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150428045701/http://edwardmoondds.com/history-of-dentistry-research-group/ |archive-date = 28 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[History:Phoenicia|Phoenicians]] crafted the oldest documented dentures during the 6th–4th century BC, fashioning them from gold wire and incorporating two ivory teeth.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Renfrew |first1=Colin |title=Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice |last2=Bahn |first2=Paul |publisher=Thames & Hudson |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-500-28976-1 |edition=6th |pages=449}}</ref> In ancient Egypt, Hesy-Ra is the first named "dentist" (greatest of the teeth). The Egyptians bound replacement teeth together with gold wire. [[History:Ancient Rome|Roman]] medical writer Cornelius Celsus wrote extensively of oral diseases as well as dental treatments such as narcotic-containing emollients and astringents.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dentaltreatment.org.uk/history.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091201213847/http://www.dentaltreatment.org.uk/history.html |archive-date = 1 December 2009 |title = Dental Treatment in the Ancient Times |publisher = Dentaltreatment.org.uk |access-date = 18 April 2010 }}</ref> The earliest [[Chemistry:Amalgam (dentistry)|dental amalgams]] were first documented in a Tang dynasty medical text written by the Chinese physician Su Kung in 659, and appeared in Germany in 1528.<ref name="Bjørklund1">{{cite journal |author = Bjørklund G |title = The history of dental amalgam (in Norwegian) |journal = Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen |volume = 109 |issue = 34–36 |pages = 3582–85 |date = 1989 |pmid = 2694433 }}</ref><ref name=czarnetzki>{{cite journal |last = Czarnetzki |first = A. |author2 = Ehrhardt S. |title = Re-dating the Chinese amalgam-filling of teeth in Europe |journal = International Journal of Anthropology |date = 1990 |volume = 5 |issue = 4 |pages = 325–32 }}</ref>

During the Islamic Golden Age Dentistry was discussed in several famous books of medicine such as The Canon in medicine written by [[Biography:Avicenna|Avicenna]] and Al-Tasreef by Al-Zahrawi who is considered the greatest [[Social:Surgeon|surgeon]] of the Middle ages,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia (Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages)|last=Meri|first=Josef|publisher=Psychology Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-415-96690-0}}</ref> Avicenna said that jaw fracture should be reduced according to the occlusal guidance of the teeth; this principle is still valid in modern times. Al-Zahrawi invented over 200 surgical tools that resemble the modern kind.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Saul S. |title=A history of the Middle East |date=2006 |publisher=Mcfarland |location=Jefferson, N.C. |isbn=0786451343 |page=152}}</ref>

Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the [[History:Middle Ages|Middle Ages]] and throughout the 19th century, dentistry was not a profession in itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general [[Medicine:Physician|physician]]s. Barbers usually limited their practice to extracting teeth which alleviated [[Medicine:Pain|pain]] and associated chronic tooth [[Medicine:Infection|infection]]. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac most probably invented the dental pelican<ref>{{cite web |url = http://en.dmd.co.il/antique-dental-instruments/antique-dental-pelican/|title = Pelican|author=Gregory Ribitzky|access-date = 23 June 2018}}</ref> (resembling a [[Biology:Pelican|pelican]]'s beak) which was used to perform [[Medicine:Dental extraction|dental extraction]]s up until the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the [[Engineering:Dental key|dental key]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://en.dmd.co.il/antique-dental-instruments/antique-dental-toothkey-2/|title = Toothkey|author=Gregory Ribitzky|access-date = 23 June 2018}}</ref> which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://en.dmd.co.il/antique-dental-instruments/antique-dental-forceps/|title = Forceps|author=Gregory Ribitzky|access-date = 23 June 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Device-teeth-fauchard.jpg|thumb|right|Dental needle-nose pliers designed by Fauchard in the late 17th century to use in prosthodontics]]

The first book focused solely on dentistry was the "Artzney Buchlein" in 1530,<ref name="History Of Dentistry" /> and the first dental textbook written in English was called "Operator for the Teeth" by Charles Allen in 1685.<ref name="bdatimeline">[http://www.bda.org/museum/the-story-of-dentistry/timeline.aspx The story of dentistry: Dental History Timeline] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309235717/http://www.bda.org/museum/the-story-of-dentistry/timeline.aspx |date=9 March 2012 }}, hosted on the British Dental Association website. Page accessed 2 March 2010.</ref>

In the United Kingdom, there was no formal qualification for the providers of dental treatment until 1859 and it was only in 1921 that the practice of dentistry was limited to those who were professionally qualified. The Royal Commission on the National Health Service in 1979 reported that there were then more than twice as many registered dentists per 10,000 population in the UK than there were in 1921.<ref>{{cite book |title = Royal Commission on the NHS Chapter 9 |date = July 1979 |publisher = HMSO |isbn = 978-0-10-176150-5 |url = http://www.sochealth.co.uk/national-health-service/royal-commission-on-the-national-health-service-contents/royal-commission-on-the-nhs-chapter-9/ |access-date = 19 May 2015 }}</ref>

===Modern dentistry===

[[File:Microscope,The Dental cosmos (1907).jpg|thumb|right|A microscopic device used in dental analysis, {{circa|1907}}]]

It was between 1650 and 1800 that the science of modern dentistry developed. The English physician Thomas Browne in his ''[[Medicine:A Letter to a Friend|A Letter to a Friend]]'' ({{circa|1656}} pub. 1690) made an early dental observation with characteristic humour:

{{Blockquote|quote=The Egyptian Mummies that I have seen, have had their Mouths open, and somewhat gaping, which affordeth a good opportunity to view and observe their Teeth, wherein 'tis not easie to find any wanting or decayed: and therefore in Egypt, where one Man practised but one Operation, or the Diseases but of single Parts, it must needs be a barren Profession to confine unto that of drawing of Teeth, and little better than to have been Tooth-drawer unto King Pyrrhus, who had but two in his Head.}}

The French surgeon Pierre Fauchard became known as the "father of modern dentistry". Despite the limitations of the primitive surgical instruments during the late 17th and early 18th century, Fauchard was a highly skilled [[Social:Surgeon|surgeon]] who made remarkable improvisations of dental instruments, often adapting tools from watchmakers, jewelers and even barbers, that he thought could be used in dentistry. He introduced dental fillings as treatment for dental cavities. He asserted that [[Chemistry:Sugar|sugar]]-derived acids like [[Chemistry:Tartaric acid|tartaric acid]] were responsible for dental decay, and also suggested that tumors surrounding the teeth and in the gums could appear in the later stages of tooth decay.<ref name="Besombes">{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2RRqAAAAMAAJ |title = Pierre Fauchard (1678–1761): The First Dental Surgeon, His Work, His Actuality |author = André Besombes |author2 = Phillipe de Gaillande |publisher = Pierre Fauchard Academy |date = 1993 }}</ref><ref name="Weinberger">{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2wtqAAAAMAAJ |title = Pierre Fauchard, Surgeon-dentist: A Brief Account of the Beginning of Modern Dentistry, the First Dental Textbook, and Professional Life Two Hundred Years Ago |author = Bernhard Wolf Weinberger |date = 1941 |publisher = Pierre Fauchard Academy }}</ref>

[[File:Panoramic radiograph of historic dental implants.jpg|thumb|Panoramic radiograph of historic dental implants, made 1978]]

Fauchard was the pioneer of dental prosthesis, and he invented many methods to replace lost teeth. He suggested that substitutes could be made from carved blocks of ivory or [[Biology:Bone|bone]]. He also introduced [[Engineering:Dental braces|dental braces]], although they were initially made of gold, he discovered that the teeth position could be corrected as the teeth would follow the pattern of the wires. Waxed [[Biology:Linen|linen]] or [[Chemistry:Silk|silk]] threads were usually employed to fasten the braces. His contributions to the world of dental science consist primarily of his 1728 publication Le chirurgien dentiste or The Surgeon Dentist. The French text included "basic oral anatomy and function, dental construction, and various operative and restorative techniques, and effectively separated dentistry from the wider category of surgery".<ref name="Besombes" /><ref name="Weinberger" />

[[File:Dental office.jpg|thumb|left|A modern dentist's chair]]

After Fauchard, the study of dentistry rapidly expanded. Two important books, ''Natural History of Human Teeth'' (1771) and ''Practical Treatise on the Diseases of the Teeth'' (1778), were published by British surgeon John Hunter. In 1763, he entered into a period of collaboration with the London-based dentist James Spence. He began to theorise about the possibility of tooth transplants from one person to another. He realised that the chances of a successful tooth transplant (initially, at least) would be improved if the donor tooth was as fresh as possible and was matched for size with the recipient. These principles are still used in the transplantation of internal organs. Hunter conducted a series of pioneering operations, in which he attempted a tooth transplant. Although the donated teeth never properly bonded with the recipients' gums, one of Hunter's patients stated that he had three which lasted for six years, a remarkable achievement for the period.<ref>{{cite book |author = Moore, Wendy |title = The Knife Man |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DKInoTPFrBoC |access-date = 8 March 2012 |date = 30 September 2010 |publisher = Transworld |pages = 223–24 |isbn = 978-1-4090-4462-8 }}</ref>

Major advances in science were made in the 19th century, and dentistry evolved from a trade to a profession. The profession came under government regulation by the end of the 19th century. In the UK, the Dentist Act was passed in 1878 and the British Dental Association formed in 1879. In the same year, Francis Brodie Imlach was the first ever dentist to be elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh), raising dentistry onto a par with clinical surgery for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://historyofdentistry.co.uk/index_htm_files/2004Apr2.pdf |title=A pioneering history: dentistry and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |first=Helen |last=Dingwall |date=April 2004 |work=History of Dentistry Newsletter |issue=14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201191323/http://historyofdentistry.co.uk/index_htm_files/2004Apr2.pdf |archive-date=1 February 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref>

===Hazards in modern dentistry===
{{main|Medicine:Occupational hazards in dentistry}}
Long term occupational noise exposure can contribute to permanent hearing loss, which is referred to as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and [[Medicine:Tinnitus|tinnitus]]. Noise exposure can cause excessive stimulation of the hearing mechanism, which damages the delicate structures of the inner ear.<ref>{{cite web|title=Noise-Induced Hearing Loss|url=https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss|website=NIDCD|date=18 August 2015}}</ref> NIHL can occur when an individual is exposed to sound levels above 90 dBA according to the [[Organization:Occupational Safety and Health Administration|Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA). Regulations state that the permissible noise exposure levels for individuals is 90 dBA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Occupational Safety and Health Standards {{!}} Occupational Safety and Health Administration|url=https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910|website=Osha.gov}}</ref> For the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), exposure limits are set to 85 dBA. Exposures below 85 dBA are not considered to be hazardous. Time limits are placed on how long an individual can stay in an environment above 85 dBA before it causes hearing loss. OSHA places that limitation at 8 hours for 85 dBA. The exposure time becomes shorter as the dBA level increases.

Within the field of dentistry, a variety of cleaning tools are used including piezoelectric and sonic scalers, and ultrasonic scalers and cleaners.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Stevens|first1=M|title=Is someone listening to the din of occupational noise exposure in dentistry|journal=RDH|date=1999|issue=19|pages=34–85}}</ref> While a majority of the tools do not exceed 75 dBA,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Merrel|first1=HB|title=Noise pollution and hearing loss in the dental office|journal=Dental Assisting Journal|date=1992|volume=61|issue=3|pages=6–9}}</ref> prolonged exposure over many years can lead to hearing loss or complaints of tinnitus.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Wilson|first1=J.D.|title=Effects of occupational ultrasonic noise exposure on hearing of dental hygienists: A pilot study|journal=Journal of Dental Hygiene|date=2002|volume=76|issue=4|pages=262–69|pmid=12592917}}</ref> Few dentists have reported using personal hearing protective devices,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Leggat|first1=P.A.|title=Occupational Health Problems in Modern Dentistry: A Review|journal=Industrial Health|date=2007|volume=45|issue=5|pages=611–21|doi=10.2486/indhealth.45.611|pmid=18057804|url=https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/2690/1/2690_Leggat_et_al...2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427125357/https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/2690/1/2690_Leggat_et_al...2007.pdf |archive-date=2019-04-27 |url-status=live|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Leggat|first1=P.A.|title=Occupational hygiene practices of dentists in southern Thailand|journal=International Dental Journal|date=2001|volume=51|issue=51|pages=11–6|doi=10.1002/j.1875-595x.2001.tb00811.x|pmid=11326443|doi-access=free}}</ref> which could offset any potential hearing loss or tinnitus.

===Evidence-based dentistry===
{{Main|Evidence-based dentistry}}
There is a movement in modern dentistry to place a greater emphasis on high-quality scientific evidence in decision-making. [[Evidence-based dentistry]] (EBD) uses current scientific evidence to guide decisions. It is an approach to oral health that requires the application and examination of relevant scientific data related to the patient's oral and medical health. Along with the dentist's professional skill and expertise, EBD allows dentists to stay up to date on the latest procedures and patients to receive improved treatment. A new paradigm for medical education designed to incorporate current research into education and practice was developed to help practitioners provide the best care for their patients.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Evidence-based medicine. A new approach to teaching the practice of medicine|journal=Journal of the American Medical Association|year=1992|volume=268|issue=17|pages=2420–2425|pmid=1404801|author1=Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group|doi=10.1001/jama.1992.03490170092032}}</ref> It was first introduced by [[Biography:Gordon Guyatt|Gordon Guyatt]] and the Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada in the 1990s. It is part of the larger movement toward [[Medicine:Evidence-based medicine|evidence-based medicine]] and other evidence-based practices, especially since a major part of dentistry involves dealing with oral and systemic diseases. Other issues relevant to the dental field in terms of evidence-based research and evidence-based practice include population oral health, dental clinical practice, tooth morphology etc. 
[[File:Dental Chair UMSOD.jpg|thumb|A Dental Chair at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry]]

== Ethical and medicolegal issues ==
Dentistry is unique in that it requires dental students to have competence-based clinical skills that can only be acquired through supervised specialized laboratory training and direct patient care.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-03-17|title=Union workers build high-tech dental simulation laboratory for SIU dental school|url=https://labortribune.com/union-workers-build-high-tech-dental-simulation-laboratory-for-siu-dental-school/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=The Labor Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref> This necessitates the need for a scientific and professional basis of care with a foundation of extensive research-based education.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Slavkin|first=Harold C.|date=January 2012|title=Evolution of the scientific basis for dentistry and its impact on dental education: past, present, and future|journal=Journal of Dental Education|volume=76|issue=1|pages=28–35|doi=10.1002/j.0022-0337.2012.76.1.tb05231.x|issn=1930-7837|pmid=22262547}}</ref> According to some experts, the accreditation of dental schools can enhance the quality and professionalism of dental education.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Formicola|first1=Allan J.|last2=Bailit|first2=Howard L.|last3=Beazoglou|first3=Tryfon J.|last4=Tedesco|first4=Lisa A.|date=February 2008|title=The interrelationship of accreditation and dental education: history and current environment|journal=Journal of Dental Education|volume=72|issue=2 Suppl|pages=53–60|doi=10.1002/j.0022-0337.2008.72.2_suppl.tb04480.x|issn=0022-0337|pmid=18250379}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adee.org/|title=The first 25 year [Internet] Ireland: ADEE (Association for Dental Education in Europe)|last=Carrrassi|first=A.|date=2019|website=Association for Dental Education in Europe|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref>

==See also==
* List of dental organizations
*[[Medicine:Dental aerosol|Dental aerosol]]
*[[Engineering:Dental instrument|Dental instrument]]
*Oral health in the United States
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="nb"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* {{curlie|/Health/Dentistry/|Dentistry}}
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[[Category:Dentistry| ]]

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