A dentist, also known in the U.S.

as a dental surgeon, is a surgeon who specializes in dentistry

the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The
dentist's supporting team aids in providing oral health services. The dental team includes dental
assistants,dental hygienists, dental technicians, and in some states, dental therapists.
Contents
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1History
o

1.1Middle Ages

1.2Modern dentistry

2Training

3Responsibilities

4Specialties

5References

History[edit]
Middle Ages[edit]
In China as well as France, the first people to perform dentistry were barbers. They have been
categorized into 2 distinct groups: guild of barbers and lay barbers. The first group, the Guild of
Barbers, was created to distinguish more educated and qualified dental surgeons from lay barbers.
Guild barbers were trained to do complex surgeries. The second group, the lay barbers, were
qualified to perform regular hygienic services such as shaving and tooth extraction as well as basic
surgery. However, in 1400 France made decrees prohibiting lay barbers from practicing all types of
surgery. In Germany as well as France from 1530 to 1575 publications completely devoted to
dentistry were being published. Ambrose Pare, often known as the Father of Surgery, published his
own work about the proper maintenance and treatment of teeth. Ambrose Pare was a French barber
surgeon who performed dental care for multiple French monarchs. He is often credited with having
raised the status of barber surgeons.[1][2]

Modern dentistry[edit]

A man being worked on at the dentist

In France, Pierre Fauchard published a book describing dental techniques and practices. Pierre
Fauchard is often referred to as the Father of Modern dentistry because his publication was thought
to be the first complete scientific description of dentistry.[3] Over time, trained dentists immigrated to
America to practice dentistry, and by 1760, America had its own native born practicing dentists.
Newspapers were used at the time to advertise and promote dental services . In America from 17681770 the first application of dentistry to verify forensic cases was being pioneered; this was
called forensic dentistry. With the rise of dentists there was also the rise of new methods to improve
the quality of dentistry. These new methods included the spinning wheel to rotate a drill and chairs
made specifically for dental patients.[4]
In the 1840s the world's first dental school and national dental organization were established. Along
with the first dental school came the establishment of the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, often
referred to as a DDS degree. In response to the rise in new dentists as well as dentistry techniques,
the first dental practice act was established. The act was created to regulate dentistry. In the United
States, the First Dental Practice Act required dentists to pass each specific states medical board
exam in order to practice dentistry in that particular state. However, because the dental act was
rarely enforced, some dentists did not obey the act. From 1846-1855 new dental techniques were
being invented such as the use of ester anesthesia for surgery, and the cohesive gold foil method
which enabled gold to be applied to a cavity.