Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the mouth, most commonly focused on dentition as well as the oral mucosa. Dentistry may also encompass other aspects of the craniofacial complex including the temporomandibular joint. The practitioner is called a dentist.
The American Dental Association (ADA) is an American professional association established in 1859 which has more than 161,000 members. Based in the American Dental Association Building in the Near North Side of Chicago, the ADA is the world's largest and oldest national dental association. The organization lobbies on behalf of the American dental profession and provides dental accredation.
Chapin Aaron HarrisA.M., MD, D.D.S. was an American physician and dentist and dentistry school founder.
Bernard John Cigrand, a dentist, has a strong claim to being considered the father of Flag Day in the United States.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), founded in December 1984 by Jack Kammer and Jeff Morley of San Francisco, is the world's largest organization for cosmetic dental professionals. As of 2001, the Academy had membership from 40 different countries. Between 2000 and 2007, membership in the Academy jumped by 70% as United States oral health, in particular the incidence of tooth decay, improved markedly while competitively priced cosmetic procedures became more readily available.
Michele Aerden is a dentist and was president of the FDI World Dental Federation from 2005 to 2007. She was the first woman ever to be elected president of this non-profit organization and worked to promote oral health within the World Health Organization and worldwide.
Pediatric dentistry is the branch of dentistry dealing with children from birth through adolescence. The specialty of pediatric dentistry is recognized by the American Dental Association, Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.
Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi is a Pakistani politician who is serving as the 13th president of Pakistan, in office since 9 September 2018. He was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2013 to May 2018 and again from August to September 2018. Alvi was a dentist before entering politics in 1979, when he joined Jamaat-e-Islami (Pakistan) but he later on resigned from the party and then joined famed cricketer Imran Khan's party in 1996 and is amongst the founding members of PTI.
The International College of Dentists was conceived in 1920 at a farewell party in Tokyo for Dr. Louis Ottofy when he was returning home to the United States after practicing dentistry in the Philippines and Japan for 23 years. A colleague, Dr. Tsurukichi Okumura, a Japanese dentist, also urged Dr. Ottofy to form an international organization.
Chiann Fan Gibson is an American dentist and beauty queen who has held the titles of Mrs. United States 2005, Miss Hawaiian Tropic World Finalist 1997, American Dream Calendar Girl 1995, Miss Washington USA 1989 and Washington's Jr. Miss 1986. Chiann Fan was born in Tokyo, Japan but is 100% Taiwanese in descent. She was naturalized in 1986 as a US citizen in TX. Dr. Chiann Fan Gibson was chosen to compete to compete on ABC-TV modeling show, “Are You Hot?” 2003. Prize monies and scholarships Gibson won through pageantry helped pay for her childhood psychology degree from the University of Washington (1991) and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston Massachusetts, where she obtained her doctorate of Dental Medicine in 1995. She serves as President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
The Ordre des dentistes du Québec (ODQ) represents all Quebec dentists, both generalists and specialists. It is headquartered in Montreal.
There is a long history of women in dentistry in the United States.
There is a long history of women in dentistry. Women are depicted as assistant dentists in the middle ages. Prior to the 19th century, dentistry was largely not yet a clearly defined and regulated profession with formal educational requirements. Individual female dentists are known from the 18th century. When the profession was regulated in the 19th century, it took a while before women achieved the formal education and permission to engage in dentistry.
Ducoin v. Viamonte was a 2009 legal decision in Florida that addressed the issue of whether or not a dentist has a right to announce credentials that are not recognized or approved by the American Dental Association.
Mahesh Verma is an Indian prosthodontist and the former Director and Principal of Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences. Currently, he is the Vice Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The Government of India awarded him, in 2014, with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contributions to the fields of medicine,
Andrew FrangellaDDS, FICOI, FAGD, is a US-based general dentist that specializes in cosmetic dentistry and Oral Implantology. He is known for engaging multidisciplinary approach in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Andrew is listed in the Long Island Pulse Magazine as one of America’s Top Dentists. He is also named as one of the Top 10 Dentists in Social Media.
Xi Psi Phi International Dental Fraternity (ΞΨΦ) is an international professional fraternity for dentistry. It was founded on February 8, 1889. Xi Psi Phi was the second professional dental fraternity to be formed, following Delta Sigma Delta (1882) and pre-dating Psi Omega (1892) and Alpha Omega (1907).
Jessica Y. Lee is an American dentist. She is the Demeritt Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in the Adams School of Dentistry at the UNC School of Dentistry. In 2019, Lee was elected president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She also explores treatments for pediatric patients who have lost teeth through trauma and for patients with permanent teeth.
Richard Glenn Shaffer was a rear admiral in the United States Navy and served as the 28th Chief of the United States Navy Dental Corps. He was the first Navy dentist to command a major military medical command.
