Dentist

Dentists are health care professionals that assess, diagnose, treat and prevent disease, disorder and dysfunction of the mouth and face. Dentists use various surgical and non-surgical dental tools and techniques and have extensive knowledge of mouth and face structure, function and appearance. They use these skills and knowledge to design and implement treatment plans allowing people to regain normal oral health. 

Some conditions treated by dentists include: 

Dentists provide services in a variety of different settings throughout healthcare, including private dentistry clinics and dental hospitals. Some of these services provided by dentists include:

• Assessing and diagnosing mouth and face problems.
• Treating and preventing mouth and face disorders, disease and dysfunctions using surgical and non-surgical dentistry techniques.
•  Prescribing, providing and applying medication
• Applying anesthetic 
• Prescribing, obtaining and reading x-rays.
• Fitting, installing and assessing dental devices (braces, mouth guards, caps and crowns, veneers, etc.)
• Professional teeth whitening
• Promote oral health and wellbeing by providing advice and public education on nutrition, lifestyle and dental tools and technology.

In Ontario, “Dentist” is a regulated profession subject to the Standards of Practice, Guidelines and Practice Advisories defined by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. For more information on regulatory colleges, view our What is a Regulatory College page.