A dentist is a person qualified by a doctorate in dental surgery (D.D. S.) or dental medicine (D.M.D.). licensed by the state to practice dentistry, and practicing within the scope of that license. Many dentists are general practitioners who handle a wide variety of dental needs. Other dentists practice in one of eight specialty areas recognized by the American Dental Association: oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, public health, oral pathology and pediatric dentistry.