Broad category to identify practitioners licensed by the State who render services related the practice of dentistry. The Practice of Dentistry means the diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or operation for a disease, pain, deformity, deficiency, injury or physical condition of the human tooth, teeth, alveolar process, gums or jaws, or their dependent tissues, or an offer, undertaking, attempt to do, or holding oneself out to do any other these acts.

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.