odontology

Odontology is the scientific study of the teeth and related structures. It encompasses the development, morphology, physiology, pathology, and radiology of dental tissues, as well as the materials and methods used to diagnose and treat dental conditions. As a discipline, it integrates basic biology, epidemiology, and clinical science to advance understanding of tooth formation, growth, decay, and repair, as well as the interactions between teeth and surrounding structures.

The term is sometimes used to describe the science behind dentistry; in other contexts odontology is distinguished from dentistry by its emphasis on research and theory rather than clinical practice. In practice, dental clinicians—such as dentists, dental surgeons, and specialists—apply odontological knowledge in patient care, while researchers in the field study tooth development, pathology, and dental materials.

Subfields include forensic odontology, which applies dental evidence to legal investigations such as human identification and bite-mark analysis; dental anthropology, which studies tooth morphology and variation across populations; and various scientific areas related to caries, endodontics, periodontics, and radiology, as well as materials science and bioengineering related to dental tissues.

Historically, systematic study of teeth expanded with modern dental schools and professional organizations in the 18th–19th centuries, and continues through contemporary research in imaging, biomaterials, and translational dentofacial science. Odontology thus provides both foundational knowledge about teeth and applied insights for clinical care, forensic science, and public health.