For a dentist, the most important job is to “make a patient feel safe and provide the best care possible” (Fasbinder) There are many other factors in this work. It is imperative that a dentist assess any situation, think critically, use good judgment, listen to their patient, and lead their team quickly and effectively. A dentist must above all take care of the patient. Dentists must diagnose, prevent and treat problems with teeth and oral tissues. When two dentists were asked about their decision to enter the medical field, one said, “Dentistry has been in my family for many generations. My father was a dentist, his father was a dentist and now I can proudly say that I am a dentist. dentist, above all I like to help and educate the general public. (Fasbinder) The other replied: "Of all the branches of medicine I could have entered, I chose dentistry for one reason: patients, I enjoy coming into my office daily and seeing new and former patients. I feel an immense sense of pride knowing that when they smile, I have helped improve their features” (Jarrod). Decay and diseases involving teeth and gums have existed since the beginning of humanity. Archaeologists have discovered skulls of the Cro-Magnon people showing signs of severe tooth decay. The earliest writing concerning dental disease was an ancient Sumerian text dating back to 5000 BC accusing "tooth worms" of burrowing into teeth, forming the holes characteristic of tooth decay as we know it today. hui (Hayes). The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians used various toothache remedies, as well as tooth extraction. In the Middle Ages, dentistry was practiced by craftsmen, jewelers and barbers (Wil...... middle of paper ......Bonnie, Kendal. Opportunities in Dental Careers. Mc Graw Hill, 2006. Print (Bonnie) “Dentist,” Princeton Review, February 23, 2011. “Dentists – What They Do.” North Carolina Dentists?,” February 23, 2011. Wilwerding, Terry. World Book Advanced. World Book, 2011. Web. February 23, 2011 Winchnitzer, Saul and Edith Winchnitzer. Top 100 Healthcare Careers . Indianapolis: JIST Works, 2005. Print. )