What is the role of specialties in dentistry?

Dental specialties have an important, positive role in improving education and practice, stimulating research and defining quality expectations in their areas of expertise. However, it is well-known that general dental practitioners accomplish a significant portion of the dental therapy that commonly is classified as being within the scope of the respective recognized specialty areas. In this column, I have made suggestions about methods for improving the interaction between specialists and generalists and a call for better acceptance by each group of the capabilities of the other.