This text presents a genealogy of dentistry. It is about relations between dental power and dental knowledge. Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault, the central concept on which the book is based is that of disciplinary power and the associated notions of surveillance, monitoring and normalization. The routine practices of the profession of dentistry provide a tangible example of these ideas. Furthermore, it is aruged that "prevention" forms the conceptual and practical base of dentistry and as such it has much in common with public health. The book should be of interest to medical sociologists, health educators, historians and dentists.