The responsibilities of a dentist are varied. Not only does a dentist owe duties to his or her patient, but to his or her profession and the public generally as well.

The primary thing a dentist does is provide oral care to his patients. This care includes providing preventative care in the form of patient education on tooth, gum, and mouth care. While a dentist typically does not conduct the routine cleanings that their patients receive — that is a job typically reserved for the dental hygienist — a dentist is responsible for examining the teeth, gums and mouth as well as a performing a variety of dental procedures including, but certainly not limited to, tooth extractions and fillings. Dentists who specialize in oral surgery or cosmetic dental care, can perform additional services for their patients, and along with that comes even more responsibility to ensure proper care for their patients. Dentists are often also responsible for properly training and supervising his or her staff as well.

The responsibilities of a dentist extends to the dental profession. In the United States, this is outlined by American Dental Association's Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct. This code primarily works to guide dentists to uphold a certain level of trust, accuracy, authority, and responsibility to their patients. Additionally, like medical doctors (MDs), dentists are required to comply with continuing education requirements imposed by their state.

Related to professional responsibilities are the responsibilities of a dentist that pertain to the public as a health care provider. This responsibility is broader in reach than the responsibility to individual patients, as public attitudes toward dental care can hugely affect the quality of an individual's oral care. One such responsibility is to provide dental care to all possible members of the public. Ideally, this would include providing dental care to individuals who cannot afford it, but unfortunately this does not always happen due to the expense of dental insurance.