The main focus of dentistry’s official emblem is the staff of Asclepius, a serpent twined around a rod, representing healing and rejuvenation. This is often confused with the caduceus, a winged baton with two twined serpents, representing the messenger god Mercury. The American Dental Association (ADA) adopted the emblem as the official symbol of dentistry in 1965.
The emblem comprises elements from Greek mythology. There are 32 leaves for 32 permanent teeth and 20 berries for 20 primary teeth. The triangle is the Greek letter delta, referring to dentistry. The circle, omicron, represents odont, the Greek word for tooth.
Dentists are doctors. Teeth are used for catching and masticating food, defense, and specialized purposes. The color purple was selected for dentistry in 1897. Symbols represent more than appears.