A serpent, which can be seen on the official emblem of dentistry, was the symbol of health in Greek mythology. Each detail of the emblem also has its symbolic meaning connected with the history of this branch of medicine.
The current Dental logo was introduced by The American Dental Association in 1965.
In the center, there is the rod of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine. It is entwined by a serpent, the creature often used by Ancient Greeks in healing rituals. Serpents were also mentioned as the symbol of health in the Old Testament.
There are 32 leaves and 20 berries at the background, which symbolize the permanent and primary teeth respectively.
The design is placed inside two frames. One of them, the triangle, is actually the Greek letter Delta, the symbol of dentistry. The circle frame represents another Greek letter, Omicron. It is the initial of the word “Odont”, which is the Greek word for “tooth”.
The sans serif all-cap type used for the word “Dentistry” written at the bottom of the ring looks traditional and perfectly legible.
The lilac color that serves as the background is the official color of dentistry. It can be seen on the outfits of dental graduates. Interestingly, National Association of Dental Faculties made lilac part of its emblem in 1897. The snakes and the berries are white, the triangle is grey, while the rod of Asclepius and the circle frame are gold.