Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "likitan haƙori" shine mutumin da ya cancanta don magance cututtuka da yanayin da ke damun hakora da ƙugiya, kuma ya ƙware a kan rigakafi, ganowa, da magance matsalolin hakori. An horar da likitocin hakora don samar da ayyuka iri-iri da suka haɗa da dubawa na yau da kullun, tsaftacewa da ƙwanƙwasa haƙora, cikawa, tushen tushen, cirewar hakori, daɗa kayan aikin haƙori kamar takalmin gyaran kafa da haƙora. Suna kuma ilimantar da marasa lafiya kan ingantattun hanyoyin tsaftar baki don taimakawa wajen kula da lafiyar hakora da hakora.