Abstract: Dental mirrors are described that by virtue of their design and configuration are self-drying and have the capability of retracting the cheek away from the teeth being examined or worked on by the dentist, all with comfort for and safety to the patient. The mirrors have clips or the like to detachably secure an absorbent roll thereon. The absorbent roll, such as a cotton roll commonly used in the practice of dentistry for absorbing fluids from various regions of the mouth, is preferably positioned and secured in a substantially tangential position relative to a circular or elliptically-shaped mirror. This tangential position in turn may be varied relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate handle of the dental mirror, since the mirrors can be used for viewing and absorbing fluids from any region of the mouth.