Are dentists doctors

DATBooster | The Ultimate DAT Resource
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
UIC

UIC

New Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2009
Messages
86
Reaction score
0
What do you guys think?
Members don't see this ad.
 
what do you call your dentist? mr x? no you refer to him as dr. x.
Dentists are doctors who specialize in the oral cavity from diagnosis,treatment, and prevention.
 
Yeah, dentists are doctors. Just like vets, optomotrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, etc. But colloquially, when someone says "I'm going to the doctor" they mean their physician - an MD or DO. Otherwise they'd say "I'm going to the dentist".
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Mackchops said:
Yeah, dentists are doctors. Just like vets, optomotrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, etc. But colloquially, when someone says "I'm going to the doctor" they mean their physician - an MD or DO. Otherwise they'd say "I'm going to the dentist".
Click to expand...
I agree with this
 
If you look at a dentist's work and courses it is pretty clear that they are doctors. I bet if dentistry was created as a new discipline today you would go to med school for 4 years then apply for a dental residency for two to three years and then go on to specialize after that. All in all I'm glad that they evolved as two different fields where dentists get to go straight into their specialty training instead of going through a general medical path first.
 
I heard an interesting story during our introduction to dentistry class last week. Supposedly, when the first organized Dental Program (I think in Boston or something) was being formed, they wanted to have it in the Med school building, but the dean of the med school said that they didn't have any space, and to go down the road to this other building. And thusly dental has always been separated from medicine, and possibly if it wasn't for that overly full med school, dentistry would be taught as a medical specialty. Could you imagine the shortage of dentists?
 
even lawyers are technically 'doctors', just jurisprudence doctors. you only address them by their designation as warranted.

it's such a pissing contest these days. if you were to post this in the pre-med (MD) forums, they'd probably say otherwise. 😀
 
No. We just pretend to be "doctors" M-F from 9-5.
 
Last edited:
I am going to Med school for the first 2 years and then will spend my last 2 years doing clinical rotations in oral health department. Thus I am both. LOL
 
sajjy said:
I am going to Med school for the first 2 years and then will spend my last 2 years doing clinical rotations in oral health department. Thus I am both. LOL
Click to expand...

rofl. nice.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I just finished my first week of dental school and let me tell you, that was the most Fing hardest week of my life. If and when I get my DDS after slaving night and day for 4+ years, I'll body slam anyone who tells me I'm not a Doctor.
 
Surprised no one mentioned "The Hangover" yet.🙂
 
ReallyCuteGirl said:
I just finished my first week of dental school and let me tell you, that was the most Fing hardest week of my life. If and when I get my DDS after slaving night and day for 4+ years, I'll body slam anyone who tells me I'm not a Doctor.
Click to expand...

👍 Amen sister
 
ReallyCuteGirl said:
I just finished my first week of dental school and let me tell you, that was the most Fing hardest week of my life. If and when I get my DDS after slaving night and day for 4+ years, I'll body slam anyone who tells me I'm not a Doctor.
Click to expand...
lmao You better body slam them! You didnt work your butt off for Ms.! 😀
 
sajjy said:
I am going to Med school for the first 2 years and then will spend my last 2 years doing clinical rotations in oral health department. Thus I am both. LOL
Click to expand...

you should get a phd too just in case
 
Well, this is the student doctor net forum.
 
What do you call your college professors with the last name Smith? Mr. Smith? or Doctor Smith?

He's still referred to as a "doctor" even though he may teach language arts.
 
sajjy said:
I am going to Med school for the first 2 years and then will spend my last 2 years doing clinical rotations in oral health department. Thus I am both. LOL
Click to expand...

It's a shame that you'll only be missing a few years that'll give you an actual MD. It's these 2 years that you actually learn what to do with the basic sciences they teach you. It's these two years that you truly learn human medicine, how to diagnose and treat human diseases. Everything that came before are just pre-reqs that make no sense by themselves.

Of course, I'm not suggesting having basic medical knowledge is bad. I'm am saying, however, that you have to know who you are and your limits. No dental student in this country has nearly sufficient training to make him a medical doctor, and that student should refrain from giving any advice outside of his true training.
 
Last edited:
ReallyCuteGirl said:
I just finished my first week of dental school and let me tell you, that was the most Fing hardest week of my life. If and when I get my DDS after slaving night and day for 4+ years, I'll body slam anyone who tells me I'm not a Doctor.
Click to expand...

LOL. i can totally imagine this.. "excuse me Ms.X ..." :uhno: --> :annoyed: --> :diebanana:"That's Dr.X to you mister!"
 
Last edited:
dentstd said:
It's a shame that you'll only be missing a few years that'll give you an actual MD. It's these 2 years that you actually learn what to do with the basic sciences they teach you. It's these two years that you truly learn human medicine, how to diagnose and treat human diseases. Everything that came before are just pre-reqs that make no sense by themselves.

Of course, I'm not suggesting having basic medical knowledge is bad. I'm am saying, however, that you have to know who you are and your limits. No dental student in this country has nearly sufficient training to make him a medical doctor, and that student should refrain from giving any advice outside of his true training.
Click to expand...

Dude, i cannot figure out if you are being sarcastic or serious? My post was on the lighter side and was merely a pun. I guess you took it wayyy too seriously!!

Btw aren't you the one with that weird Cereal in the bag analogy??
 
Damn yes dentists are doctors.
 
Of course dentists are doctors. Think for a minute about what the 'D' in DMD/DDS stands for. 😛
 
Haha. I was expecting a response like that. 😛
 
Only idiots think of themselves as doctors when they have no medical training. I'll tell you what the first D in DDS stands for...*******es of dental surgery.
 
The only one in this thread that has any right to even contemplate this ridiculous question is doc toothache. Everyone else should stop wasting your time, and mine, and get back to trying to become a dentist. You and I are not even one yet.

People who call themselves doctors before they even have a degree are ignorant and naive. This thread is pretty similar in that regard.

Peace out.
 
JustBePM said:
The only one in this thread that has any right to even contemplate this ridiculous question is doc toothache. Everyone else should stop wasting your time, and mine, and get back to trying to become a dentist. You and I are not even one yet.

People who call themselves doctors before they even have a degree are ignorant and naive. This thread is pretty similar in that regard.

Peace out.
Click to expand...

And where exactly do I state that Im a doctor?
 
dentstd said:
Only idiots think of themselves as doctors when they have no medical training. I'll tell you what the first D in DDS stands for...*******es of dental surgery.
Click to expand...

Dude have some self respect. The dental procedures seem pretty medical to me.
 
My favorite way to answer this: If you're on an airplane, a person suddenly faints, and someone yells, "is there a doctor on the plane?", do you raise your hand?
 
peterngu said:
My favorite way to answer this: If you're on an airplane, a person suddenly faints, and someone yells, "is there a doctor on the plane?", do you raise your hand?
Click to expand...

Cuz she fainted? You lay her down. Elevate her legs, if needed to increase blood flow to the head. I learned this in high school.

I'll repeat for all those who fancy themselves a doctor. Nothing in dental school comes remotely close to diagnosing and treating diseases, skills required to be a physician. Knowing basic biomedical sciences doesn't make one a doctor.
 
dentstd said:
Nothing in dental school comes remotely close to diagnosing and treating diseases, skills required to be a physician.
Click to expand...

True. But we're talking about the term "doctor" and not "physician".

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctor

  • Main Entry: doc·tor
  • Pronunciation: \ˈdäk-tər\
  • Function: noun
  • Etymology: Middle English doctour teacher, doctor, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin doctor, from Latin, teacher, from docēre to teach — more at docile
  • Date: 14th century
1 a : an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church —called also doctor of the church b : a learned or authoritative teacher c : a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a PhD) conferred by a university d : a person awarded an honorary doctorate (as an LLD or Litt D) by a college or university
2 a : a person skilled or specializing in healing arts; especially : one (as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice b : medicine man
 
Last edited:
Dentists are clearly doctors, as are podiatrists, audiologists, physicians, or anyone else who has graduated from a Doctorate program. Anyone who disagrees simply doesn't understand the definition of the term, which Tinman so kindly provided. 🙂
 
ReallyCuteGirl said:
Dude have some self respect. The dental procedures seem pretty medical to me.
Click to expand...

👍👍

dentstd said:
Cuz she fainted? You lay her down. Elevate her legs, if needed to increase blood flow to the head. I learned this in high school.

I'll repeat for all those who fancy themselves a doctor. Nothing in dental school comes remotely close to diagnosing and treating diseases, skills required to be a physician. Knowing basic biomedical sciences doesn't make one a doctor.
Click to expand...

Also, I would like to add that just a degree does not give one a status of doctor/dentist/physician. ahem ahem😉
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mr.Smile12
San Antonio dentist: a debt repayment story
Replies
5
Views
926
askadds
A
R
are my stats competitive enough or should I go for masters?
Replies
17
Views
657
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
S
What are my chances
Replies
1
Views
198
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
T
Can private dentists have good work-life balance?
Replies
7
Views
3K
Pablo Sanchez
Pablo Sanchez
M
  • Question Question
Gifts for Dentists after acceptance
Replies
2
Views
2K
Lemillion
Lemillion
Top