can dentists use fake names?

[logistical99]

Guys, I have a question. If you are a dentist running your own private clinic, you are essentially running your personal business where impressions and the marketability of your skills count.

One of the first impressions you'll ever be making to prospective clients would be your name. ( yes, as trivial as they seem, names sometimes play a role in an employee's promotion at a corporation and I can't see how names won't have an effect when you are competing against other dentists for patients )

Is it possible for one to practice dentistry using a made-up name just so that he can "sound" a lot better and feel more confident and can keep his ethnicity anonymous? ( like the way some novelists use pseudonyms instead of their real names )

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[tinker bell]

Your name has to go nsync with what is put down on the license. I guess that the most logic guess I can make here

 

[logistical99]

but you could always change the name on the license, can't you
?

 

[SloppyJoe]

Why would you want to hide your ethnicity! Once the patients see you, they will probably know. It would be just like false advertisement.

 

[Pablo]

i agree with sloppyjoe, why would one ever change their name..... celebrities might change their names, but as a dentist i think one should be proud of who he or she is..... one may change their name for many reasons depending on the circumstances.... i would say some people change their names like wwf wrestlers to get more attention which may earn them more money...... but really, where is the integrity which makes a great dentist....i think this comes to a moral issue, maybe a practicing dentist really screwed up somewhere like in a different state or country.....you can say he or she did some unethical work, like doing shady work (one too many cavities or a root canal that is not necessary) on his patients and ripping them off.... somehow the whole community knows about this and the dentist has ruined his or her career and definitely the name..... maybe the dentist should be given a second chance and change his name and go somewhere far to practice.... i personally think that a great dentist shouldn't have to create a novelist name to sound like a master surgeon....because if the dentist is good he or she will make just an ordinary name extraordinary.......

 

[FMLizard]

Max Payne, DDS

Heck of a PC game too...PS2 version sucked.

Seriously, what ethnicity is that bad that you would change your name? It's not like its 1955 and your name is Vladimir and you have been blacklisted by your whole community. There isn't one ethnicity (with the possible slight exception of a middle-eastern one in this current political climate) that would generate any animosity from most patients.

 

[DesiDentist]

I'm gonna change my name to:

Say-Ah Vaeed, D.M.D.



I've seen people on these boards worry about the weirdest things. Calm down, and be confident. I don't got a common name, and I'm so proud of it. At least I'm no John Doe, D.M.D. It's a beautiful thing to be unique. Stop worrying about it.

DesiDentist

 

[logistical99]

Look, I'm not trying to see if a dentist with misleading intentions can use a made-up name when practicing. I'm not interested in seeing if a dentist who wants to scam patients or cover up for a damaged reputation can use a false name.

I just wanted to know if the dentist can use a made-up name just so that he can feel more confident and comfortable as a person selling his dental skills. ( like the way a salewoman with bigger breasts would feel more confident dealing with potential buyers )
The made-up name doesn't have to be a common name. Also, the made-up name isn't intended to cover up one's skin color because the patient will eventually find out what his skin color is. But it can cover up the person's ethnicity and, if done properly, the dentist's potential patient pool is no longer limited to those of a particular ethnicity.

Dentistry isn't all about purely how you treat the patient. That's not enough to get your foot in the door in having a successful practice because ANY dentist can fix up your teeth problems. It all starts when nearby patients start comparing you with competing dentists and, yes, I think names do play a small role in their decisions.

I admit that I haven't been to a dentist enough to attest this ( I've been to one only 3 times in my entire life and this was all done before I was 12 yrs old ) but I have been to doctors several times. When choosing a doctor, since I didn't really know any one of them, I couldn't make a judgement on their skills.

Now, I haven't done this consciously but I know I reached my decision in part with the doctor's name and his/her appearance. A dentist is more of a saleperson than a doctor is, and so these two factors are even more important in attracting patients and increasing the dentist's confidence.

Seriously, I think all amateur dentists planning on setting up a clinic should consider changing their names and/or getting plastic surgery in an effort to market themselves better.

 

[dragonfly9]

OK, lets try this one out. I'm female. I think that people who would discriminate based on race would be just as likely to discriminate based on sex. Do you think I should use a man's name when I start seeing patients?

 

[PashaJ]

I think if you're attractive looking you don't need to change your name, people will want to learn your name. Get plastic surgery done if you want to attract patients, beauty is universally accepted.

 

[groundhog]

Logi reminds me of an apprentice we had on our crew a number of years ago. The guy was a "sea lawyer." Instead of spending his time learning the trade he gave maximum effort to studying company personnel regulations looking for escape hatches in case he ever got in trouble. He was a smart kid, but was eventually fired because he failed to meet the competence standards required of an apprentice. We told him over and over again to spend his time learning the job rather than the personnel manual. You can lead a mule to water..etc.. etc.. etc.

 

[DATMATT]

Dentists are usually regarded as trusted service providers. If you changed your name and word got out I would imagine it could do some damage (more so in small communities than in big cities such as NYC). I cna see that it could make some difference put I too am proud of my name. I think even John Doe shoulkd be proud of his name, I agree that it is not a unique name, but the individual makes the name, the name does not make the individual (OK, aside from Kennedy & Rockafeller)

DATmatt

 

[booshwa]

I don't no the logistics of this matter, but as far as whether you should I think there is nothing wrong with it.

I read an interesting article about Osama's niece (I apologize if every detail isn't correct). She was born in NYC and lives in Britain, and is very much anti-everything her uncle stands for. She supposedly has a great voice, and is attractive and a lot of people think she could be successful if her name wasn't Bin Laden.

Changing your name doesn't imply not being proud of your culture, family (well maybe for the previous case it might) or for any other reason. You are running a business and if you're name doesn't sound appealing, there are plenty of other dentists for people to visit. Who would you rather visit: Dr. Love or Dr. Payne? People aren't necessarilly the most rational, so such a small detail can greatly sway what an initial impression is.

Just my two cents..

 

[Pablo]

it depends, i understand that a big part of dentistry is business.... but one has to be careful not to get too carried away.... of course if you are a good business person they would probably be pretty successful..... for instance, osama's niece, born in nyc lives in britian has a lovely voice but is not successful because of her name bid ladin.... i agree, to the media that doesn't sound good, but in her case if she were to change her name and later people found out that she is bid ladins neice it could ruin her future, unless she is darn good and can change the way people perceive her.....
dentistry is a health service to the people, and i understand in the business aspect a good name can attract people like dr. love or dr. payne.... but really, if you were to hire a dental hygenist for work, would you just hire them just because of their name, or for their great looks but is a ditz, certainly not (well maybe some people would).... you would interview, check their resume etc.....
when your life or health depends on this, i think its more on the reputation and success this dentist has, that makes the determining factor whether or not I will go to him......

 

[logistical99]

The use of made-up names is not intended to drastically help a dentist become successful overnight.

The point of the fake name is help a dentist feel more confident and think positively about himself. Yes, this won't make a difference directly but a more comfortable and confident dentist can go farther in the long run.

Some of you just won't get it but a dentist could also be setting up a clinic in an area where he has enemies. Given that dentistry is a word-of-mouth business, his enemies could surely ruin his reputation. In a case like this, a dentist could benefit highly by making his identity more discrete and anonymous, leaving his focus solely on the quality of his dental work.

Anyway, it's not illegal for a dentist to use fake names, right? And if it is illegal, how likely is it that patients and law authorities will, or will want to, find out? We're assuming the dentist is a person of moral trust and good intent.

 

[Supernumerary]

Seriously, I think all amateur dentists planning on setting up a clinic should consider changing their names and/or getting plastic surgery in an effort to market themselves better.

amateur dentists

 

[hockeydentist]

I have a interesting last name. lets just say it has to do with the seven deadly sins. ITs acTUALLY ONE OF THEM. I AM GOING TO KEEP MY NAME AND THATS WHAT ITS GOING TO SAY ON MY LICENSE BUT AS FAR AS NAMING MY PRACTICE AFTER MY LAST NAME, I THINK I WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER.


THANKS AGAIN

 

[BingDent]

Well, I think there's nothing wrong with changing your name, if that helps you attract more patients.
For anyone who's serious about this, the best time to change it is before or during your enrollment in dental school and have it done legally, so that you'll have your new name in your licensure certificate.
😉

 

[Westside22]

using a "fake" name sounds a bit extreme, and illegal too, right?

But changing a person's name legally is very common from what I have seen and heard, it's part of the "Americanization" process for some families that came to the US and they want to "streamline" their lives into the American culture, or they want to change their kid's names as not to face discrimination, etc.

My roomate from college, his family came from Russia over 100 years ago and they changed their last name right away, another roomate from Columbia, his parents also changed the family name as a part of the "americanization" process, and I still see that happens these days. So this happens and will continue to happen I think. I personally don't see anything wrong with this if this makes these folks more happy and make them feel safe for whatever personal reasons they might have.


As for dentists, well, I do know some dentists that were not borned in the US, and they change their first name to a common American first name as to appear more "Americanized" and limit the chances of some patients who discriminate or are prejudiced against someone "non-Americanized";

and the whole point is just to get the patients into the offce, and judge the skills of the doctor and the clinic before even making a decision based on the name, trust me this happens more often than some of us would know, we do live in a cynical and cruel cruel world, folks, ... any ways i tend to ramble, sorry...

 

[logistical99]

Ok, so suppose I graduated from dental school and received a dental license all under my real name.

Now, when I hang a shingle outside my clinic, can I just use a made-up name? Will anyone try to figure out if that is my real name? Does anyone know?

Quite frankly, as long as I am a hard working dentist with a good moral character, I do not think that it is anyone's business as to what name I am working under as long as I am not ripping anyone off or have committed a crime. In fact, I think patients nowadays are too busy with their own affairs that they wouldn't think about verifying their dentist's identity.

Being "Americanized" isn't my sole intention for the name change ( though it might help a little ). Maybe it's just the person I am but I enjoy living and working discreetly and anonymously.

 

[BingDent]

Now, when I hang a shingle outside my clinic, can I just use a made-up name? Will anyone try to figure out if that is my real name? Does anyone know?

If patients comes into your office and see a different name in your licensure certificate than what's posted on your shingle, they're gonna ask questions.
I think most ppl will want to look at some certificate when they come in to a dentist's office just to prove he/she is licensed.

 

[logistical99]

I agree that most patients would look at the certificates and diplomas but I doubt any of them would take the trouble of actually reading them.

Anyhow, dentists won't get arrested or anything for using made-up names, right?

Does anyone here know where I can find out about this?

 

[Westside22]

oye yaaaaa


why do i keep replying to this thread,

if you are SERIOUS about using a fake name, why not have it legally change to something of your liking?

YOU CAN GET ARRESTED and go to JAIL for fraud if you use a fake name other than your own with the intent of avoiding responsibility...

anyways, my last words,


look up LAWS for fraud 😡

 

[DMX9911]

K, reading this post, much like the others on this forum... however, TO LOGISTICAL.....I'm wodering if you are creating posts which are meant to illicit strong emotions or are you truly insecure.

Cases in point---->
1) Regarding your post to not wanting to have a meidcal examine due to your physical appearance?

2) Changing your name due to some inexplicable notion you will be persecuted against.

3) Questions about "Why to be a Dentist?"

4) "Possible employment following Dental School?"

5) "Forfeit my acceptance to Dental School?"

Youare the one individual whom has captured my attention with his/her insecurities with becoming a Dentist. If you actually have these many questions as to why become a dentist or you are truly insecure about you appearance/name/reasons...rethink your concepts before accepting any acceptances you have...there are many individuals who would love to have your acceptances and I'm sure they would apprecitate it much more than your indecisivness towards the profession.

 

[mightymolar]

Originally posted by logistical99
I agree that most patients would look at the certificates and diplomas but I doubt any of them would take the trouble of actually reading them.

Anyhow, dentists won't get arrested or anything for using made-up names, right?

Does anyone here know where I can find out about this?

Most patients WILL take time to read whatever is printed on the diploma and that includes your full name.

Dentists won't get arrested for using "made-up" names but they will get censured and struck off the dental register (in the worst scenario) for misleading and confusing the patients.

Most common sense would dictate for most people that you would use your legal name as your dentally registered name. If you decide to use your pseudonym e.g. John Doe DDS instead your legal name Blah-blah Blah DDS, then you would be definately breaking the laws of dental registration. (Hiding something?) Go figure it out with your State dental board. It's similar to adding some initials after your name apart from dental degree that you are not supposed to because they are not recognized.

If you don't want to use your ethnically-sounding name because you fear that some patients would be "ethnically" unfriendly, then pick a first name and go on a first name basis with your patients. Just say "My name is so and so... and that's my registration name. But you can call me Bob!" If they ask why you want to be called "Bob" then reply, "Well, all of my friends call me Bob!"

 

[PashaJ]

DMX,
I've been thinking the EXACT same thing.

Logarithm,
Good luck wherever you go.

 

[agutier3]

LOL This is a new one.....

logistical-

It seriously sounds like you are overly concerned about overblown issues that you have not adequately researched.

If you can't accept what is being told to you here in the pre-dental boards, then the best advice I can give, is to talk to some practicing dentists and get their opinion about dental related issues. For those concerns regarding dental school....then talk to dental students.

"Before you can swim, you first have to get your feet wet." Meaning, that maybe you will be able to get the answers that you seek by first experiencing what dental school is all about. If by then you still have questions, then that would be the time to ask specifics. I just think that you have too many questions that no possible answer we can give would be sufficient.

As a sidenote, I would hope that you've really given it some thought before you venture into the dental profession. Because as you will soon find out, it's no cakewalk.

Please don't misunderstand, this post is by no means meant to put down your questions, but it just seems to me that you have more reservations/concerns than confidence/excitement about dentistry and your future.

If that is the case, then maybe you should stop to think if this is really your cup of tea. By the way, were you the one considering the MD route to be a surgeon? Have you given that more consideration?

In any case, it's your perogative to post what you will....but know that many find your questions to be at the very least, suspicious.

Oh, and with the name thing. If you are unhappy with how your name might be perceived by patients, then you should have it changed legally NOW, so that there will not be any possible law violations (regarding fraud and the like) LATER when you get into practice.