Why MD's and DO's do not consider Dentists as doctors???

[T for Teeth]

Why do MDs/DOs does not consider dentists as doctors? As well as general public also does not consider dentists as doctors. Every time some one asks me what i want to do, i reply with "i want to be a dentist" and they say "ohhh so you will not be a doctor, you will be a dentist" and i say "a dentist is a doctor, but a doctor of dental medicine." Anyways, it just makes me mad that dental students go to school for 4 years and some do residencies just like MDs/DOs and people still do not consider them doctors.

On another hand, its only 11 days left until D-day 🙂

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[Dusk]

does the title of "doctor" matter that much? really I could care less if people don't consider me a doctor.

 

[timwatley]

I could care less too. Dentists are though.

 

[Sakab]

It's because the word "doctor" generally refers to physicians in both public and hospital settings. Are dentists doctors? Of course. But I highly doubt that the general public and MDs/DOs don't "consider" dentists as doctors.

 

[Doc Smile]

Why do MDs/DOs does not consider dentists as doctors? As well as general public also does not consider dentists as doctors. Every time some one asks me what i want to do, i reply with "i want to be a dentist" and they say "ohhh so you will not be a doctor, you will be a dentist" and i say "a dentist is a doctor, but a doctor of dental medicine." Anyways, it just makes me mad that dental students go to school for 4 years and some do residencies just like MDs/DOs and people still do not consider them doctors.

On another hand, its only 11 days left until D-day 🙂

Because SOOOOOOOOOOO many doctors are forced into medicine by their family/culture with the expectation of extreme prestige associated with the m.d. Anything that means to degrade the elite status of the title doctor, is a threat to their idea of how prestigious medicine is.

Just remember how much smarter it is to go into dentistry financially, family-wise, and pt-relationship wise.

Also, people don't really think of college professors as doctors even though they have a PhD. In our culture, Doctor is synonymous with Physician. Doctor is derived from the latin word Doctoris, meaning to teach. Therefore, anyone who teaches is really a doctor 😉 But it is true, Dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, etc are all doctors because they hold a professional degree in medicine while our physician counterparts hold THE professional degree in medicine.

They can have the prestige that comes with the degree and the long hours, the call, the 100 hours a week, the low pay (especially during intern and residency years), the death. I will spend time with my family and get made fun of for not being a real doctor 😀

 

[DentalGunner]

Why do MDs/DOs does not consider dentists as doctors? As well as general public also does not consider dentists as doctors. Every time some one asks me what i want to do, i reply with "i want to be a dentist" and they say "ohhh so you will not be a doctor, you will be a dentist" and i say "a dentist is a doctor, but a doctor of dental medicine." Anyways, it just makes me mad that dental students go to school for 4 years and some do residencies just like MDs/DOs and people still do not consider them doctors.

On another hand, its only 11 days left until D-day 🙂

I really think it's messed up that you value what a non-Dentist thinks about you, let alone a DO. The whole MD vs. DDS stigma died out about 10 years ago when physicians started receiving crap pay and became an easier profession to get into.

It would be a lot easier for a lot of us to get into medicine than dentistry, since dentistry only really cares about is having a 4.0. Who cares - we like cleaning teeth, and they want to wipe lady parts and old man junk for years in residency, receive crappy pay, and be on call for the rest of their lives. No thanks.

 

[sacapuntas]

Out of curiosity, do you care if chiropractors call themselves doctors?

 

[DentalJedi]

Maybe it's just me but I think it might be better to not be thought of as a doctor. Physicians don't get the amount of respect from the public that they used to. People are upset about how expensive health care is getting and how much physicians make and they (incorrectly) blame MDs and DOs for it. Dentistry is a respected career, I'd rather be considered a dentist than lumped in the category of "doctor" at the cost of the public holding a grudge against me. Not to say that I don't respect physicians, I absolutely do, but I'm perfectly fine staying out of all that turmoil.

 

[Double Bonded]

Why do MDs/DOs does not consider dentists as doctors? As well as general public also does not consider dentists as doctors. Every time some one asks me what i want to do, i reply with "i want to be a dentist" and they say "ohhh so you will not be a doctor, you will be a dentist" and i say "a dentist is a doctor, but a doctor of dental medicine." Anyways, it just makes me mad that dental students go to school for 4 years and some do residencies just like MDs/DOs and people still do not consider them doctors.

On another hand, its only 11 days left until D-day 🙂

When around people not in healthcare, I refer to physicians as "doctors" because lay people consider them the same thing and DMD/DDS as "dentists" because that's what lay people associate with the person who fixes their teeth issues. So in laymans terms: yes, you won't be a doctor, but do you really want to live your life trying to appease the layperson?

PS I was just talking to an MD two days ago who told me that if he could go back and do it over again, he'd go to dental school or get his MBA because being a physician sucks these days.


...and back to studying

 

[Dusk]

Maybe it's just me but I think it might be better to not be thought of as a doctor. Physicians don't get the amount of respect from the public that they used to. People are upset about how expensive health care is getting and how much physicians make and they (incorrectly) blame MDs and DOs for it. Dentistry is a respected career, I'd rather be considered a dentist than lumped in the category of "doctor" at the cost of the public holding a grudge against me. Not to say that I don't respect physicians, I absolutely do, but I'm perfectly fine staying out of all that turmoil.

uhh. except that the general society thinks dentists are evil money grubbing freaks who will give a filling for no reason. it doesn't help when there is a porsche parked outside the office either🙄

 

[yappy]

Yeah, I would say people hold alot of disrespect for dentists - just like they do MD's.

But I wanted to point out that being a physican isn't exactly a bad career (depending what you do it can be more fiancially rewarding than DDS). I can think of a few physicians I know who enjoy what they do and get paid well (ER, ortho, and derm). There seems to be alot of cognitive dissonance reduction going on here. Just be happy about what you're doing instead of making up reasons to not go into medicine.

 

[dentalWorks]

Why do MDs/DOs does not consider dentists as doctors? As well as general public also does not consider dentists as doctors. Every time some one asks me what i want to do, i reply with "i want to be a dentist" and they say "ohhh so you will not be a doctor, you will be a dentist" and i say "a dentist is a doctor, but a doctor of dental medicine." Anyways, it just makes me mad that dental students go to school for 4 years and some do residencies just like MDs/DOs and people still do not consider them doctors.

On another hand, its only 11 days left until D-day 🙂

I gotta be fair with my answer....

From a social stand point, do you REALLY wanna be called "doctor"? Say you are in a fruit market, someone passes out for whatever reason, people are going to look at you and say "DOCTOR!! HELP HIM".... its gonna look gawd awful when the only thing your going to do is CPR (if you still remember how)

Also, doctor is always understood as a physician (NOT oral physician). We are oral physicians, we take care of the oral cavity ~ and okay fine, there are some systemic complications that care arise from the mouth but still.... your not a physician.

Physicians are trained WAYYYYY more than us, if anyone deserves the "doctor" label, its them. You wanna be an ACTUAL doctor? Go to med school.

The only time I'll expect people to refer to me as "Dr. [name]" is when I am in my clinic... Any other place, I am Mr. [name] or just my first name.

 

[Kahr]

The only time I'll expect people to refer to me as "Dr. [name]" is when I am in my clinic... Any other place, I am Mr. [name] or just my first name.

I agree, and the above is what I was going to comment on only; I think in professional and education environments it's quite appropriate to be titled as a doctor.

To the OP: I'm curious, you mention your experiences with people's reactions to you wanting to be a dentist, but how many of those "someones" are actually MDs or DOs? The only people I ever hear spout that "dentists aren't doctors/real doctors" are people who don't already hold a doctorate (most often they've been class mates who were pre-meds or co-workers joking around); whereas the attendings and residents I work with are always pretty respectful and positive when they hear my plans.

 

[Msmouth]

The word 'doctor' invokes the thought of a physician first for me and perhaps many...but as we all know it is about the level of education.
You can be a doctor in education, biology, chemistry, etc.

When an M.D. has a toothache, I'm sure they will call their dentist and not their cardiologist.

 

[XJ0461]

I gotta be fair with my answer....

From a social stand point, do you REALLY wanna be called "doctor"? Say you are in a fruit market, someone passes out for whatever reason, people are going to look at you and say "DOCTOR!! HELP HIM".... its gonna look gawd awful when the only thing your going to do is CPR (if you still remember how)

Also, doctor is always understood as a physician (NOT oral physician). We are oral physicians, we take care of the oral cavity ~ and okay fine, there are some systemic complications that care arise from the mouth but still.... your not a physician.

Physicians are trained WAYYYYY more than us, if anyone deserves the "doctor" label, its them. You wanna be an ACTUAL doctor? Go to med school.

The only time I'll expect people to refer to me as "Dr. [name]" is when I am in my clinic... Any other place, I am Mr. [name] or just my first name.

Why do you think they are trained WAYYYY more than us? Both are 4 years. Dental schools are very busy. Do you have a lot of free time in your school? I heard dental school is busier than medical school in general and also we pay more tuition than medical students. I guess it is because we have to spend a lot of time in clinic experience compare to medical students. I might wrong but I thought not every medical student has to have hand skill except some specialties like surgeon, but every dentist has to have good hand skill. We have to learn sciences and also hand skills in 4 years. Sounds like we are trained more or at least the same as medical student. Am I missing something?

 

[DentalGunner]

Physicians are trained WAYYYYY more than us, if anyone deserves the "doctor" label, its them. You wanna be an ACTUAL doctor? Go to med school.

The only time I'll expect people to refer to me as "Dr. [name]" is when I am in my clinic... Any other place, I am Mr. [name] or just my first name.

The "Dr.__" title is all semantics. You would never refer to yourself as a "Doctor" before you would call yourself a "Dentist", which is fine. I would never want to belittle myself and call myself "a doctor". I'm a dentist, and people should know that; but you damn well better believe it's appropriate to be called "Dr._____". Like it or not, just like every other Dr.____, you are a specialist in your field. "Dr.____" does not imply Medical Doctor. It's not a bad thing that people on the street will call you Dr.____, so if you really expect your patients to call you Dr._____ at your clinic, it's completely fine if they call you Dr._____ outside of clinic; it's not like they think you're an MD. I'm pretty sure they understand you're a dentist, and dentists/PhDs/DOs/Chiros/Podiatrists/etc. have the "Dr.____" in front of their name, too.

Yeah, MDs receive "wayyyyyyyyyy" more training in their fields, but hi, so do we. Hence the "Dr.____" title.

 

[bing12]

i gotta be fair with my answer....

From a social stand point, do you really wanna be called "doctor"? Say you are in a fruit market, someone passes out for whatever reason, people are going to look at you and say "doctor!! Help him".... Its gonna look gawd awful when the only thing your going to do is cpr (if you still remember how)

also, doctor is always understood as a physician (not oral physician). We are oral physicians, we take care of the oral cavity ~ and okay fine, there are some systemic complications that care arise from the mouth but still.... Your not a physician.

Physicians are trained wayyyyy more than us, if anyone deserves the "doctor" label, its them. You wanna be an actual doctor? Go to med school.

the only time i'll expect people to refer to me as "dr. [name]" is when i am in my clinic... Any other place, i am mr. [name] or just my first name.

+1

 

[Awhy]

Well don't feel too bad. The same DO's that don't think you are a doctor are probably just sick of not getting equal respect from the MD's.

 

[dentalWorks]

Why do you think they are trained WAYYYY more than us? Both are 4 years. Dental schools are very busy. Do you have a lot of free time in your school? I heard dental school is busier than medical school in general and also we pay more tuition than medical students. I guess it is because we have to spend a lot of time in clinic experience compare to medical students. I might wrong but I thought not every medical student has to have hand skill except some specialties like surgeon, but every dentist has to have good hand skill. We have to learn sciences and also hand skills in 4 years. Sounds like we are trained more or at least the same as medical student. Am I missing something?

The "Dr.__" title is all semantics. You would never refer to yourself as a "Doctor" before you would call yourself a "Dentist", which is fine. I would never want to belittle myself and call myself "a doctor". I'm a dentist, and people should know that; but you damn well better believe it's appropriate to be called "Dr._____". Like it or not, just like every other Dr.____, you are a specialist in your field. "Dr.____" does not imply Medical Doctor. It's not a bad thing that people on the street will call you Dr.____, so if you really expect your patients to call you Dr._____ at your clinic, it's completely fine if they call you Dr._____ outside of clinic; it's not like they think you're an MD. I'm pretty sure they understand you're a dentist, and dentists/PhDs/DOs/Chiros/Podiatrists/etc. have the "Dr.____" in front of their name, too.

Yeah, MDs receive "wayyyyyyyyyy" more training in their fields, but hi, so do we. Hence the "Dr.____" title.

I guess you guys are forgetting the amount of time Medical doctors spend in residency JUST SO THEY can practice medicine afterwards.

Yeh... lets see, 4 years of dental school = straight into private practice

4 years of medical school + MINIMUM 3 years of residency (60-80 hrs per week) = then finally you can practice medicine.

Once again, medical doctors are trained WAYYYYY more than us

 

[DentalGunner]

I guess you guys are forgetting the amount of time Medical doctors spend in residency JUST SO THEY can practice medicine afterwards.

Yeh... lets see, 4 years of dental school = straight into private practice

4 years of medical school + MINIMUM 3 years of residency (60-80 hrs per week) = then finally you can practice medicine.

Once again, medical doctors are trained WAYYYYY more than us

I wasn't debating the amount of time they spend in residency/training in their field. They definitely deserve to be called "Dr.___" and call themselves "a doctor". I just don't get how that pertains to the situation. I don't care what they do, they're not a specialist in dentistry. They can't do what we do, so I think that justifies having to address us as "Dr.___" too.

Not that I really care about this argument, but they're still "practicing" medicine as a resident. The only real difference is their pay scale. Dentists and Doctors are both trained in their own respective fields...I don't view myself as a "Medical Doctor"...but I am a doctor of the oral cavity, so I'm not going to be embarrassed if someone address me as Dr.___.

 

[dentalWorks]

I wasn't debating the amount of time they spend in residency/training in their field. They definitely deserve to be called "Dr.___" and call themselves "a doctor". I just don't get how that pertains to the situation. I don't care what they do, they're not a specialist in dentistry. They can't do what we do, so I think that justifies having to address us as "Dr.___" too.

lol... good luck with that argument when your talking with an MD

Not that I really care about this argument,

rightttttt

but they're still "practicing" medicine as a resident. The only real difference is their pay scale.

very minor difference.... oh wait.... what about hours worked? minor difference there too?

Dentists and Doctors are both trained in their own respective fields...I don't view myself as a "Medical Doctor"...but I am a doctor of the oral cavity, so I'm not going to be embarrassed if someone address me as Dr.___.

lolz.... clearly, you don't care about this argument huh

 

[EncinoDolphin]

Why do MDs/DOs does not consider dentists as doctors? As well as general public also does not consider dentists as doctors. Every time some one asks me what i want to do, i reply with "i want to be a dentist" and they say "ohhh so you will not be a doctor, you will be a dentist" and i say "a dentist is a doctor, but a doctor of dental medicine." Anyways, it just makes me mad that dental students go to school for 4 years and some do residencies just like MDs/DOs and people still do not consider them doctors.

On another hand, its only 11 days left until D-day 🙂

Technically, the term 'doctor' is latin for 'teacher;' therefore, I'd imagine that professors are most apt to be described as 'doctors.'

For some reason or another, dentists have been traditionally segregated from physicians. However, I believe that dentists are working to close this gap. The most notable example of this is the recent awarding of 'Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)' degree instead of the traditional 'Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)' degree. Is there much medicine in Dentistry? Well, if you consider antibiotics and pain killers to be 'much' medicine, the answer is yes. However, it is primarily a surgical field, and therefore I feel like the DDS degree is far more appropriate than a DMD degree.

As dentalWorks stated, physicians have a much greater degree of training in terms of the overall body than do dentists, especially at schools that do not combine the DDS and MD students during the first two years. This difference merely reflects differences in the scope of board exams. Also, during year 2, dental students spend more time doing lab work, whereas medical students are taking courses in genetics and embryology.

Overall, medicine and dentistry are two completely different fields. I believe that clinical medicine is more intellectually demanding than clinical dentistry, but that dentistry is more manually demanding than many fields of medicine. I also believe that medicine is more rewarding emotionally, but dentistry is more rewarding financially.

 

[DentalGunner]

lol... good luck with that argument when your talking with an MD

Lol, so you honestly think MDs believe they're the only ones who should be addressed as "Dr.___"? You have a seriously skewed view of the world. I guarantee you that they'd give other Drs the respect and address them as "Dr.____". Pretty the MDs and DMDs I work with in the oral surgery room address each other as "Dr.___", but perhaps that's just an isolated case (probably not).

Lol, I think it's laughable that you honestly believe an MD wouldn't address his lowly, much more intelligent PhD professor as "Dr.____".

Also, with regards to your #of hours argument - sure that's a major difference, but it supports my point even more. Residents work 10x more than attendings, hence they're getting more 'doctor' practice during residency. They're not exactly having to "wait 3 years before they can start practicing medicine".

 

[DentalGunner]

I also believe that medicine is more rewarding emotionally, but dentistry is more rewarding financially.

As dentalWorks stated, physicians have a much greater degree of training in terms of the overall body than do dentists, especially at schools that do not combine the DDS and MD students during the first two years. This difference merely reflects differences in the scope of board exams. Also, during year 2, dental students spend more time doing lab work, whereas medical students are taking courses in genetics and embryology.

Unless you're a surgeon or oncologist or someone of actual medical significance, I don't think you're going to get this emotional satisfaction from writing perscriptions and diagnosing yeast infections. Majority of MDs are GPs, so their opportunities to be a hero and save lives are pretty much 1 in a million. I've seen more tears of joy in my dad's dental office than I've seen in my mother's medical clinic. But hey, to each their own. Some people find it emotionally rewarding to just do GP work in medicine.

Dentistry and medicine take pretty much the same basic science courses. You're gonna be doing immuno, cell bio, biochem, embryo, genetics, etc. in dental school, too. What differs in the first two years is that you have clinical work on top of all your basic science courses in dental school; in third and fourth year is where they really differ because we have different types of clinical exposures. Honestly, GP MDs get a lot of credit for being "doctors" of the whole body...but in reality, they have limited knowledge of every part of the body. They're a jack of all trades, but masters of none. If that appeals to people, then by all means, go for it. Just expect to be dealing with minor colds, cuts, and scrapes for the majority of your life, since you'll be referring most 'out of the ordinary' things to a specialist.

 

[EncinoDolphin]

Unless you're a surgeon or oncologist or someone of actual medical significance, I don't think you're going to get this emotional satisfaction from writing perscriptions and diagnosing yeast infections. Majority of MDs are GPs, so their opportunities to be a hero and save lives are pretty much 1 in a million. I've seen more tears of joy in my dad's dental office than I've seen in my mother's medical clinic. But hey, to each their own. Some people find it emotionally rewarding to just do GP work in medicine.

Dentistry and medicine take pretty much the same basic science courses. You're gonna be doing immuno, cell bio, biochem, embryo, genetics, etc. in dental school, too. What differs in the first two years is that you have clinical work on top of all your basic science courses in dental school; in third and fourth year is where they really differ because we have different types of clinical exposures. Honestly, GP MDs get a lot of credit for being "doctors" of the whole body...but in reality, they have limited knowledge of every part of the body. They're a jack of all trades, but masters of none. If that appeals to people, then by all means, go for it. Just expect to be dealing with minor colds, cuts, and scrapes for the majority of your life, since you'll be referring most 'out of the ordinary' things to a specialist.

The same argument can be made about general dentists, especially given the number of specialties.

And for the record, yeast infections and several STDs may cause fertility problems in women--can the same be said about a missing #29?

 

[DentalGunner]

The same argument can be made about general dentists, especially given the number of specialties.

And for the record, yeast infections and several STDs may cause fertility problems in women--can the same be said about a missing #29?

Completely agreed, but it's a lot less likely that you'll be referring out every root canal to an endodontist, or every extraction to an oral surgeon. The "emotionally rewarding" cases that you were referring to about medicine usually get referred out, so you won't be playing superman many times in your life.

I'm not an idiot. I know the gravity associated with yeast infections and other STIs. My point is that those kinds of cases aren't going to be a tear to someone's eye and feel like they've really "saved a life". I personally wouldn't get a reward out of that, just like I wouldn't cry over the heart attack I might have prevented by removing calculus from someone's mouth...or other oral-systemic correlations.

 

[Barking Lamb]

Medical Doctors will work more/harder for the rest of their life. They also have a tendency to save peoples lives. I won't argue that they deserve more prestige.

Yo, I'm planning on being a dentist and oral hygiene is important and all but... you know. I'm ok with no residency, no on call duties, no dead patients.

However, my older brother will always have to call me doctor.


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Edit: I would note that some medical specialities don't deserve the prestige. In medicine you get so specialized that the rest of the body is forgotten. A dermatologist can't help you with your lungs and that surgeon might not be able to diagnose a virus vs a bacterial infection. (Harsh over simplification, I hope you get the idea not tear apart the example.)

 

[dentalWorks]

Lol, so you honestly think MDs believe they're the only ones who should be addressed as "Dr.___"? You have a seriously skewed view of the world. I guarantee you that they'd give other Drs the respect and address them as "Dr.____". Pretty the MDs and DMDs I work with in the oral surgery room address each other as "Dr.___", but perhaps that's just an isolated case (probably not).

Lol, I think it's laughable that you honestly believe an MD wouldn't address his lowly, much more intelligent PhD professor as "Dr.____".

Also, with regards to your #of hours argument - sure that's a major difference, but it supports my poit even more. Residents work 10x more than attendings, hence they're getting more 'doctor' practice during residency. They're not exactly having to "wait 3 years before they can start practicing medicine".

Alright.... your all over the place..... I'll try my best to stay on point

from a social point of view (WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL DEGREES EARNED) a "doctor" is a label TYPICALLY coined with a physician.... When you are out in a bar and a pretty gal asks you "so what do you do for a living?"... Will you say your a dentist or a doctor? (again, SOCIAL circumstances forces us to not label our selves are doctors).

As far as physicians go, I am willing to bet, 8 out of 10 MDs believe we shouldn't be called doctors IN SOCIAL SETTINGS. Do they have this right? Thats irrelevant to me, and quite frankly, I don't have much of an argument. In a social event, if the MD decided to have a pissing contest just to prove his "doctor" knowledge over mine, it wouldn't take more than 30 seconds of conversing to show that I know absolutely nothing about medicinal knowledge.

Trying to label yourself as a "doctor" in a social setting is plain foolish, and IMO, degrading to your dental profession.... Be proud of dentistry, as matter of fact, I would much rather have people associate me as "the dentist" or just plain Mr. outside of my clinic.

Oh yeh, and about the residents... did you forget the attending paid his "dues" when they did their residency?

 

[DentalGunner]

Alright.... your all over the place..... I'll try my best to stay on point

from a social point of view (WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL DEGREES EARNED) a "doctor" is a label TYPICALLY coined with a physician.... When you are out in a bar and a pretty gal asks you "so what do you do for a living?"... Will you say your a dentist or a doctor? (again, SOCIAL circumstances forces us to not label our selves are doctors).

As far as physicians go, I am willing to bet, 8 out of 10 MDs believe we shouldn't be called doctors IN SOCIAL SETTINGS. Do they have this right? Thats irrelevant to me, and quite frankly, I don't have much of an argument. In a social event, if the MD decided to have a pissing contest just to prove his "doctor" knowledge over mine, it wouldn't take more than 30 seconds of conversing to show that I know absolutely nothing about medicinal knowledge.

Trying to label yourself as a "doctor" in a social setting is plain foolish, and IMO, degrading to your dental profession.... Be proud of dentistry, as matter of fact, I would much rather have people associate me as "the dentist" or just plain Mr. outside of my clinic.

Oh yeh, and about the residents... did you forget the attending paid his "dues" when they did their residency?

Apparently you didn't read anything I wrote. I specifically said I would never call myself "a doctor" and don't think that dentists should/would ever belittle themselves by calling themselves "a doctor" in a social setting, or any setting for that matter. We're specialists of the mouth; we're dentists. My argument was/is that we deserve to be addressed as "Dr.___", because we've received the rigorous training to do things that no other profession can do, not even the high and mighty "doctors" that you, for some reason, hold on this pedestal.

If there was a pissing contest, I wouldn't bother competing against anyone that wasn't in my field..I don't care if you're an MD or a mechanic. Pretty sure the MD wouldn't challenge us in dentistry, either.

 

[Dusk]

 

[KobeshouldbeaMD]

Why do MDs/DOs does not consider dentists as doctors? As well as general public also does not consider dentists as doctors. Every time some one asks me what i want to do, i reply with "i want to be a dentist" and they say "ohhh so you will not be a doctor, you will be a dentist" and i say "a dentist is a doctor, but a doctor of dental medicine." Anyways, it just makes me mad that dental students go to school for 4 years and some do residencies just like MDs/DOs and people still do not consider them doctors.

On another hand, its only 11 days left until D-day 🙂

Why are you trying to draw pity from your fellow Pre-dental and dental students? Who told you that physicians don't treat dentists like doctors?
Don't demonize another profession because the general public doesn't see a dentist as a "doctor."
You don't think physicians get as much crap as dentists do, if not more?

And just for clarity.. the job title is "Physician" and "Dentist"

so if you try calling yourself a physician, you're out of place, and if your GP tried to convince you he can do your root canal, they're completely out of place.

Haters are always gonna hate man. Don't be one of them.

/

 

[Bereno]

This seems way more interesting than microbio right now lol


For those just stepping into the argument:
DentalWorks' position: In social settings dentists are not "a doctor"
DentalGunner's position: Dentists are specialists, and also doctors, but in social settings they are not "a doctor"

Wait... what are you guys arguing about? Seems like you guys agree with each other haha

 

[Double Bonded]

Why do you think they are trained WAYYYY more than us? ............Am I missing something?

I think it's because physicians do residencies. 80+ hours a week, ****ty call schedules, more stressful situations, and taking a lot of crap in people above you on the hierarchy (senior residents, nurses, attendings, ect). As a dentist, I hope never to work more than 50-60 hrs a week and can guarantee that I won't work 70. Physicians can't guarantee that (hell, it's expected that they work 80 hrs/week during residency) and it's pretty brutal.

 

[Golfguy]

Lol, so you honestly think MDs believe they're the only ones who should be addressed as "Dr.___"? You have a seriously skewed view of the world. I guarantee you that they'd give other Drs the respect and address them as "Dr.____". Pretty the MDs and DMDs I work with in the oral surgery room address each other as "Dr.___", but perhaps that's just an isolated case (probably not).

Lol, I think it's laughable that you honestly believe an MD wouldn't address his lowly, much more intelligent PhD professor as "Dr.____".

Also, with regards to your #of hours argument - sure that's a major difference, but it supports my point even more. Residents work 10x more than attendings, hence they're getting more 'doctor' practice during residency. They're not exactly having to "wait 3 years before they can start practicing medicine".

I had to laugh at this one; much more intelligent, hardly.

 

[Dusk]

This seems way more interesting than microbio right now lol


For those just stepping into the argument:
DentalWorks' position: In social settings dentists are not "a doctor"
DentalGunner's position: Dentists are specialists, and also doctors, but in social settings they are not "a doctor"

Wait... what are you guys arguing about? Seems like you guys agree with each other haha

lol seriously... I started reading the arguments, couldn't stop, and once i finished realized wth am I doing. microbio 😴

 

[BobLoblawDDS]

could care less if people don't consider me a doctor.

I could care less too.

couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less

Sorry, I'm a grammar Nazi, and the fact that people make this mistake (in writing, no less) seriously boils my blood haha. ><

Anyways, we are doctors in the sense that Ph.D.'s are doctors; we have a professional doctorate degree. But in the sense of medical doctor? No. We haven't received quite as much dictactic or clinical training in overall healthcare of the entire body. Sure, we take gross anatomy, pharmacology, etc. etc. but in the end all of our specific and clinical training is focused on half of the face. In the accepted definition of what a "doctor" is, we aren't it. Things could be different. Dentistry could be a medical specialty (as many think it should be), and in the end there would be no dental schools, but rather dental education would be requisitioned to hospitals or clinics, which is actually a bit of an expensive prospect. Oral health would have to be valued a lot more both in the public and healthcare spheres for that to happen.

 

[Kahr]

couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less

Sorry, I'm a grammar Nazi, and the fact that people make this mistake (in writing, no less) seriously boils my blood haha. ><

Canadians. 😉

 

[Dusk]

couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less
couldn't* care less

Sorry, I'm a grammar Nazi, and the fact that people make this mistake (in writing, no less) seriously boils my blood haha. ><

I could care less....

dang, now i have to pay attention to my grammar on these forums?

your to anal. 😉

 

[UltimateHombre]

I am personally a fan of Amalgamgrillz signature: "Doctors aren't real dentists" 😀

Also, I will agree that in a social environment people identify themselves as there individual profession. Not as a "doctor"...

PhD - Professor/Scientist
PharmD - Pharmacist
MD - Physician
DDS - Dentist
JD - Attorney

Finally, i don't know why anybody would want to be the tool that refers to themselves as "doctor" in any social setting. Reminds me of Ross on the show "Friends", always trying to impress people with his PhD title.

Keep you Doctor status in your practice/clinic only! Furthermore, most intraprofessional conversations usually just call each other by first names.

 

[MrAvicii]

To quote Hangover I... Stu to the doctor "oh can I see that chart? I am a doctor too." Doctor to Stu "Ye you said that last night, but you're really a dentist."

A dentist is a dentist is a dentist. Its a form of medicine. But not enough to save a dying person on the street. 🙂 I'm fine with being called Mr. X in public, but I def wanna be called Dr. X in my practice.

Lets keep it real people. Dentists save teeth, NOT lives.

 

[Dig it the most]

“We are oral physicians, we take care of the oral cavity” -dentalWorks

You all have solid points concerning this DDS vs MD madness, but dentalWorks nailed it. Dentists are doing their own thing. It’s ALL about the oral cavity, facial bones, and diseases/abnormalities associated with the skull. Let the “layperson” (Post #9, Double Bonded) be ignorant. The majority of health care professionals have a respect for the dental profession. Here’s my perspective...

The funny thing is, most people don't know that severe facial trauma is treated by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. These docs are dental specialists. Medical doctors can not get training in OMFS or it's sub-specialties. I recently heard in an interview from an OMFS that more and more residents in medicine are interested in this dental specialty. Some are even pushing for an MD/DDS program. Dental residents in OMFS get there MD in most of the dental residency programs, which gives them hospital privileges, anesthesia training, ect. Dentists are tied into medicine, but medical doctors do not branch into dentistry. Dentists own oral and facial surgery just like they own general dentistry.

I work in surgery at a major hospital as a transporter. For the past three years I have spoken with many many doctors (MD, DO, DDS). All but a handful of medical doctors have told me that they really wish they would have went into something else. Physicians are very frustrated. They are over-worked and deal with a lot more BS than any kind of dentist. The only responses I have received from dentists and DDS specialists about their practice have been EXTREMELY positive. With great pay, a manageable work load and virtually zero call hours, this trend is not surprising. Time off can keep you interested in your profession. I would be burned out if I did anything for 50-100 hours a week.

 

[longhornpride]

you can call me anything as long as you pay me in cash! 😀

 

[Dig it the most]

you can call me anything as long as you pay me in cash! 😀

fo real.

 

[happy0121]

At the end of the day, I think its usually insignificant people that would joke about and refuse to call a dentist doctor. Them being insignificant I would just disregard them and move on. If youre happy with your decision in dentistry, I think you win regardless.

 

[valkairon]

A dentist is a doctor -- A dentist has completed a course of study, can diagnose and treat disease, and is licensed to prescribe medications (antibiotics, narcotics, etc.). There is however, a difference between the training of a dentist and a medical doctor. Medical school is more heavily weighted on lectures, and has less laboratory work than dental school. Medical school clinical rotations are more observation-oriented, whereas dental students actually assume the role of a treatment provider for their patients.

The reason for the difference is that the vast majority of direct patient contact for a medical doctor comes in their residency after medical school. Also, a medical doctor is required to take at least three years (in most cases) of residency before practicing.

Which school is harder? Who knows, and who cares? The training of a dentist and a medical doctor are both difficult and require a very strong commitment.

 

[bhagan01]

If you want to be considered a " real" doctor get your dds/dmd and then gobto an omfs/md residency...then you will also have equivelent and more titles than a md or do...

 

[bhagan01]

I would also like to add that I consider dentist more of a doctorthan certain mds that specialize in breast enlargement and face lifts...they are saving as many livescas any dentist

 

[Double Bonded]

alright let's all just stfu and kill this thread already.

 

[Lane138]

Historically, lay people call physicians doctors, even though the term has always referred to anybody with a doctorate degree. Recently, there's been controversy when people in other health professions that gain a doctorate degree and whether they're considered doctors or not. For instance, this NYTimes article discusses whether it's okay for nurses who have gone on and earned a doctorate degree in nursing introduce themselves as Dr. ___.

Dentists, however, have always had a doctorate degree, so we should be called doctors.

 

[ACE Rx]

I am personally a fan of Amalgamgrillz signature: "Doctors aren't real dentists" 😀

Also, I will agree that in a social environment people identify themselves as there individual profession. Not as a "doctor"...

PhD - Professor/Scientist
PharmD - Pharmacist
MD - Physician
DDS - Dentist
JD - Attorney

Finally, i don't know why anybody would want to be the tool that refers to themselves as "doctor" in any social setting. Reminds me of Ross on the show "Friends", always trying to impress people with his PhD title.

Keep you Doctor status in your practice/clinic only! Furthermore, most intraprofessional conversations usually just call each other by first names.

I agree with this perfectly. Yes, when we earn our doctorate degrees, we would earn the privilege of having the doctor title in our names. But, just keep it in your practice! In the end, it doesn't matter what title you have if you cannot perform your profession.

i.e.
When I am sick, I see a physician.
When I have a toothache, I see my dentist.
When I need medication, I see my pharmacist.
If I need legal advice, I see my attorney.
When I am learning, I visit my professor.

Each has earned the right to call themselves a "Doctor" but each performs different tasks. 🙂

Exception to this is those DNP's trying to force everyone to call them doctors.