I just read one of the posts about a white coat ceremony and it got me thinking. What is the reasoning for this. How many practicing dentists do you guys know that wear white coats around their offices? If they do they're a douche bag. They might as well pop the collar, spike the hair and introduce themselves as Dr. Hotti. In the medical world this makes more sense. Most Docs wear their coat around the hospital, it has their name and specialty embroidered on it. It is appropriate for hospital use, and bottom line, most patients expect you to have one. You can even carry little books, a tuning fork, hammer, stethoscope with ease. What is a dentist going to do, carry some impression material and a perio probe?
I understand the symbolism and everything, but I don't feel a white coat is the correct choice for this. Maybe we should have a white smock ceremony or a disposible clinic jacket ceremony. Personally, I like the old school smock. You know the one that is short sleeved and has the high collar. The buttons that go up on the far left side, a la Steve Martin on Little Shop of Horrors. Why does there need to be yet another profession that wears the long white coat. Think about it, MDs, PT, respiratory therapy, CRNAs, nurses, PAs, butchers, the list goes on and on.
Finally I think it just goes on to perpetuate the wanna be MD stereotype we are constantly bombarded with.
