SHOULD A DENTIST BE CALLED A DOCTOR??

Whenever someone says, "You are not a real doctor but only a dentist", most of the time these words are spoken in jest. The speaker just means to be facetious, provoking the dentist to show his insecurity and adopt a defensive posture. However in this age of enlightenment, only an unintelligent individual can seriously believe that dentists are not real doctors.

Someone not recognizing a dentist as a doctor probably started back in history with dentistry springing off from barbers. These days, a dentist spends 5 years of formal accredited education learning about the diseases and conditions that are associated with the oral cavity, head and neck. He not only examines and diagnoses, but also performs surgeries if need be. It is not that a dentist does not save lives. Dentists, on numerous occasions, drain space infections which, if left untreated, could even threaten the life of a patient.  Someone has to be well-trained and knowledgeable to do that and cause no long-term ill effects. For that accomplishment, one is worthy of the title doctor.

To become a dentist requires a lot of hand and eye dexterity. After all, it is not easy to drill a precise 5mm x 5mm x 5mm deep hole in a tooth, while looking in a mirror with an object which is constantly moving and making unpleasant sounds.

A dentist may not be a doctor of medicine but has, however, earned the right to be called doctor since his education and training has endowed him with special knowledge and skills worthy of the title. No dentist should ever have to feel inadequate or unworthy of the term doctor. After many years of intensive study and hard work, a dentist has earned the title of doctor.

Dentists in nearly all parts of the world are called doctors. In many situations, the term “doctor” seems to attach most naturally to those who are physicians, surgeons, or otherwise dedicated to care of the human body. Dentists are not considered usually to fall within this group, but the title of doctor gets derived as much as from their training, as their profession.

Although most commonly associated with medicine, the word “doctor” actually derives from the Latin word “doceo”, which means “to teach”. Anyone considered an expert in a specific field, be it science or arts or history, can be called a doctor, provided he or she has undergone the requisite training. In most of the cases, any sort of doctorate-level degree gives rise to the title, with dentists being no exception.

Different countries have different requirements to become a dental practitioner, but most programs involve several years of study culminating in either a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Recipients of these degrees are both personally and professionally known as a doctor.

Perhaps England is one of the only countries in the world to not automatically confer trained dentists with the title of doctor. This primarily owes to the gradation of the British education system. The title of doctor is sometimes used out of respect in England, or as a courtesy. Some dentists in England also like to be called doctors as a means of drawing a parallel to the systems in other parts of the world, though this has caused quite some controversy. Outside of England, a dentist is typically considered a doctor no matter his or her speciality. General dentists are usually the most common. These professionals perform basic oral examinations, helping keep the teeth and gums healthy. Dental graduates are eligible to become general practitioners right away, with specialties like Oral Surgery or Orthodontics typically requiring additional training. As long as the practitioner has the basic degree, he can be called a doctor.

In some cases, dentists carry more than one degree. This is often the case with a dentist who has gone on to earn a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree. This sort of advanced training often helps practitioners to do better work, but it does not impact their titles. A doctor is a doctor after the first degree.

Like most medical doctors, dentists are typically able to write and fill prescriptions, as well as make diagnoses and provide primary care. These powers set them apart from dental assistants and hygienists, professionals who act more as assistants than doctors. In many practices, assistants or hygienists do much of the hands-on work with patients, including preparation of x-rays and basic cleanings. The doctor will examine all findings, however, and is usually responsible for making a final determination when it comes to a patient’s oral health.

Dentists and physicians might be taking care of different aspects of the human body, but both are equally worthy of the title of doctor. If someone does say "You are not a real doctor, but only a dentist", the right thing to do is just walk away smiling, content in the knowledge that one cannot reason with an uneducated person, and nor should one try.