Dentists calling themselves Doctors

[FnG]magnolia · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:19

aardvark said:
exactly - thats what i do!

ok, maybe not, but its really useful when complaining about something -you get a lot more respect. it shouldn't be like that, but it is.

I imagine that it depends entirely on who you are complaining to.

Nymins · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:22

bottletop said:
And you'd be getting confused with being a medical doctor all the time I expect

Problem?

Getz da ladiez

bottletop · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:25

Nymins said:
Problem?

Getz da ladiez

Or your male neighbour wanting to show you his "rash" :eek:

Strife212 · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:26

They should call themselves Dental Engineers.

Minstadave · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:34

bottletop said:
So what do people think? Is your Dentist a Doctor or not? Does it actually matter?

I am a doctor - I save lives.

I am not a dentist - they clean teeth, and earn more than me.

I don't call myself a dentist, they shouldn't call themselves doctors. Simples

Mr Jack · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:34

Disco Boy said:
It's a protected title so no they shouldn't use it.

It's not a protected title. Anyone can call themselves Doctor. Well, anyone except Ms. Gillian McKeith anyway

Housey · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:35

Gobtists, I was in the chair today actually having a clean and had a wisdom tooth out 3 weeks back. £247 for that so I call them robbers.

Nitefly · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:36

Probably don't have a PhD.

Probably cleverer than you.

LordSplodge · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:38

Minstadave said:
I am a doctor - I save lives.

I am not a dentist - they clean teeth, and earn more than me.

I don't call myself a dentist, they shouldn't call themselves doctors. Simples

You're in the wrong field of medicine then.

Housey said:
Gobtists, I was in the chair today actually having a clean and had a wisdom tooth out 3 weeks back. £247 for that so I call them robbers.

I had one of my wisdom teeth out three weeks ago (odd coincidence that) and guess what? Cost me the huge sum of £0. You lose.

Minstadave · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:39

LordSplodge said:
You're in the wrong field of medicine then.

Run that past me again?

Housey · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:41

LordSplodge said:
I had one of my wisdom teeth out three weeks ago (odd coincidence that) and guess what? Cost me the huge sum of £0. You lose.

Mine was £0 too, but I tipped them as I am Housey.

Top left out, yours?

Cosimo · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:42

Strife212 said:
They should call themselves Dental Engineers.

With some of their charges Gob Robbers would be more appropriate.

Housey · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:45

£74 for a descale. Took 15 minutes. They should be SAP consultants at that rate.

LordSplodge · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:48

Minstadave said:
Run that past me again?

Work in a field of medicine that pays more than dentists.

It's tongue-in-cheek anyway. I value people who work to help others. I owe my life many a time over to those in the medical profession that work in tough conditions.

Housey said:
Mine was £0 too, but I tipped them as I am Housey.

Top left out, yours?

Bottom left.

'Harry · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:50

Doctorate - meh
Dr at hospital - awesome

bottletop · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:51

dowie said:
Well at least they're not chiropractors calling themselves doctors.

Most GPs in the UK call themselves Dr without having earned a doctorate - the medical profession has done it for a while now - I don't see why dentists can't too.

Indeed, as I understand it a Doctor in a medical setting could be an honorary title granted after obtaining a bachelor of medicine degree, or a postgraduately trained specialised MD (using the title Mr) or a doctorate PhD.

The point is, I guess, not what you are entitled to call yourself but what the patient hears/understands. Does a dental patient confuse his dentist's title of "Doctor" when used in a medical setting, with the usual meaning of Doctor? The ASA seems to think that is the case.

nath247 · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:53

Teeth Technicians?

dowie · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:56

Minstadave said:
I am a doctor - I save lives.

I am not a dentist - they clean teeth, and earn more than me.

I don't call myself a dentist, they shouldn't call themselves doctors. Simples

I reckon firemen and paramedics should be called doctor too then.

People only refer to your job as 'doctor' because your profession decided to use the title to give themselves some status many years ago. Its only an honorary title if you've not actually earned a doctorate. If the medical profession can chose to use an honorary title they've not earned then why not dentists too?

Minstadave · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:59

dowie said:
I reckon firemen and paramedics should be called doctor too then.

Awesome logic, my mind is blown.

dowie · 19 Feb 2013 at 22:01

bottletop said:
The point is, I guess, not what you are entitled to call yourself but what the patient hears/understands. Does a dental patient confuse his dentist's title of "Doctor" when used in a medical setting, with the usual meaning of Doctor? The ASA seems to think that is the case.

I think the ASA ought to crack down more on alternative medicine practicioners tbh...

I doubt many members of the public are going to ask the dentist for general medical advice and I doubt many dentists would give it. So long as their advertising makes it clear they are dentists then I don't see the issue.

alternative medicine types on the other hand....