Dentists calling themselves Doctors

[Ahleckz]

Edit to add, if you think of neurosurgeons etc, they use the title "Mr" to distinguish their specialisation from "regular" doctors. As a Dental Surgeon, should a dentist be referred to as "Mr" to.

Surgeons use 'Mr' rather than 'Dr' because traditionally you did an apprenticeship to become a surgeon rather than studied medicine at university. Obviously that has now changed, but it's just a hang-on from yesteryear.

 

[Mr Jack]

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.

Yeah, dentists are highly trained health professionals, I can't see a good reason why they shouldn't also be called doctors. We've already got one lot of not-proper-doctors, what's difference is another group

 

[tom_nieto]

Surgeons use the title Mr as homage to the barber shop surgeons of old. It was those barber shop surgeons who were refused the honorary title of doctor and admission into the medical fraternity. You study for six years to become a doctor, then another 4 years to become a Mr again... and also pay £1400 for the privilege and an annual subscription for the pleasure.

 

[Destination]

Well it could matter I guess if you had booked a flight using the name Dr. xxx and an emergency illness occurred during the flight (or some other improbable scenario).

As the flight attendants called out for a Doctor you steam to the front and say "open wide"

Yea and your phd in psychology would also be of great benefit.

The doctor title used by medics and dentists is and has been honourary, nothing new about that, neither of them hold doctorates. Its is just public perception.

 

[dowie]

Yeah, dentists are highly trained health professionals, I can't see a good reason why they shouldn't also be called doctors. We've already got one lot of not-proper-doctors, what's difference is another group

They don't tend to cause too much confusion in the USA.

------------------
Dr Smith
Dental Surgeon
------------------

Yeah I'll go and see him for my chest infection...

 

[Destination]

ASA say yes, but with a name like that you could get away with it

Asa didnt say it was wrong.
Asa said it was wrong to use it misleading in advertising.
I read the asa ruling, big difference in what ou are reporting and what the said, the ad has to change, not his use of the title.

 

[bottletop]

Yea and your phd in psychology would also be of great benefit.

Wrong subject, but that is my point exactly.

 

[dowie]

BDA says its OK

http://www.bda.org/news-centre/pres...s-believe-use-of-dr-title-is-appropriate.aspx

Dr Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA’s Executive Board, said:
“This issue has generated unprecedented levels of interest from contributors to the BDA’s online communities. Participants have sent a very strong signal about their wish to continue using the title Dr. We have listened to them and will convey the strength of that feeling to the GDC in our response to its consultation on this issue.

“It is clear from the contributions to this forum that, as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist, patients do not seem to be confused by the use of the title. The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK.”

 

[Destination]

Wrong subject, but that is my point exactly.

Your point was dentists who actually do annual cpr training might be of no use in an emergency.
I was sarcastically suggesting that actually people with phds who have evry right to call themselves doctor are potentially of little to no use.
So it isnt your point, it negates your point, when your point was seeing doctor listed might make for a bad situation in an emergency.

 

[bottletop]

Asa didnt say it was wrong.
Asa said it was wrong to use it misleading in advertising.
I read the asa ruling, big difference in what ou are reporting and what the said, the ad has to change, not his use of the title.

Well that's right, the ad now has to explain in detail "the similarities and differences between the practitioner's qualifications and medical qualifications", a dentist doesn't have to stop using the term Doctor.

 

[Malevolence]

 

[bottletop]

Your point was dentists who actually do annual cpr training might be of no use in an emergency.
I was sarcastically suggesting that actually people with phds who have evry right to call themselves doctor are potentially of little to no use.
So it isnt your point, it negates your point, when your point was seeing doctor listed might make for a bad situation in an emergency.

No, my point is that neither a PhD Doctor nor a Dental Doctor may be of any specific use when called upon in an emergency for which a medical doctor is required still stands, I think, edit to add: and was more of a point about what the public's perception of what a doctor is.

 

[Destination]

No, my point is that neither a PhD Doctor nor a Dental Doctor may be of any specific use when called upon in an emergency for which a medical doctor is required still stands, I think, edit to add: and was more of a point about what the public's perception of what a doctor is.

I figure you are wrong, in an emergency initailly a paramedic is required, or certainly that who is sent, doctor come along after, and deal with followup and cardiac events, or hospital based events.
Paramedics tend to be sent to emergencies as thats what hey aretrained for, very detailed and very specific training, and they are damn good at what they do.

 

[dowie]

If you accept a flight upgrade that has blatantly been given to you because the airline wrongly assumed from your title that you were a medic then you should have a word with yourself.

Aside from that the title Dr isn't exclusively linked to medicine and never has been. The proper use is for holders of a doctorate. Everyone else who uses it is a result of professional vanity/status anxiety.

 

[Amleto]

Aside from that the title Dr isn't exclusively linked to medicine and never has been. The proper use is for holders of a doctorate. Everyone else who uses it is a result of professional vanity/status anxiety.

And ironically I feel vain when using it. I put it on for car insurance and not much else atm.

 

[Energize]

If you accept a flight upgrade that has blatantly been given to you because the airline wrongly assumed from your title that you were a medic then you should have a word with yourself.

You can't be serious, it's a flight upgrade not a nobel prize.

 

[bledd]

I know a guy who has a doctorate in chemistry and has since become a fully qualified dentist. Now I call him Doctor Doctor

 

[On Holiday]

Don't forget about Dre.

 

[Dunks]

Surgeons use 'Mr' rather than 'Dr' because traditionally you did an apprenticeship to become a surgeon rather than studied medicine at university. Obviously that has now changed, but it's just a hang-on from yesteryear.

Consultants do as well, iirc.

 

[Doohickey]

Most GPs in the UK call themselves Dr without having earned a doctorate.

I'm probably missing something, but... What GPs call themselves doctors because they are doctors...

Consultants do as well, iirc.

Only surgeons become 'Mr'. Medical consultants are 'Dr's.

Aside from that the title Dr isn't exclusively linked to medicine and never has been. The proper use is for holders of a doctorate. Everyone else who uses it is a result of professional vanity/status anxiety.

Again, what...? So medical doctors use the title 'Dr' because of professional vanity/status anxiety?? Sod all the 'courtesy' business, how about the fact that physicians have been called 'doctors' historically for hundreds of years?