Do Dentists Have the Title Dr?

The information provided by Clairemont Pediatric Dental, The title "doctor" derives from the Latin word doceo, meaning "teach." Anyone can be styled "Dr." if they've completed the requisite training. However, in most cases, only those with a doctorate can use the title. In North America, the most common doctorate-level degrees given to health professionals are the DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and the DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). The difference between these degrees is that the DDS degree is based on surgical procedures, while the DMD degree is based on medical procedures.

Most dentists undergo extensive training in studying diseases and treatments that affect the mouth's teeth, gums, bones, and soft tissue. They are trained to diagnose and treat oral diseases, including periodontal disease, oral cancer, odontogenic infections, and oral thrush. They also perform oral surgeries, bone and gum grafts, implant dentistry, extract teeth and fit dentures and other prosthetics.

They can write and fill prescriptions for medications you can't get over the counter, such as antibiotics, pain relievers, steroids, muscle relaxers, and sedation drugs like Botox. Their training also covers the oral-systemic health relationship, which means they're familiar with how diseases in the mouth can be transmitted to other parts of the body.

In the United Kingdom, dentists are not automatically referred to as "doctors." This is a courtesy title and one that was only permitted in 1995. Until then, dentists who used the courtesy title were at risk of a fine or arrest.

The General Dental Council changed that policy on November 14, 1995, which allowed dentists to use the courtesy title Dr., but only if they made it clear that they were using it as a courtesy and not to represent themselves as qualified to carry out medical procedures.

Since then, dentists have continued to make this point. It's a point of distinction in Great Britain and a point of respect for the profession. But in other countries, using this courtesy title is a controversial issue. In Canada, for example, an Ontario audiologist named Brenda Berge recently launched a free-speech challenge against her college for the right to call herself a "doctor."

While this is a fascinating issue, it's not worth considering when visiting a dentist. At the same time, some dentists may consider themselves "doctors" because they're licensed to practice in that country, but most are not. In addition, some dentists have earned an undergraduate degree, which gives them a bachelor's of science, abbreviated BBS or BD. In some countries, they must complete a post-graduate degree to practice independently as a dentist.