Dentists

[Whiskery Ron]

Hi I don't know if anyone can answer this.I was recently told that Dentists in this country are now entitled to be called Doctor in line with the USA. It would be interesting if someone could confirm or deny this.

[bensmum]

I only know that at my dentist all the surgey doors have "Dr."on them now rather than just their names.

[Ebbs]

far as i remember they always have had the title

[nellypope]

Is it true that they are more qualified than regular Doctors?
Sounds ridiculous now, but I heard that in order of the most qualified the list is as follows, least qualified to most, Doctors (GP's), Dentists, Surgeons, Vets!!

[spudqueen]

Medical Doctors only use the name Doctor as a courtesy title, they are not real Doctors as they don't have a doctorate, unlike a scientist who has a Phd.

[Scylax]

As an extension of this theme, I believe that in Italy
anyone with a basic degree can label themselves as
Doctor (Dottore). A masters degree entitles the holder
to the title of Engineer (Ingeneur ?). Can anyone confirm
this, please ?

[MRSK]

nellypope its difficult to answer your question without knowing your definition of 'qualified':
I'll try and answer as best I can but note the following first:
A vet is not qualified to practice in any way on humans, and doctors/surgeons/dentists cannot practice on animals (although I do know of dentists that have operated on animals, dentally of course)
A GP has an undergraduate medical degree that took 5-6 years to acquire, this is the same fo all doctors. Then they would have completed a minimum of two years working in hospital as house officer then senior house officer (now known as FY1/FY2) they would then have entered GP training in hospital for a minimum of 3 years before becoming a GP.
Dentists in UK I belive can use the honorary title doctor since 1996. Dentists used to spend the first two years of training (pre-clinical) with medical students however most courses are now entirely seperate.

[MRSK]

after this period dentists would spend 3 years training and operating on patients under supervision (usually on models first!!) after which time if they pass their undergraduate training they qualify with a BDS (bachelor of dental surgery). Almost all dentists then undertake a year as a VT which is a year supervised in practice as a dentist. After which they can choose to train in a dental speciality (typically five years training) in one of the following (oral surgery, periodontics, orthodontics, restorative, endodontics, paediatric, dental public health)

[MRSK]

Dentists with a BDS are also able to work in hospitals as senior house officers in oral and maxillofacial surgery (where they will also have the title doctor)
This is by virtuie of undergraduate dentists recieving 5 years training in the region of the face, head and neck.
There are a few dentally qualified consultants in oral and maxillofacial surgery however now you ust be dually qualified in both medicine and dentistry to do that particular specialty (currently UK minimum training time from undergraduate to consultant 18 years!!!)

[MRSK]

Surgeons (and of cousre there are different types oif surgeon) follow the same pathway as doctors training to be GPs except that after FY2 (old SHO) they enter a surgical specialist straining pathway (minimum 5 years)
I am afraid I cannot reliably comment on veterinary science however I believe the undergarduate course is six years in length.

[MRSK]

In terms of gaining a place on an undergraduate course the applicants:places ratio is highest for veterinary science, then dentistry, then medicine.
But thats not to say its easy to do medicine than veterinary science, because nthe application procedures are different and also someone applying for veterinary science will not be applying for medicine (if they are something is sadly wrong!!!)
Grades are pretty much the same for all three now, but only play a small part in getting selected for one of the courses.
So who is more qualified, well as I said before a vet is most qualified to treat animals, a dentist most qualified to treat conditions of the oral and oro-facial region, a GP genral medical conditions, and a surgeon the surgical conditions which are in the remit of their surgical speciality

[Whiskery Ron]

Thanks MRSK, very interesting answers, much appreciated.WR.