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Most dentists give thumbs up to ‘Dr’ title

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Four-fifths of dentists think it is appropriate to continue to use the courtesy title of ‘Dr' according to a poll carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA).

The survey was carried out as part of a discussion hosted on the communities section of the BDA website (www.bda.org) between late July and early September. The debate attracted high levels of interest, being viewed more than 2,800 times.
 
The discussion, which was open from late July to early September, saw contributions from BDA members across the UK. The results of the poll will be used to emphasise the profession's concerns in the BDA's formal response to the General Dental Council's consultation on the issue.
 
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.'

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Quite right too! The public seem to have a problem with the concept that a "Dentist" (or, more correctly, Dental Surgeon, note the use of capitals) is a Doctor who specialises in diseases of the oral cavity, and that Dentistry is a Medical Speciality. I feel that this contributes in a major way to the lack of respect and appreciation that the population of the UK has always had for our professionalism and skills; the use of the title Dr is universally adopted in all other countries and no one seems to have a problem with this, so why is the issue even up for comment in the UK? Not to use this title is self denigrating and further evidence in the mind of the public of our mispercieved "second rate profession" status. Please, everyone, take pride in the title, as we have all earned it and deserve to use it. My Dad once told me that the only title you can place in front of your name that is comparable with Doctor is "Sir". I still believe this, and I hope you all do aswell.

Posted by biker2260 28/09/10 at 13:53

biker2260 - exactly so.
Here's what I put on the DPA site 28/7/10:

GDC draft ethical guidance, title Dr.
The (now appointed, of course!) GDC has produced draft ethical 'guidance'
'Dentists should not use the courtesy title 'doctor' (or the abbreviation 'Dr') unless they have a PhD or are a medically qualified and registered doctor. Its use as a courtesy title is potentially misleading to patients and it is important that patients do not assume that you have training or competencies which you do not possess.'

As an original contributor to Dr Douglas Pikes' campaign - he was subsequently elected to the GDC (no chance of things like that happening now, eh?!) - this sort of stuff is frankly insulting. The GDC of all people should be aware of the general equivalence of the BDS and the MB BS. The fact that it appears not to be so aware speaks volumes of the ignorance and small-minded attitudes prevalent in the GDC. The GDC should have spent the last c. 15 years since Dr Pikes' efforts tirelessly plugging away at public awareness of our professional skills and abilities. In addition, we are going to have to fall in line with the rest of the E.U eventually, whether the GDC likes it or not.
I hope the DPA promotes and encourages a massive campaign of disobedience with regard to this issue. Time for us to take a stand!

**************************************************************************

I see even the BDA realise we should be allowed to use the courtesy title Dr.
Go to the GDC website and take part in their 'consultation' - not that they'll take any notice!!

--This post was last edited on 29/09/10 at 16:20--

Posted by drstephenmorris 28/09/10 at 14:32

Whaaat? "Potentially misleading !!!!" "Training or competencies that you DO NOT POSSESS???? Am I reading this right? What was that five years of training and thirty years of experience all about then? It sure as hell didn't result in non posession of competencies, the insulting b*****rds. This is precisesly what I'm always banging on about in my comments. If our own GDC insults and denigrates us in this way then what chance are we ever going to have of commanding the respect that is due to us from the public, which is central to this issue of the Dr title? There should be a bronze statue of Douglas Pike in Wimpole Street to remind these idiots that at least one member of this cowering profession had the guts to stand up for himself and all of us and to serve as an inspiration for others to do the same in the face of all the onerous, draconian and completely uneccessary over regulation that we are being threatened with. I have just read the letter on page 6 of the September issue of dentistry magazine; I could have written it myself. I feel exactly the same as the writer. If we don't unite and stand up for ourselves as a profession then there is no hope for us, and this deplorable attitude from the GDC (thank you for bringing it to my attention Dr Steven) only serves to highlight the urgent need for solidarity and refusal to submit to this or any more control, insults and disrespect. Who agrees?

Posted by biker2260 29/09/10 at 15:17

biker2260 - well, quite. The GDC - appointed, now, natch - IMHO are beginning to 'skate on thin ice'. It wouldn't take much of a 'registration fee strike' to get that particular QUANGO (for that's what it is, now it's appointed) abolished even without the plain-speaking Mr Eric Pickles MP.
BTW, if we are going to have to register with the CQC, exactly what's the point of the GDC?

Posted by drstephenmorris 29/09/10 at 15:48

Biker 2260 and drstephenmorris.
Excellent comments. biker you mention in your comment "our own GDC" It is not ours! Just think about their slogan: "Protecting patients. Regulating the Dental Team" "Protecting patients" I think that says it all. Compare it with GMC's slogan: Regulating Doctors, ensuring good medical practice" In my opinion this is where the lobbying for change should star,t if we want to enjoy the respect that we deserve as a profession.
As i,ve mentioned in my previous comment about the title "Doctor" Use it as much as you can. we have worked hard for it and we deserve it.

Posted by Frasse 29/09/10 at 20:22

Most other countries use of the title Dr for dentist.This title give us more prestige we are sound more professional for patients.We are treating patients as of part of the medicine(dentistry medicine).Use the title Dr protect patients to be confused who we are-dentist,therapist,hygienist ..Sometimes my patients prefered to be treated by dentist only.GDC said if we use title Dr could confuse patients in UK (not in EU,USA,CANADA ECT).This way dentist who has Phd or different people with higher doctorate for example from chemistry could confuse patients to.This is stupid idea and I think patients are not stupid and thay know who treating them GDP,GP OR VET...and we describe our self to them "Dr dentist" not "Dr internist" I have been meet person from Canada last week(teacher) who thinking in the UK to be a Dentist it is enough to finish 2 yers course in Collage.This what some people thinking about UK dentist.Good job GDC.May everybody should call as only-"YOU".I am graduated from Universiti in Poland and Iam working in UK.My title on my diploma is "lekarz stomalolog"-means doctor of dentistry.For me use the title Mr humiliating my self.What title I schould use ?I am graduated how a Dr of dentistry.In USA long time ago dentist graduated how BDS now DDS or DMD.It is time to change this in UK.Anyway BDS or DDS this is equivalent-the same range,type of study and the same work.For me you are Doctors of Dental Surgery and nobady can change that. DR adam

Posted by slawinskia 8/10/10 at 14:23

Dentists in other countries graduate with a doctorate degree. Why? Because dental school is part of medical school in these countries. Also, dentists have dermatology, ent, internal medicine, pathology etc just like med students.
Dentists graduating from UK unis also get a great education and they should also get a doctorate degree.
It is not about being called "dr" - dental staff often thinks it is an "ego" issue...it isn't. It is about patient management and keeping trust and faith in the profession. Dentists are not wizards, they study hard and study for the rest of their career to keep up to date on the latest innovations in order to give the most to their patients.
Why is this even a question...is beyond me. Dentists are doctors. Why does that bother anyone anyway? Plus, will a phd dentist be better at actual treatment of patients? Well if a patient is a test tube then maybe.
What makes a dentist great is a good heart a healthy drive and experience. How many other health care professionals approach conscious patients with sharp instruments? not many. Do we need patients to believe in us? Yes, so let us be please. If the title doctor which is deserved anyway will help to put our patients at ease - that only helps all of us. Why does this have to be a debate even? Who gets paid to raise such questions even?

Posted by dentistuk12 9/10/10 at 16:16

Dentistry is a medical speciality. A Dentist (please use capitals) is a Doctor who specialised in diseases and disorders of the oral cavity. A Dentist is as much a Doctor as a GP or and other Specialist Surgeon. We posess skills and competencies that other Medical Specialist Doctors do not. This is by virtue of the extremely specialised nature of our training. Let there be no further doubt or debate about these facts. Please tell this to others; it is nothing to do with ego. If it is then so is putting things like pHD or Msc after your name when you have taken the trouble to study and earn these qualifications. Whatever the GDC says, or "rules", we must all continue to use the Doctor title as they do in all other (more sensible) countries, where no one even questions its use. The GDC do things like this "because they can" in a pathetic, contemptible gesture to flex their scary muscles and justify their existance. The same is true of whichever (no doubt highly paid) idiot had the idea of creating the uneccessary ogre that is the CQC. He or she won't have to lose thousands of pounds of hard earned, well deserved income, and even, possibly, their livelihood as a result of this stupidity. No; they will probably even kid themselves and others that this move was neccessary to place even more control on our already undervalued and over-regulated profession. I know this is off subject a bit, but if the government think that implementation of these regulations is neccessary then they should pay for them, not us. They should give every affected Practice a subsidy, like they do for farmers; think of yourselves as poor tooth-farmers who need Government support from the public purse (we serve them, don't we? - much of the time on our own time and at our own expense. Most of them do not even appreciate this). Let's respect ourselves and each other. This profession is in such a mess only because we don't stick together; maybe another good reason why we do not command our due respect from public, GDC or government?

Posted by biker2260 10/10/10 at 09:18

Biker22260. Spot on. Just saw one patient last week who had been prescribed Amoxicillin for a Turus Mandibularis by her GP (not generelising all GP's and their knowlege about oral conditions) and been advised that it might be something malignant! Now he can call himself/herself a Doctor but I who diagnosed the "anomali" in 2 seconds and assured the patient that she is just going to be fine should call myself MR!!!!
And can anybody in the GDC tell me how the public can not be missled by a person who has a PHD in Sociology or History or any other subject (they can call themselves Doctors apparently) but they might be missled by Dentists calling themselves Dr.s Where is the logic?

Posted by Frasse 10/10/10 at 16:23

Logic? Sorry... Logic?? I just wanted to hear how that sounded in context. Very self indulgent, sorry. Perhaps we should refer all our difficult surgical cases to Doctors of History, the Oral Med. cases to those who call themselves "Doctor" having obtained a Phd in humanities and any patient who presents with chronic periodontitis to your friendly local "doctor" of sociology for diagnosis and treatment unless, that is, it might make the aforementioned patients assume that these worthy individuals "possess training and competencies that they do not possess" (can't think why that would happen: they are, after all, unquestionably, doctors!). You would almost certainly face disciplinary action from the GDC if you did! Who ever heard of a Doctor of Sociology being struck off the register for serious professional misconduct? I love my job, but I often wonder why I chose such a narrow tightrope to walk on! Why the **** didn't I take a three year degree in sociology instead of a BDS? It's not as if I didn't have the opportunity; in fresher's week at my University I was (grafitically) invited to take one from the students' union gents cubicle wall! I thought it was a joke at the time, but I might actually be tempted to do it now; I might even get an Andrex puppy! I love these forums!! Bless you all, keep it coming!

Posted by biker2260 12/10/10 at 00:23

biker2260 - how about the alleged grafitti in the gents at the Old Bailey, which said: 'My fate is about to be determined by 12 people, all of whom were too stupid to avoid jury service.'
My late father never used the title 'Dr', although he had a PhD in organic chemistry. He always told me the reason was that he didn't want some cabin crew person coming up to him on a flight and expecting assistance with someone with crushing chest pains and breathing difficulties.... :-)

--This post was last edited on 14/10/10 at 23:35--

Posted by drstephenmorris 12/10/10 at 10:22