DENTISTS AND DOCTORS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 17

DENTISTS AND DOCTORS

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.PA) LONDON, April 22. Britain's 11,000 dentists are wondering if they should be allowed to call themselves “doctor,” says a leading article in the “British Dental Journal.” ‘Before deciding on this matter of title ourselves it might, perhaps, be a good idea to discover what our patients think about it,” says the journal. At present the law prevents

a dentist calling himself “Dr.” because it might imply that he was qualified to practise medicine.

But thousands of family doctors call themselves “Dr.” when in fact they have no academic “doctorate”; therefore, if dentists did start to call themselves “Dr.” medical practitioners would not be in a good position to accuse their dental colleagues of “improper use of words,” says the journal.

“In view of the scope of dentistry today it might be just for dentists to use the title, and it might help to im-

prove our standing with our patients,” it said. But a dentist writing in the journal says: “I feel quite certain that the public reaction to a change in our label will not be one of increased respect. They are not easily fooled—to them we will remain the wolves but wearing sheep’s clothing.”