The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-22
A DENTOR WHO SPEAKS LIKE
A DOCTOR

My friends the dentists--I still like
to think of them like that, although
an item in a recent bill for some re-
pairs made for a member Of my
menaee made it very difficult: PRO
phylaxis IS" and, by the way,
fellows, why can't We insert sur
charge of five berries or so for
"asepsis" in most of our, er, state
ments?-the dentists are not greatly
enamored of my proposal that they
show an example by relinquishing the
professional use of the title Doc
tor" to practicing physicians exclu-
sively, and content themselves with
some such trademark as "Dentor" in
stead. Not that the dentists, at least
dentists legally qualified, are not en-
titled to all the prestige and bust
ness, advantage the designation of
Doctor" gives them. The usual de-
gree D. D. S. means Doctor OF Den
tai Surgery: and at least one dental
school grants the degree-well, 1t Is
so exotic I am not sure but think
it is D. M. D. meaning Doctor OF
Dental Medicine or something of the
kind So the dentists have as sound
a claim on the title as has any ply
sician or any Doctor of Divinity or
Doctor of Philosophy or any other
individual who has received a doc
torate degree. But many of the fore
most dentists have assured me IN pri-
vate that they'd as lief drop the
title of Doctor" and contend that
If all dentists were to do so 1t would
promote public welfare and not in
jure any reputable dentists standing
or practice. It would promote pub
lie welfare by removing much of the
confusion that the piratical use Of
this title Doctor" has caused in re-
cent years. If our friends the den
fists were not tarred by the same
stick, so to speak, we could soon
teach the gullible public to beware
of the chap who purports to be "Dr.
John Doe" but neglects to make
known to his prospective suckers
what authority he has for the use of
the title. For example, the egregious
DR." Belts who prOpagates the
kitchen and cooking ware phobia and
the fear of certain excellent brands
of baking powder. Many laymen who
are quite alarmed by this propaganda
at first feel treasured of the whole
someness of the kind of utensils and
baking powder concerned when they
discover that the doctor" behind it
is not a physician at all, but den-
fist.
Today came a letter from Dentor
who makes noise like Doctor, and
by good right, for he is not only an
M. D. with four years hospital prac-
tice, and then a D. D. S. with 10
years OF dentistry. which is his pro-
fession. This physician eXemplifies
the ideal I hope will eventually be-
come the rule: in fact all reputable,
licensed dentists in practice are prac-
ticing as medical specialists, and in
fairness to the public, the medical
profession and to themselves they
ought to be trained as physicians be-
fore they undertake the special work
of dentistry at all. The student of
dentistry should receive his medical
course In regular medical school,
and when he has completed that and
received his degree Of Doctor Of
Medicine, then, If he SO elects, he
should take the necessary postgrad-
uate course In the technical subjects
pertaining to the practice of dem
tistry. When that square deal is
given the public, we shall not bubble
over the Dentor's claim on the title
of Doctor nor shall we think Of him
as a MERE dentist.