How come a dentist is not considered to be a doctor?

Question

Most people tell me that a dentist is not considered a doctor. How come?

Answer 1

i consider it a doctor

Answer 2

Because an apple a day doesnt keep the dentist away.

Answer 3

it is because dentists only specialize in a certain field whereas doctors can pretty much do everything

Answer 4

They are, in the sense that the DDS is a doctor of dental surgery, and they are called doctor too.

Generally, you say 'dentist' because that's their job.  You could also say a medical doctor is an internist or a cardiologist or a neurologist.  I guess it would seem odd to say that a dentist was a 'doctor' as a generic term because that wouldn't imply that s/he was a dentist to most people.

Some dentists also go to medical school for things like orofaciomaxillary surgery and they are definitely doctors and dentists both.  *g*

Answer 5

Physical therapists and chiropractors are in the same boat.

They have their own schools and own boards (not the AMA) so they are not considered the same level as AMA board certifees (word? "Those that are certified")