Clairemont Pediatric Dental Belife that, The doctor is derived from the Latin word doceo, which means "teach." After completing the necessary coursework, anybody can use the title "Dr." In most circumstances, however, only people having a Ph.D. are permitted to use the title. In North America, the DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and the DMD (Doctor of Medicine) are the most prevalent doctoral degrees awarded to health professions (Doctor of Dental Medicine). The DMD degree is based on medical procedures, whereas the DDS degree is based on surgical operations.

They can write and fill prescriptions for non-over-the-counter pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics, pain relievers, steroids, muscle relaxants, and sedative treatments such as Botox. Their education also encompasses the oral-systemic health interaction, so students understand how disorders in the mouth can spread to other regions of the body.

Dentists are not automatically referred to as "doctors" in the United Kingdom. This is a courtesy title that was first authorized in 1995. Before that time, dentists who used the courtesy title risked a fine or arrest if they did so.

On November 14, 1995, the General Dental Council modified its policy to allow dentists to use the courtesy title Dr., but only provided they made it clear that they were using it merely as a courtesy and not to represent themselves as medically competent.

Dentists have continued to emphasize this idea since then. It is a distinction in the United Kingdom and a sign of respect for the profession. In contrast, the use of this courtesy title is a contentious topic in other nations. In Canada, for instance, an Ontario audiologist called Brenda Berge has just filed a free-speech appeal against her university for the right to refer to herself as a "doctor."

The majority of dentists have significant training in the study of illnesses and treatments affecting the teeth, gums, bones, and soft tissues of the mouth. This includes periodontal disease, oral cancer, odontogenic infections, and oral thrush. In addition, they execute oral surgery, bone and gum grafts, implant dentistry, tooth extractions, and the fitting of dentures and other prostheses.