<p>Would you say a dentist is a "real doctor"? How about optometrists? Chiropractors?</p>
<p>Dentists yes, Optometrists sort of, Chiropractors not at all.</p>
<p>This is not to say they are not worthwhile and not so good professionals in each field, but what each field can claim in terms of evidence based medicine is extremely variable. </p>
<p>Taking chiropractors for example - there are studies that have proven the ideal angles of the spine and they are associated with improved function and comfort. And the chiropractors that utilize these principles, with X-rays and other imaging do not deceive their patients. But those that talk about “subluxations” and how these affect things infectious diseases or other chronic conditions are nothing but quacks.</p>
<p>As I understand it, there are three categories of medical professionals who can legitimately be called medical doctors: physicians (MD/DO), dentists (DMD) and veterinarians (DVM).</p>
<p>not to mention pharmD</p>
<p>a pharmD is a phD just like “Doctor” of biochemistry, math, etc.
an oral surgeon is an MD
a chiropractor is a doctor of chioropractice and can use the name doctor. Some are great</p>
<p>If you think of a real doctor as a PHYSICIAN, then optometrists, dentists, podiatrists, and chiropractors etc are not “real” doctors. Any doctorate degree person can claim the term doctor e.g. PhD in engineering. You should look at the motivation. If the professional is trying to gain status and prestige by implying he or she is a physician, and blurring the line with the title doctor, well…</p>
<p>I am a dentist, not a physician. I took several courses that physicians take in medical school, but not with the same focus, and I think, not with the same depth. I didn’t spend three years as a resident in a hospital, and I normally don’t deal with life and death situations. And I am glad I don’t. I never wanted to be a physician, although I think I would have been able to get through medical school. Most dentists are smart enough to be physicians, I think.</p>
<p>I think what you want to ask is: Are dentists physicians? The answer is no. Only physicians are physicians. And physicians can’t repair teeth (unless they also went to dental school,) or prescribe glasses.</p>
<p>Opthomologists can prescribe glasses 
While I can handle blood and guts (if it’s not mine) I cannot even be in the room while a tooth is being pulled so god bless dentists. No disrespect intended to other fields, just answering the question.</p>
<p>Dentists are only allowed to only treat patients with issues relating to the mouth/teeth. Optometrists are only allowed to treat patients with issues relating to the eye. They are both considered doctors and they are usually very good at what they do. </p>
<p>I’m only aware of 4 professions in which people can practice general systemic medicine. Those professions are Medical Doctors, Doctors of Osteopathy, Physician Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners.</p>
<p>Oh, and Chiropractors do not practice medicine at all. They practice joint manipulation. If you have a problem with joints/bones or nerves, you should see a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Physician Assistant ¶, or Nurse Practitioner (NP) first. They can then determine if you should receive medicine, surgery, or chiropractic manipulation as part of your treatment.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I find this comment rather amusing when one thinks about the history of how physicians became known informally as ‘doctors.’ In short, it was actually the physicians looking to gain status and prestige that led them to copy the title from other professions, namely senior academics. This was done at a time when physicians were viewed by many as shady characters practicing dark arts than the disciplined scientific based profession of today. The physicians of the time thought that by copying the title ‘doctor’ they would be put more on par with respected academics of the time. </p>
<p>Consequently any suggestion that someone with a PhD wants to be called ‘doctor’ to ‘gain status and prestige’ or ‘blurring the line’ is downright silly considering its actually the medical profession that is, historically, guilty of this act of vanity ;-).</p>
<p>Physicians are, and should be, respectfully called ‘doctor’ because that’s the current widely accepted tradition… but most don’t know the history behind that tradition. The only modern incarnation of a “real doctor”, in the historical sense, is someone with a PhD or equivalent degree.</p>
<p>There are some parallels between a dentist and oral surgeon vs. an optometrist and ophthalmologist… however, in most states in the US dentists are licensed to perform far more invasive medical procedures than optometrists. Filling a cavity or a root canal are essentially outpatient surgeries. </p>
<p>An ophthalmologist can do everything an optometrist can do plus a lot more. </p>
<p>In most countries optometrists are not considered or called ‘doctors.’ However, in the US there is a lot of degree and title inflation around many of the health professions (ie the US is rare in issuing ‘doctor’ of medicine degrees to basic med school graduates… most countries consider this a bachelors or masters level degree) and in line with that the optometry profession in the US makes a big deal out of wanting to be called ‘doctor’ and issues ‘doctor of optometry’ degrees. Regardless of what they’re called optometrists are an essential part of ones healthcare team.</p>