If a general dentist and orthodontist and DMD and DDS first have to go to the same college for 8 years why cant an orthodontist or DDS do things that general things do with their specialty?
2007-03-12 10:09:12 · 4 answers · asked by vraju m 3 in Health ➔ Dental
I'm a dentist.
"D.D.S." and "D.M.D." are simply the doctorate degrees awarded by dental schools. Some schools give the "D.D.S." degree while others give the "D.M.D." degree. They are absolutely identical degrees with regard to education and credentials. A doctor with a D.D.S. is no different than one with a D.M.D., and vice versa. It's a tradition thing, I guess. More dental schools award the D.D.S. degree than the D.M.D degree, however.
Orthodontics are doctors (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) who practice a dental specialty called "orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics". When a doctor officially enters a specialty (by becoming board certified), he/she commits to practicing only within the scope of that specialty.
Of course, any dental specialist can "renounce" their specialization and practice general dentistry. Their DDS or DMD degree means that they're qualified to do so.
It would be a big mistake, however, for an orthodontist to practice general dentistry. First and foremost, orthodontics is arguably the highest-paying health care discipline--more so than even plastic surgery--when you consider the hours that orthodontists work: usually four days a week, absolutely no call, and virtually no emergencies. A high percentage of their patients are fee-for-service, meaning that there are no insurance write-offs, meaning that they tend to get paid every penny they normally charge for their services. This means more money.
An orthodontist who relinquishes his specialty practice and starts practicing general dentistry will almost certainly lose most of his referrals. What general dentist in his right mind would send patients to another general dentist for braces rather than to an orthodontist?
2007-03-12 10:50:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you specialize in something, you have made up your mind that this is what you will be doing therefore even though an orthodontist at some point was just like a general dentist, he or she has made the choice to practice a certain type of dentistry therefore they have become skillful in that area.
2007-03-12 10:13:57 · answer #2 · answered by nana 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
why mess around with all them anyway. who cares. go to a biologic dentist. that way you know what you are getting.
2007-03-12 11:11:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They probably can but choose not to.
2007-03-12 10:12:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋