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Four out of five dentists think it is appropriate to continue to use the courtesy title of ‘Dr.’ according to a poll carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA). The survey was carried out as part of a discussion hosted on the communities section of the BDA Web site between late July and early September. The debate attracted high levels of interest, being viewed more than 2,800 times.
The discussion, which was open from late July to early September, saw contributions from BDA members across the United Kingdom. The results of the poll will be used to emphasize the profession’s concerns in the BDA’s formal response to the General Dental Council’s consultation on the issue.
Dr. Susie Sanderson, Chair of the BDA’s Executive Board, said: “This issue has generated unprecedented levels of interest from contributors to the BDA’s online communities. Participants have sent a very strong signal about their wish to continue using the title Dr. We have listened to them and will convey the strength of that feeling to the GDC in our response to its consultation on this issue.
“It is clear from the contributions to this forum that, as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist, patients do not seem to be confused by the use of the title. The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK.”t
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