Is a Dentist a Physician?

Training may overlap, but there’s a difference between a dentist and a doctor.

What Is the Difference Between a Dentist and a Physician?

Dentists:  DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine)

Focus on teeth, gums, jaw, and oral health. They diagnose conditions, perform procedures like fillings or root canals, and may conduct oral surgery.

Physicians: MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

Train to understand the entire body, diagnose illnesses, prescribe treatments, and often specialize in one field (such as cardiology or neurology).

In short: dentists are doctors of oral health, but they are not physicians under medical definitions.

Why the Confusion Exists

• Both dentists and physicians complete doctoral-level education.
• Both use the title “Doctor” in clinical practice.
• Some dental specialties (like oral surgery) overlap with broader medical care.

Because of this overlap, many patients assume dentists fall under the same category as physicians, but legally and professionally, they do not.

Training: Medical School vs Dental School

Dental School

• 4 years after undergrad
• First 2 years: coursework in anatomy, pharmacology, ethics, and life sciences
• Final 2 years: clinical practice under supervision
• Graduates earn a DDS or DMD
• Must pass a state licensing exam

Medical School

• 4 years after undergrad
• First 2 years: general sciences, pharmacology, ethics, and clinical practice
• Final 2 years: clinical rotations across many specialties
• Graduates earn an MD or DO
• Must complete a residency program (3–7 years, depending on specialty), and often a fellowship

Physicians generally complete more years of training because of residency requirements. Dentists typically begin practicing sooner.

Dental Specialties vs Medical Specialties

Like physicians, dentists can pursue advanced training. Common dental specialties include:

• Pedodontics – Children’s oral health
• Periodontics – Gum disease and implants
• Endodontics – Root canals
• Orthodontics – Braces and jaw alignment
• Prosthodontics – Dentures and prosthetics
• Oral Surgery – Complex surgical procedures

Residency requirements vary: some specialties add 2–6 more years of training.

Physicians, meanwhile, may pursue residencies in fields like pediatrics, internal medicine, OBGYN, or neurosurgery (which may require 7 years or more).

So is a Dentist a Physician, then?

No – dentists are not classified as physicians. But both play critical roles in health care:

• Dentists: Detect oral conditions that can be linked to diseases like diabetes or heart disease.
• Physicians: Monitor overall body health and systemic illness.

Both require rigorous training, professional licensing, and the ability to diagnose and treat patients. Dentists are doctors of dental medicine, not physicians of general medicine.

Key Takeaways

Dentists are not considered physicians. Dentists earn either a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), while physicians complete an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). The primary difference lies in training and scope: physicians study and treat the entire body, while dentists focus specifically on oral health. Despite this distinction, both are doctors who diagnose conditions, perform procedures, and play critical roles in patient care.