do we really need to go here?

[rocket surgeon]

   " you're putting your patients at risk."   really?

 

[rocket surgeon]

i have no problem identifying early signs of anything, but we've been screening for oral cancer for years.  the terrible triad just became the quagmire quadraplex-drinking, smoking gum disease and now cunninglingus from both sides of the plate. 

what's next?  bestiality ain't good for the tonsils?

[GGGG]

i have no problem identifying early signs of anything, but we've been screening for oral cancer for years.  the terrible triad just became the quagmire quadraplex-drinking, smoking gum disease and now cunninglingus from both sides of the plate. 

what's next?  bestiality ain't good for the tonsils?

Maybe you should just retire.

[rocket surgeon]

Maybe you should just retire.

why?  i love what i do!  and don't forget to brush, floss, rinse and spit

[Jay Bee]

When I use to drink a lot of coffee, my dentist ax'd "do you drinks tons of coffee, ya fuk?"... but when I did a lot of other things, he aint ax'd "daaaamn playa, you gettin girls like dat?"  Should I find a new dentist?

[ZiggysFryBoy]

When I use to drink a lot of coffee, my dentist ax'd "do you drinks tons of coffee, ya fuk?"... but when I did a lot of other things, he aint ax'd "daaaamn playa, you gettin girls like dat?"  Should I find a new dentist?

I know one in the Quon that's a fan of the 70's style muff diving.

[StillAWarrior]

I'm with rocket on this one.  I'm perfectly comfortable with my dentist looking for signs of cancer and referring me to a specialist if there he/she sees anything concerning.   Perhaps I'm wrong, but I suspect a lot of people will feel the same way that I feel, and would be extremely uncomfortable discussing such issues with their dentists -- even if it is a good idea medically.  I would feel more comfortable talking about such issues with a "real" doctor (no offense to my dentist friends and family members).

I'm pretty sure I'd feel the same way even if my dentist wasn't sitting across the table from me at Thanksgiving.

[forgetful]

I'm with rocket on this one.  I'm perfectly comfortable with my dentist looking for signs of cancer and referring me to a specialist if there he/she sees anything concerning.   Perhaps I'm wrong, but I suspect a lot of people will feel the same way that I feel, and would be extremely uncomfortable discussing such issues with their dentists -- even if it is a good idea medically.  I would feel more comfortable talking about such issues with a "real" doctor (no offense to my dentist friends and family members).

I'm pretty sure I'd feel the same way even if my dentist wasn't sitting across the table from me at Thanksgiving.

Not a dentist, but this misconception is a problem.  Dentists undergo the same training, in terms of coursework and knowledge as a medical doctor.  The reason dentistry is its own separate field, despite it being a medical profession and same training is a fascinating bit of history. 

[StillAWarrior]

Not a dentist, but this misconception is a problem.  Dentists undergo the same training, in terms of coursework and knowledge as a medical doctor.  The reason dentistry is its own separate field, despite it being a medical profession and same training is a fascinating bit of history.

While I believe that your statement is somewhat overstated (although I am very open to being educated), I understand your point and was making the statement in jest.  I really do hope it wasn't offensive to the dentists on the board.  That said, I stand by my point that even though it might be unreasonable and imprudent, most people would be more comfortable speaking with such things with their primary care physician or a specialist.

Edited to add:  I really hope that nothing I've said in this thread is interpreted to denigrate the academic or professional work of dentists.  As I said, I have dentists in my family (perhaps the reason for what I intended as a good-natured jest), and I think very highly of what they do.  Just because I've suggested that I think your comment is overstated (i.e., I don't think they undergo all the same training or coursework as MDs) does not mean that I think one is more rigorous than the other.  Perhaps I'm completely misinformed.  I'd think there is significant overlap, but then they move into their own specialized curriculum.

[rocket surgeon]

While I believe that your statement is somewhat overstated (although I am very open to being educated), I understand your point and was making the statement in jest.  I really do hope it wasn't offensive to the dentists on the board.  That said, I stand by my point that even though it might be unreasonable and imprudent, most people would be more comfortable speaking with such things with their primary care physician or a specialist.

Edited to add:  I really hope that nothing I've said in this thread is interpreted to denigrate the academic or professional work of dentists.  As I said, I have dentists in my family (perhaps the reason for what I intended as a good-natured jest), and I think very highly of what they do.  Just because I've suggested that I think your comment is overstated (i.e., I don't think they undergo all the same training or coursework as MDs) does not mean that I think one is more rigorous than the other.  Perhaps I'm completely misinformed.  I'd think there is significant overlap, but then they move into their own specialized curriculum.

absolutely no offense taken here.  thanks for your support and clarification of the issue from a "regular joe's" pov.  what us guys usually do in situations where we need a 2nd opinion on something noted as to be "not within normal limits" or more specific to this topic, an abnormal growth, sometimes cauliflower-like appearance, pedunculated, etc we refer to an oral surgeon.  i would feel very comfortable putting them closer to the medical field than just us general dentists even though we do perform some pretty juicy stuff on occasion.  some of these oral surgeons, however can actually take a mouth apart and put it back together, i.e. orthognathic surgery