A group of girls, around 13 or 14 years, once asked me what I was 'studying'? "II year B.D.S.", I said. An agile discussion took place betwixt them and they giggled! I was stumped!! One of the girls father was a doctor. He was related to the medical field and not dental. No regrets. But what aghast me was that giggle in a jiffy! I could relate it only to the girl's father who happened to be this 'doc'!
I have always wondered why people think dentistry as inferior, at least in comparison with medicine! "What are you doing currently?" Someone asked me..
"Am doing my II year in dentistry."
"Ah! That's great. But did you not make it to medicine??!!" He's downhearted..
"Excuse me! How would I make it if I did not apply to it?????!!!!" Am dismayed!
There can be 3 categories of people who apply for dentistry. One, you are really interested in the course. Two, you had to as you could not make it to M.B.B.S. and third, you are forced to join due to some sort of a shear! Whichever category the individual belongs to, it solely depends on what he is tomorrow(a successful dentist or yet another dentist!)
Talking about those girls again, it shows how their parents have educated them at this age! In what way are dentists inferior?! You can call it animosity as I am pursuing my career in dentistry but honestly being in the same field, it hurts more. Adding salt on an open wound, is how I would describe it!
When there was an additional year of internship for the M.B.B.S. students, a lot of protest was on! Commotion and chaos advanced everywhere. When we(myself and peer) sat down for a discussion if we could serve the rural community, it sounded impractical! To afford even the basics, starting from the dental chairs till dental cements, seemed absurd! Is that the reason the dentists are subjacent?! "All you need is a table, a chair, a few minimal apparatus and that is it, your clinic is ready!" Is that all is required by a medical practitioner?!
"Medicine is a noble profession aimed for the betterment of people." Precisely! This is what I am trying to convey. But why have to demarcate Medicine as M.B.B.S. alone?? Why the other fields like pharmaceuticals, nursing, B.D.S., physiotherapy etc neglected?! Why has Medicine become a narrow spectrum?
When you are in the aisle to emerge as a dentist, when you are a student, the respect is missing. But when there is an inclusion of Dr., the awe is seen! By respect I do not mean a white collar or the 'dispose of' attitude.
Expand your vision if you still think medical practitioners are the elite group. There is no elite group if it is meant for the people and their betterment! Understand that M.B.B.S. or B.D.S. work on the same cadavers(the dead) , difference being they(M.B.B.S.) study the entire cadaver whereas B.D.S. are delimited to the neck. When we get down into the profession and are certified doctors, we work on the 6th sense animals only!
