why dentistry and podiatry school 4 years?

[doogyhowser]

no i'm not trolling here.

just seems odd that M.D.'s go for 4 years and have to learn the entire body and all organ systems. Dentistry and Podiatry are obviously specialized to one general body region, I would've thought it'd be more like 3 years similar to chiropractic?
at one point i considered podiatry, but was turned off when i learned about the length of schooling required. 4 years?!- might as well get the M.D. and have more options.
was there some specific common interest all you DPMs and hopeful DPMs had that swayed you in this direction?

just curious

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[lawguil]

no i'm not trolling here.

just seems odd that M.D.'s go for 4 years and have to learn the entire body and all organ systems. Dentistry and Podiatry are obviously specialized to one general body region, I would've thought it'd be more like 3 years similar to chiropractic?
at one point i considered podiatry, but was turned off when i learned about the length of schooling required. 4 years?!- might as well get the M.D. and have more options.
was there some specific common interest all you DPMs and hopeful DPMs had that swayed you in this direction?

just curious

It is strange that the common denominator for a doctorate is four years... However it seems to work. Bottom line, becoming conversant with something takes time before you let a person loose with a scalpel and script privileges.
I believe that a DPM or DMD/DDS really are a specialist though. MD's may spend four years studying more of the whole body in a physical and visual sense, but probably don't study the depth of a targeted area like a DDS/DMD/DPM. Specialization comes after medical school for physicians. I'm sure most of the didactic portion is similar, but clinically, they have very different experiences. My understanding is that there are even specialties for DMD/DDS/DPM's outside of general podiatry or dentistry which is obviously much focused to begin with. L.

 

[busupshot83]

no i'm not trolling here.

just seems odd that M.D.'s go for 4 years and have to learn the entire body and all organ systems. Dentistry and Podiatry are obviously specialized to one general body region, I would've thought it'd be more like 3 years similar to chiropractic?
at one point i considered podiatry, but was turned off when i learned about the length of schooling required. 4 years?!- might as well get the M.D. and have more options.
was there some specific common interest all you DPMs and hopeful DPMs had that swayed you in this direction?

just curious

Many people that have been through both medical and dental (oral surgeons) school argue that dental school is more difficult. Don't belive me? Go to www.DentalTown.com or head over to SDN's Dental Forums. The first two years of dental and medical school are identical curriculum-wise. However, on top of that, dental students have clinicals to do. Thus, one may argue that dental students have their *residency* simutaneously with their normal work. Also, categorizing dentists with podiatrists and chiropractors isn't accurate, because dentists have full prescription rights.

 

[Bandit]

one of the least informed questions I have ever read. Not worth a response

 

[deleted6669]

Many people that have been through both medical and dental (oral surgeons) school argue that dental school is more difficult. Don't belive me? Go to www.DentalTown.com or head over to SDN's Dental Forums. The first two years of dental and medical school are identical curriculum-wise. However, on top of that, dental students have clinicals to do. Thus, one may argue that dental students have their *residency* simutaneously with their normal work. Also, categorizing dentists with podiatrists and chiropractors isn't accurate, because dentists have full prescription rights.

last time I checked dpm's have full prescription rights too......they are after all specialized surgeons.....

 

[doogyhowser]

one of the least informed questions I have ever read. Not worth a response

thanks for the response, a$$bandit

 

[doogyhowser]

Many people that have been through both medical and dental (oral surgeons) school argue that dental school is more difficult. Don't belive me? Go to www.DentalTown.com or head over to SDN's Dental Forums. The first two years of dental and medical school are identical curriculum-wise. However, on top of that, dental students have clinicals to do. Thus, one may argue that dental students have their *residency* simutaneously with their normal work. Also, categorizing dentists with podiatrists and chiropractors isn't accurate, because dentists have full prescription rights.

makes sense. i guess four years isn't so long when you don't necessarily have a 3,4, or 5 year residency on top. yeah, dental school is tough, no doubt. buddy of mine went through it- can be a tough area of medicine to practice in from what he says too.

 

[box29]

makes sense. i guess four years isn't so long when you don't necessarily have a 3,4, or 5 year residency on top. yeah, dental school is tough, no doubt. buddy of mine went through it- can be a tough area of medicine to practice in from what he says too.

There is a 2-3 yr residency for DPMs, and starting with the class of 2006, the newly designed PM&S 24 or 36 residencies will include surgery...(2 yr for forefoot and 3 yr to include rearfoot)...

 

[tupac_don]

Many people that have been through both medical and dental (oral surgeons) school argue that dental school is more difficult. Don't belive me? Go to www.DentalTown.com or head over to SDN's Dental Forums. The first two years of dental and medical school are identical curriculum-wise. However, on top of that, dental students have clinicals to do. Thus, one may argue that dental students have their *residency* simutaneously with their normal work. Also, categorizing dentists with podiatrists and chiropractors isn't accurate, because dentists have full prescription rights.

No they don't. Dentists only have prescribing rights for certain meds related to their practice. They can't prescribe chemo drugs, say.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

No they don't. Dentists only have prescribing rights for certain meds related to their practice. They can't prescribe chemo drugs, say.

They do, but here is the kicker.

We can only prescribe within the scope of our practice (to avoid legal problems with malpractice), but we can prescribe anything bec the DEA says we can. So we can but can't...if you get my drift.

Its up to the pharmacist if they will fill the prescription or not. For instance, I can prescribe birth control to my wife and it is perfectly legal. Now it is a matter of the pharmacist filling it. If they are firm believer this is not my place to write the script, they will call me and advise me they will not fill it.

So yeah I can write a script for chemo drugs, but 1) I run the risk of malpractice 2) It probably won't be filled by the pharm guys 3) Even though we have a rigorus pharmacology course/s, I probably do not have a full understanding of the mechanisms of the drug since that is not my area, so there are some ethical issues.

 

[diabeticfootdr]

Both DPM's and DDS's have the right to prescribe any drug. Generally, it must be for a condition you're treating within your scope of practice. However, when you have patients admitted to your own service in the hospital, you write for all their insulins, anti-hypertensives, etc.

Having this ability allows you to write for a drug "off-label". For instance, certain antidepressants and anticonvulsants are usefull in treating painful diabetic neuropathy.

LCR