Which doctor is the best MD Ph.D DDS or OD?

Answer 1

The answer depends on your needs.

MD = Medical Doctor (Physician)

Medical doctors have an overall knowledge of medicine and the human body and pharmacology (effects of drugs on humans). MDs can specialize to one of dozens of branches of medicine which range to cover every conceivable part of the human body, the psyche, and general medicine (Family doctor). MDs also have 11 years of schooling after high school. Four years of college, four years of medical school and a MINIMUM of 3 years residency (working in a hospital as a doctor in training). Depending on the specialty, some doctors have 8 years residency. Finally, in order to maintain the M.D. title, doctors must take and pass a certain amount of continuing education courses every few years.

PhD = Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy is a title earned by many years of study in one of hundreds of fields of study. The PhD can be in any science from sociology to archeology, from mathematics to physics, from quantum mechanics to physiology.

A psychologist is a PhD who has studied human psychology and is able to help with mental issues as long as there are no physical causes to the psychological issues his patient is suffering. A Psychiatrist is an MD who has specialized in the human brain and human psychology. Psychiatrists are able to treat physical ailments such as chemical imbalances that cause psychological issues in their patients. Psychiatrists cannot necessarily perform surgery on the brain. For that you would need a surgeon who is also a neurologist.

DDS = Doctor of Dental Surgery (Dentist)

A DDS is a person who studied specifically about dentistry. A DDS has general knowledge of human physiology, but their course of study about anything other than their specific field of study is limited to about the level of the first year of medical school.

OD = Oculus Doctor (Optometrist) -

Not to be confused with Optician or Ophthalmologist.

ODs are specifically trained on the eyes, specific procedures, diagnosing and identifying eye diseases and other issues as well as the ability to prescribe corrective lenses (glasses and contacts lenses)

Opticians are the ones that will fit your glasses and make sure they meet the requirements of the prescription the Optometrist or Ophthalmologist issued. Opticians are generally trained in their craft, but they do not have to be a doctor of any kind nor is there a specific criteria to call oneself an optician.

Ophthalmologists are MDs that have specialized in the human visual system from the eye ball to the brain. For eye surgeries other than lasic procedures and other approved services one needs to go to an ophthalmologist.

Other types of doctors

DC = Doctor of Chiropractic

DO = Doctor of Osteopathy (MD training, but use holistic approach)

ND = Naturopathic Doctor (Holistic Medicine) - some call it quackery

DMD = Doctor of Dental Medicine (equivalent to DDS)

DVM = Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Animal doctor)

Like an MD, these doctors take extensive training courses in the physiology of animals and there are specialties such as large animal veterinarians who specialize in horses, cattle and other large animals.

DPT = Doctor of Physical Therapy

PharmD = Doctor of Pharmacology (Pharmacist)

JD = Juris Doctor (Laywer)

some argue that this is a type of PhD, but this is a specific distinction. Most lawyers do not call themselves Doctor unless they have another type of doctorate (PhD) or Medical training, but they have the title on their degrees.