Practitioners of dental procedures such as teeth whitening and teeth implants should continue to use the title ‘Dr’, according to a survey.

The British Dental Association (BDA) carried out an online discussion over the use of the courtesy title between July and September this year, attracting a large number of responses.

It indicated that dentists in London and elsewhere are keen to continue being referred to as Dr, while the majority of patients are not confused by the presence of the title.

“The practice of referring to dentists in this way is long-established overseas and is also now firmly embedded in the UK,” said Dr Susie Sanderson, chair of the association’s executive board.

She added that patients have no issue with the title “as long as it is made clear that the individual in question is a dentist”.

The BDA, a professional body which has approximately 23,000 members in the UK, conducted the discussion in response to a consultation being run by the General Dental Council.