"All Dentists Are the SAME"

There is something about dentists and dentistry that is different from almost all other professions and products.

If we talk about cars, houses, diamonds, stoves, basketball players, musicians etc, etc, etc, everyone in America knows that NOTHING is the same as anything else with respect to quality, cost and talent.

It is virtually indisputable that Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the finest basketball players that have ever lived. It is accepted that the Beatles, Billy Joel and Elton John are among the finest and most talented musicians every to perform in front of an audience.

And yet, on a daily basis someone will tell me that all dentists are the same. Are you kidding me?
How is it possible that reasonable people would agree that a $10 million home is far superior to a house costing $250,000 but the same people believe that all dentists are the same.

Does this mean that every dentist has the same level of passion for their work or that a dentist with 3500 hours of continuing education is the same as a dentist with 350 hours of study?

To say that 'all dentists are the same' is the same as saying that the world is flat when our real world observations and space exploration shows us that the world is round.

Can you tell how I feel when I hear the statement that 'all dentists are the same?"