Are dentists real doctors?

Yes, of course. My guess is that they are separate from MDs because of some historical reason. I think at one time people would go to the barber to get their teeth pulled.

Yes. They have their own equivalent of an M.D.

What about pharmacists? Optometrists?

So you know, because you obviously do not, anyone with either a medical degree or a doctoral degree is A DOCTOR.

You know very little of academia.

But you knew that. I hope.

Of course they're real. Many people care more about their dental care than their overall health care, and put a lot more trusts in dentists then their GPs.

Of course they are, based on their qualifications after they finish their formal education. A dentist is referred to as a doctor specializing in oral health and who has earned either a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.