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What is the difference between a DMD and DDS degree?
Toothinator said:"The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. The difference is a matter of semantics. The majority of dental schools award the DDS degree; however, some award a DMD degree. The education and degrees are the same."
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/dds_dmd.asp
Please see the FAQ for a detailed answer to this question.turtmd said:What is the difference between a DMD and DDS degree?
turtmd said:What is the difference between a DMD and DDS degree?
SuperC said:Dr..... You information appears to be incorrect ....
Pulled from the net....
Many people, including dentists, share your confusion over the use of the D.D.S. and D.M.D. degrees. Today, some dental schools grant a D.D.S. degree and others prefer to award the D.M.D. degree instead. The training the dentists receive is very similar but the degree granted is different. Here are the details:
Ancient medicine was divided into two groups:
1. the surgery group that dealt with treating diseases and injuries using instruments; and
2. the medicine group that dealt with healing diseases using internal remedies. Originally there was only the D.D.S. degree which stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery.
This all changed in 1867 when Harvard University added a dental school. Harvard University only grants degrees in Latin. Harvard did not adopt the D.D.S. or "Doctor of Dental Surgery" degree because the Latin translation was "Chirurgae Dentium Doctoris" or C.D.D. The people at Harvard thought that C.D.D. was cumbersome. A Latin scholar was consulted. The scholar suggested the ancient "Medicinae Doctor" be prefixed with "Dentariae". This is how the D.M.D. or "Dentariae Medicinae Doctor" degree was started. (Congratulations! Now you probably know more Latin than most dentists!)
At the turn of the century, there were 57 dental schools in the U.S. but only Harvard and Oregon awarded the D.M.D. In 1989, 23 of the 66 North American dental schools awarded the D.M.D. I think about half the Canadian dental schools now award the D.M.D. degree.
The American Dental Association (A.D.A.) is aware of the public confusion surrounding these degrees. The A.D.A. has tried on several occasions to reduce this confusion. Several sample proposals include:
1. eliminate the D.M.D. degree;
2. eliminate the D.D.S. degree; or
3. eliminate both degrees and invent a brand new degree that every dental school will agree to use.
Unfortunately, this confusion may be with us for a long time. When emotional factors like "school pride" and "tradition" arise, it is difficult to find a compromise.
1. Crawford, P.R., "To be or not to be: DDS or DMD," Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, (August 1989) 55(8):639-640.
2. Griggs, D., "The DDS vs. DMD situation," Journal of the American Dental Association, (April 1974) 88(4):691-693.
3. Hillenbrand, H., "DDS or DMD: The glacial period," Journal of Dental Education, (July 1972) 36(7):3.
4. Letter, "The DDS-DMD issue," Journal of the American Dental Association, (June 1974) 88(6):1241.
5. Robinson J.B., "DDS or DMD: Footnotes to dental history," Journal of Dental Education, (January 1973) 37(1):17-20.
Dr. Dai Phan said:What part of my statement is incorrect? DP
polarnut said:the part where you said dental students who were trained along with medical students were awarded the DMD as the dental students who were trained in the dental schools were given the DDS
...and what two people (so far) have tried to tell you is that it isn't. Wikipedia is very useful, but isn't exactly the most authoritative source of information on the internet. The history given by SuperC is correct.Dr. Dai Phan said:Hello,
As I said in my statement, I can't be sure if that is correct though... I myself do not know if it is true. But I read that thorough an online encyclopedia and I will try to find the link for you. DP
PS: Here is the link. I wouldn't take it for heart though...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Dental_Surgery
aphistis said:...and what two people (so far) have tried to tell you is that it isn't. Wikipedia is very useful, but isn't exactly the most authoritative source of information on the internet. The history given by SuperC is correct.