Dds/dmd
Started by m3power
I think DMD is an east coast thing & DDS is a west coast thing.
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Well here's the thing.
DDS is the original designation for someone who completed a doctorate in dental surgery. This was the degree award to dentists all over the country until the 40's when Harvard changed their award degree to DMD=Doctor of Dental Medicine. In fact Harvard was the first school to emphasize that dentistry was a specialty of medicine, not a seperate branch like pharmacy (for example). After Harvard made the change, I believe Penn came next and many schools also followed. Essentially, it comes down to being a dentist who studied on the East coast (DMD) versus a dentist who studied on the West Coast (DDS), although some east coast schools still have DDS.
All in all, ITS THE SAME THING. Unlike MD and DO, DDS and DMD don't have different approaches to dentistry, just different abbreviations.
And both are damn sexy..........
DDS is the original designation for someone who completed a doctorate in dental surgery. This was the degree award to dentists all over the country until the 40's when Harvard changed their award degree to DMD=Doctor of Dental Medicine. In fact Harvard was the first school to emphasize that dentistry was a specialty of medicine, not a seperate branch like pharmacy (for example). After Harvard made the change, I believe Penn came next and many schools also followed. Essentially, it comes down to being a dentist who studied on the East coast (DMD) versus a dentist who studied on the West Coast (DDS), although some east coast schools still have DDS.
All in all, ITS THE SAME THING. Unlike MD and DO, DDS and DMD don't have different approaches to dentistry, just different abbreviations.
And both are damn sexy..........
Actually the choice between giving the DDS or DMD degrees is not decided by the individual schools. It is a STATE thing. So, for instance, all the schools in New York ( NYU, Columbia, Stony Brook etc.) give the DDS degree. In Mass. they give the DMD, In PA. they also give DMD.
Personally, I think the states that changed to the DMD were placading dentists that were not proud enough about being a dentist, but who wanted a physician sounding degree. I think the differences in these degrees just confuses the lay population when they see dentists who practice in the same areas having different degrees.
Personally, I think the states that changed to the DMD were placading dentists that were not proud enough about being a dentist, but who wanted a physician sounding degree. I think the differences in these degrees just confuses the lay population when they see dentists who practice in the same areas having different degrees.
Nope, sorry. Shootin4par was mostly right. Here's a little somethin for ya.
Super--
Man i thought i was so close! arghhh i;ll get ya!!
jk
😀 😀
Man i thought i was so close! arghhh i;ll get ya!!
jk
😀 😀
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from what i heard, i don't know if this is true- DMD students take classes with the Medical students during the first two years whereas DDS students don't. I think both curriculums are essentially the same, but the DMD students have more exposure to the entire body instead of focusing on head/neck. someone correct me if i'm wrong.
chipper😀
chipper😀
Sorry, Chipper, but that is far from the truth.
The decision is not a state one, it is not a geographic one, and it is not one based on a difference in curriculums.
The current degrees are awarded based on tradition. It would actually be nice if schools would ALL go to the DDS degree, and eliminate any confusion there is among the general public.
But on that note, I doubt there is much confusion among the general public, mostly just among pre-dental students 😀
The decision is not a state one, it is not a geographic one, and it is not one based on a difference in curriculums.
The current degrees are awarded based on tradition. It would actually be nice if schools would ALL go to the DDS degree, and eliminate any confusion there is among the general public.
But on that note, I doubt there is much confusion among the general public, mostly just among pre-dental students 😀
As an interesting tidbit: the California State Board of Dental Examiners uses "DDS" in their communication with ALL dentists, irregardless of the dentists holding the DDS or DMD degree. In the eyes of the board, the dental degree is DDS, no matter what degree was conferred upon graduation.
DDS was the original nomination started by the first dental school ever: University on Maryland. However Harvard wanted to be distinct and sarted to bestow the DMD. They are both the same in all facets of Dental Education. As far as the curriculum: with med school, independent faculty, borrowed faculty, that is all dependent on the school itself. Also geography, status of the schools really dont factor for the degree granted.
The Jul 2002 ASDA newsletter covers this issue in great detail.
The Jul 2002 ASDA newsletter covers this issue in great detail.
Leave it to Harvard to throw this whole thing off. An interesting anecdote - During a tour of their campus, an undergraduate pointed out that on all of their buildings, there are two sets of Roman numerals engraved. So you look up and see "Edificata Ann. Dom. MM Ann. Coll. Harv. CCC." The first one, 2000 (MM), is the year it was built in the year of our Lord (A.D. - the date we normally use). The next one, 300 (CCC) is according to the year Harvard college was founded.
Geez. Latin. But no hard feelings toward Harvard. If they take me for post-grad, I'll be on the next flight out to Boston!
Geez. Latin. But no hard feelings toward Harvard. If they take me for post-grad, I'll be on the next flight out to Boston!
