DDS vs DMD?????

[jonwill]

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A quick question: I was under the impression that a DDS was a dentist and a DMD was an oral surgeon. However, I have been told (by non-dental students) that some dental schools now let their students choose what they want on their diploma: DDS or DMD. I'm just curious and trying to stay current with all of the different medical specialties and I thought I'd come to the source. Thanks.

 

[William Olympus]

You'll find about a dozen or so threads on here about this, but the short answer is that there is no difference between the two, aside from the fact that DMD is the highfalutin Latin version. They are both degrees that are awarded by dental schools to their graduates, and I would be very surprised if a school offered a choice between the two.

 

[jonwill]

You'll find about a dozen or so threads on here about this, but the short answer is that there is no difference between the two, aside from the fact that DMD is the highfalutin Latin version. They are both degrees that are awarded by dental schools to their graduates, and I would be very surprised if a school offered a choice between the two.

Thank you

 

[Yah-E]

Jon:

I was very close pulling one on ya, but since you are truly seeking for answers, I'll help you out a little.

DDS and DMD are both dentists. Both degrees are the same one.

DDS originated from Univ. Maryland back in the days.
DMD originated from Harvard back in the days.

Now, different dental schools use different degrees, some grant DDS, some grant DMD.

DDS and DMD is the same degree, got it? No difference in philosophy, training, career potential, post-doctoral training potential, or financial potential!

Now go tell who ever told you about DMDs are Oral Surgeons to go lick a dcik! (Although DMD graduates are much cooler and better looking in general! 😉 )

 

[Yah-E]

I would be very surprised if a school offered a choice between the two.

This is actually true for Dental Schools who used to be a DDS school and now wants to offer DMD to their students, like Case Western University.

Previous CWRU dental students who have graduated do have a choice to either keep their DDS or pay a fee to change their diplomas to a DMD diploma!

 

[kato999]

Here's a question for ya. Let's say that you went to a school that was going to grant a DDS but then changed their minds and decided to go with a DMD. (Arizona, Case, etc.) Is it legal/ethical to call yourself a DDS when you graduate even though it states DMD on your diploma? The only reason I would consider this is that I most likely will be buying into a practice where the current dentists are all DDS.

It really doesn't matter much at all, but it might be a little less confusing if all the dentists in the group had the same degree for advertising purposes.

 

[rocknightmare]

i prefer dds -- doctor of dental surgery instead of some shmuck that harvard tried to pull 😉

 

[ItsGavinC]

Is it legal/ethical to call yourself a DDS when you graduate even though it states DMD on your diploma?

Illegal, yes. The easiest solution would be to change all the signage to simply read "Dr. XXXX" and not inlude degrees.

 

[Comet208]

I actually like what DDS stands for... Doctor of Dental Surgery

DMD, Doctor of Medical Dentistry, also sounds cool, but it brings up the impression that Doctor of non-Medical Dentistry also may exist... makes any sense??

 

[Yah-E]

DMD, Doctor of Medical Dentistry

Listen man! DMD = Doctor of Dental Medicine

Know the basics, perhap it may help you in your 5th round applying to dental schools!

 

[SuperTrooper]

Listen man! DMD = Doctor of Dental Medicine

Know the basics, perhap it may help you in your 5th round applying to dental schools!

You're both wrong.

DMD = Dentariae Medicinae Doctor

 

[toofache32]

Jon:

I was very close pulling one on ya, but since you are truly seeking for answers, I'll help you out a little.

DDS and DMD are both dentists. Both degrees are the same one.

DDS originated from Univ. Maryland back in the days.
DMD originated from Harvard back in the days.

Now, different dental schools use different degrees, some grant DDS, some grant DMD.

DDS and DMD is the same degree, got it? No difference in philosophy, training, career potential, post-doctoral training potential, or financial potential!

Now go tell who ever told you about DMDs are Oral Surgeons to go lick a dcik! (Although DMD graduates are much cooler and better looking in general! 😉 )

Don't listen to this guy. He's actually a dental hygienist who wishes he could be a dentist or even an oral surgeon.

Only a DDS is licensed to perform surgery, and DMD's have to have a DDS sign their prescriptions.

 

[lnn2]

You're both wrong.

DMD = Dentariae Medicinae Doctor

MY diploma is written as Doctor of Dental Medicine. You would know if you had one! jk

Listen man! DMD = Doctor of Dental Medicine

Know the basics, perhap it may help you in your 5th round applying to dental schools!

Amen. People who are or hope to be involved in the field of dentistry shouldn't make dumb mistake like that, like a dental assistant!

Don't listen to this guy. He's actually a dental hygienist who wishes he could be a dentist or even an oral surgeon.

Only a DDS is licensed to perform surgery, and DMD's have to have a DDS sign their prescriptions.

I thought that it was the other way around. It's true that DDS is licensed to perform Surgery but they can not prescribe meds. To be able to prescribe meds, your degree has to have the word MEDICINE in it. That's why DDSs have to ask DMDs (the degree which has the word MEDICINE in it, even more qualified than MD because it has 3 letters instead of only 2, MD) to write their prescriptions. I don't know about other states but at least that's how it is in the big Texas!

 

[darius99]

Don't listen to this guy. He's actually a dental hygienist who wishes he could be a dentist or even an oral surgeon.

Only a DDS is licensed to perform surgery, and DMD's have to have a DDS sign their prescriptions.

oooh boy, here we go again... 🙄

 

[aphistis]

You're both wrong.

DMD = Dentariae Medicinae Doctor

...Which translates into "doctor of dental medicine," exactly as Andy indicated. 😉

 

[SuperTrooper]

...Which translates into "doctor of dental medicine," exactly as Andy indicated. 😉

comet said he/she likes "what DDS stands for... Doctor of Dental Surgery."

DMD does not stand for doctor of dental medicine. 😉

But Yah-E does stand for condescension.

 

[Yah-E]

But Yah-E does stand for condescension.

It's fairly easy to do when it comes to clowns like you! 😉

 

[SuperTrooper]

It's fairly easy to do when it comes to clowns like you! 😉

I hope you get some serious beats as a first year omfs resident, you of all people deserve it!!

By the way, congrats!

 

[Yah-E]

I hope you get some serious beats as a first year omfs resident, you of all people deserve it!!

Oh don't worry, I'll be destroyed, but I'm still excited to start!

 

[chinchaz]

These are the best threads. I love threads that could easily be answered by google. 👎

 

[DrTacoElf]

D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree?

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.

 

[SC-Z]

Oh don't worry, I'll be destroyed, but I'm still excited to start!

off topic, but Yah, you plan on moonlight your first year?

 

[rocknightmare]

toofach32 is correct.

 

[psiyung]

Listen man! DMD = Doctor of Dental Medicine

Know the basics, perhap it may help you in your 5th round applying to dental schools!

This is brutal, buddy. Imagine being in her shoes

 

[Tarheel]

Don't listen to this guy. He's actually a dental hygienist who wishes he could be a dentist or even an oral surgeon.

Only a DDS is licensed to perform surgery, and DMD's have to have a DDS sign their prescriptions.

In certain states (NY for example beginning in 2007 I think) DMD's are required to complete a minimum of one year of residency(GPR, AEGD) in order to obtain a license to practice the full scope of dentistry.

 

[Chompers]

it doesnt matter. but if you think it does, choose whichever you think people will respond to. i thought people would find DMD more appealing since it has the MD in it, yet everytime i mention im going to dental school they tell me "soon you'll be a DDS!" so i find people more familiar with DDS to dentistry. you can check with your state laws if its possible to interchange between the two. here in FL they dont care which of the two you use, as its the same thing.

 

[chinchaz]

Do you really think that the patient is going to go and ask what you have or where you went to school? On the whole I find that most people are happy to go and see a "dentist" regardless if they have a DMD or a DDS...

 

[mtheman]

Do you really think that the patient is going to go and ask what you have or where you went to school? On the whole I find that most people are happy to go and see a "dentist" regardless if they have a DMD or a DDS...

agreed