DMD = DDS; DO = MD

[Buster Douglas]

DDS is to DMD, as DO is to MD?

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[DrMom]

I once asked a dentist about that. He said there is no philosophical or educational difference between the two degrees. It is simply the fact that some schools decide to confer a DDS and others confer a DMD.

 

[DOtobe]

Originally posted by Buster Douglas
DDS is to DMD, as DO is to MD?

Oh, no, flashback to the SAT's...

(Damn analogies... 😉 )

 

[drusso]

The difference is that DO's learn a skill (manual medicine) that MD's do not and that osteopathic schools explicitly strive to inculcate a particular worldview (the osteopathic concept) in their graduates toward medicine and healthcare that MD schools do not. Functionally, the degrees are identical---i.e. there is no job task or duty that DO's can do that MD's can't. Even MD's can bill for and be reimbursed for OMT if they have appropriate training.

 

[raspberry swirl]

Originally posted by drusso
The difference is that DO's learn a skill (manual medicine) that MD's do not and that osteopathic schools explicitly strive to inculcate a particular worldview (the osteopathic concept) in their graduates toward medicine and healthcare that MD schools do not. Functionally, the degrees are identical---i.e. there is no job task or duty that DO's can do that MD's can't. Even MD's can bill for and be reimbursed for OMT if they have appropriate training.

i don't think the OP was asking about the difference between MDs and DOs. i think he was wondering why there is so much hype on SDN and in general over the MD/DO distinction, while none is found in the dental degrees of DDS and DMD. maybe because no one cares about dentists? 🙄

 

[DD214_DOC]

DDS and DMD are the SAME DEGREES, except the second one is in Latin.

Doctor of Dental Surgery = Dentiste Medicinae Doctor (Doctor of Dental Medicine). I believe the DDS was first, but certain ivy-league schools only confer their degrees in Latin, hence the birth of the DMD.

However, the DO and MD are NOT THE SAME DEGREES, due to minute differences in education and philosophy.

Doctor of Osteopathy != Medicinae Doctor

The only way they'd be the same is if the DO was actually a DM -- Doctor of Medicine. But, the MD already means that when translated from Latin.

 

[group_theory]

I agree in part and disagree in part to what JKDMed have stated.

The argument brought before this thread is whether it is correct to assume that the analogy of DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) is to DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) as DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) is to MD (Doctor of Medicine).

As drusso stated and affirmed by JKDMed, the DDS and DMD are the same degree. There is no inherent differences in philosophy, education, accreditation, curriculum, etc. The DO degree is meant to convey that the holder graduated from a different school of medicine, one that has a distinct philosophy, education, accreditation, curriculum to the conventional allopathic school of medicine (MD). Hence the US DO degree, the professional and legal equivalent to a US MD degree, is not the same degree.

JKDMed argued that the difference between DDS and DMD is in their latin spelling on the diploma. His argument, to make an analogy, is similar to the differences between a BA and AB, where the BA stands for Bachelor of Arts, and the AB stands for "Artium Baccalaureus". I disagree with his reasoning.

The latin translation of Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) is "Dentiste Medicinae Doctor", hence the DMD designation. The latin translation of Doctor of Dental Surgery is "Chirurgae Dentium Doctoris" or C.D.D if going by latin abbreviation. Ergo DMD is not the latin abbreviation for the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

The origin of the two different dental degrees originate in the 19th century. At the time, all dental schools conferred the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (medicine and surgery were seperate discipline at the time). Harvard, which had a dental school awarded the DDS degree. However, since Harvard had a tradition of naming their degrees in latin, Harvard dental graduates held the C.D.D. initial in lieu of the DDS. Harvard decided to rename their degree "Dentiste Medicinae Doctor", to help their graduates while preserving their tradition of latin abbreviation. So the DMD is the latin abbreviation for Doctor of Dental Medicine (instead of DDM). This differ from JKDMed's arguement in that he argued that DMD was the latin abbreviation for the DDS. There was an actual name change in the degree which he failed to mention.

At the turn of the century, there were 57 dental schools in the United States, but only Harvard and Oregon awarded the DMD degree. As of 1989, 23 of 66 US Dental Schools and about half of Canadian Dental Schools confer the Dentiste Medicinae Doctor degree.

For the above stated reasons, the DDS and DMD are the same degree (different name) while the DO and MD degrees are equivalent but not the same.


References:
Crawford, P.R., "To be or not to be: DDS or DMD" Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (August 1989) 55(8):639-640.

Griggs, D., "The DDS vs. DMD situation" Journal of the American Dental Association (April 1974) 88(4):691-693.

Hillenbrand, H., "DDS or DMD: The glacial period" Journal of Dental Education (July 1972) 36(7):3.

Letter to the Editor, "The DDS-DMD issue" Journal of the American Dental Association (June 1974) 88(6):1241.

Robinson J.B., "DDS or DMD: Footnotes to dental history" Journal of Dental Education (January 1973) 37(1):17-20.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Excellent post (sources and everything). Nicely done.

 

[What the pho]

Who gives a $hit a DDS/DMD and a DO are all people who couldn't get into a MD school so they settled for what they could get.😀

 

[aphistis]

Originally posted by What the pho
Who gives a $hit a DDS/DMD and a DO are all people who couldn't get into a MD school so they settled for what they could get.😀

I was *almost* ready to take this seriously...

...and then I looked at his profile. Game over.

 

[Buster Douglas]

My main reason for posting was because of threads like this.

I'd bet less people know of the existence of the two dental degrees than of the two medical degrees.

I know some people really want to distinguish themselves as being an "OMS" rather than a "MS" and wished the world knew what they were talking about when they use the word "osteopathic," but is petitioning for DO ads really necessary?

 

[What the pho]

Originally posted by SpiritiualDuck
"Oh, you're not going to be a real doctor."

It is sad to spend 4 years in med school only to get this for the rest of your lives. And for you dentist you aren't real doctors so keep trying.

 

[aphistis]

Originally posted by What the pho
It is sad to spend 4 years in med school only to get this for the rest of your lives. And for you dentist you aren't real doctors so keep trying.

Once again, kids, this is a "pimp" from the "school of hard nox" who "luvs to tap ass" having "anal sex up in yo mama."

Taken directly from his profile. Talk about a credible source.

 

[Buster Douglas]

Originally posted by What the pho
It is sad to spend 4 years in med school only to get this for the rest of your lives.

Yeah, every osteopathic student has to deal with explaining why the word "osteopathic" is in the name of their school. For the next four years I will have to deal with these uneducated assumptions, but rest of my life...

I'd be surprised if a DO didn't slap another DO for saying, "I'm an osteopathic cardiologist."

 

[DD214_DOC]

I kind of like the idea of being a newcomer to the ball game, challenging the establishment rather than just becoming an MD and maintaining it. I have been in situations where I believe OMT would have proven useful as well.

 

[jatroswellpk]

Originally posted by JKDMed
I kind of like the idea of being a newcomer to the ball game, challenging the establishment rather than just becoming an MD and maintaining it. I have been in situations where I believe OMT would have proven useful as well.

Interesting point...never thought of that way before....

 

[Darth Vader]

I personally think that DDS' are superior to DMD's. I would never see or let a family member see a DMD because they all go to second rate dental schools. I hear that they don't even learn how to drill properly, they can only take histories and some of them end up having to work as cashiers for the meat packing industry because they can't get jobs. That's just what I heard anyways, I don't mean to offend anyone.

 

[tkim]

Originally posted by Darth Vader
I personally think that DDS' are superior to DMD's. I would never see or let a family member see a DMD because they all go to second rate dental schools. I hear that they don't even learn how to drill properly, they can only take histories and some of them end up having to work as cashiers for the meat packing industry because they can't get jobs. That's just what I heard anyways, I don't mean to offend anyone.

Dude, when Luke lifted that helmet off your head, I could only imagine the smell - like taking off a plaster cast, or when you take off your shoes after a looooonnnng day. 😀

- Tae

 

[inquest]

ok now abt dds n dmd...
essentially the same thing....practically dmd is more medical subjects oriented
..so comparitively maybe ur doing the medical side l lil more...as tole to me by a dds from vancouver.....

 

[Jack Daniel]

ok now abt dds n dmd...
essentially the same thing....practically dmd is more medical subjects oriented
..so comparitively maybe ur doing the medical side l lil more...as tole to me by a dds from vancouver.....

Couldn't find anything interesting written in the last month or so? 🙄

(I did think post #14 was funny.)

 

[raptor5]

My main reason for posting was because of threads like this.

I'd bet less people know of the existence of the two dental degrees than of the two medical degrees.

I know some people really want to distinguish themselves as being an "OMS" rather than a "MS" and wished the world knew what they were talking about when they use the word "osteopathic," but is petitioning for DO ads really necessary?

I have been using this analogy quite a bit. It helps b/c most people you ask have no idea what degree their dentist has. Some even think their dentist has MD.

 

[hyperbaric]

I'd be surprised if a DO didn't slap another DO for saying, "I'm an osteopathic cardiologist."

I'm surprised that the AOA hasn't thought of this already...

"In order to remain in good standing with the AOA, all specialists must advertise their respective specialties as osteopathic (insert respective specialty here)..."

 

[docbill]

My main reason for posting was because of threads like this. ..when they use the word "osteopathic," but is petitioning for DO ads really necessary?

That thread is so old. Like 3 years old. Man some of you guys have been around so long. (In 3 years... this post is going to come back and bite me in the ass)

 

[dr.z]

That thread is so old. Like 3 years old. Man some of you guys have been around so long. (In 3 years... this post is going to come back and bite me in the ass)

I didn't notice till you brought it up.

 

[thamsenman]

Once again, kids, this is a "pimp" from the "school of hard nox" who "luvs to tap ass" having "anal sex up in yo mama."

Taken directly from his profile. Talk about a credible source.

mmmm.....anal sex.

 

[ShyRem]

Closing.