Master's degree and DDS/DMD

[tahitian3]

Hi,
I'm a little confused as far as the degrees awarded in dental school. So, after completing the science pre-reqs a person then applies for a 4 year dental program to become a generalist, right? And if they want to specialize in something (orthodontics, endodontics, etc) do they do a masters program and THEN a DDS/DMD or do they go straight for the DDS/DMD right after the 4 years?
I'm asking this question because many of the dental schools I've researched speak of the specialties as within the "masters" program, some say your work in the masters program is leading up to your DDS/DMD, so what exactly is the sequence of steps for a person to become a dentist and then specialize?
Thanks for your help.

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[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

You have to go to dental school first. If you do well in dental school you can apply to specialty programs like orthodontics, some of which offer an MS degree as part of the program.

 

[edkNARF]

Do all specialty programs grant MS degrees? If not, what is the difference in the programs?

 

[tahitian3]

So are you saying that all of the specialties are DDS/DMD programs, but some of them make you go through a Master's degree first?

 

[ItsGavinC]

So are you saying that all of the specialties are DDS/DMD programs, but some of them make you go through a Master's degree first?

No, you have it exactly backwards (at least the way I'm understanding what you are saying).

ALL dental schools award the DDS/DMD degree. If, after that, students are interested in becoming a specialist, they can apply to specialty programs. SOME specialty programs award a masters degree at the completion of the specialty program. NO dental school awards a masters degree to it's dental students for dental coursework. Dental coursework results in a professional degree (DDS or DMD).

For example, a dentist who enters an ortho program would have a DDS/DMD degree by graduating dental school. At the completion of the ortho program he would then be granted a MS for his additional ortho studies.

I don't know why some specialty programs award masters and others don't. I'm guessing it is a difference in the university structure, and has nothing to do with actual education.