oral surgury: dds/md vs dds

[al]

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out of curiosity:

what are the differences (if any) in the scope of expertise between an oral surgeon with a dds, and an oral surgeon with a dds/md. I know one difference is 3 years residency (dds) vs 6 years (md: 3yrs oral surgery res--2 years med school--1year surgery rotation). Other than that, are there things that a dds/md can do that a dds can't, and vice versa, in terms of scope of practice, procedures etc.

 

[JML1DDS]

depending on the program it is usually 3 years med school, 2 OMS and 1 Surg. A DDS/MD can practice medicine a DDS cannot. As far as the practice of OMS is concerned there seems to be no difference, both can get their own grafts and most can do cosmetic procedures (if they have done a fellowship) Most DDS programs are 4 years if you are going to do OMS I would go ahead and do the dual degree (extra two years) and get the MD just to be safe.

 

[DrJeff]

The 6 vs 4 year debate. Just as was posted above, there is no difference in what a dual degree OS can do verses a single degree OS. Most OS's in the country are single degree. The dual degree is a plus in the following situations: you plan on a career in academics, you plan on doing a majority of facial cosmetic proceedures in your practice, it *may* help you obtain hospital privileges in crowded metropolitan areas, you like increasing your student loan debts via the 2 years of med school <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> , and lastly, you prefer 5 letters after your name rather than 3 😀

If you plan on a "classical" oral surgery practice, i.e. third molars, pre prosthetic surgeries, implants, biopsies, the occasional fractured jaw, then save yourself the extra loan debt and head for a 4 year program. If you plan on having a more "modern" practice where standard oral surgical procedures are of secondary priority to cosmetic procedures, or if you are looking for a career in academics, then look for a six year program.