The fact is this; we can debate this until we are blue in the face, but that will not change the reality that one degree is a bachelors another is a doctorate, and we're not just talking about names.
Many schools and different countries have emulated the US educational system in many ways (as they always do), and part of that is that some have decided to "slap" DMD or DDS on their graduation diplomas, thinking that this would all of a sudden give their graduates more credibility or "Americanize" their image so to speak. That however does not make a Bachelor of Stomatology equal to a Bachelor of Dental Surgery nor a Dental Medicine Doctorate. Let's get real ...
Well.. it depends on which country and which system you obtained the degree in. There are lots of dental schools (Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Germany, etc, etc) that have programs that accept students right out of high school for a 5-7 year dental program that culminates in a DDS degree "doctorate" as you say.
There are also some programs (University of Sydney) for example that grants a BDent "bachelor", however it is a 4 year dental degree program with a curriculum that is identical to American dental schools (their curriculum was developed with help from UBC and Harvard) that also requires all applicants to have completed a previous bachelors for admission and requires DAT or GAMSAT exam scores, etc etc.. Identical to a US DDS/DMD program. The University of Sydney is also applying to CODA to accredit their dental program over the next couple of years. So, especially if they are granted CODA accreditation... you're going to have a hard time convincing me that the Sydney BDent its any different just because they title the degree differently.
By the way... most all of the Vet programs in Australia and New Zealand are now accredited by the AVMA in the US and Canada. For example: The
BVSc degree at the University of Sydney is an American and Canadian accredited Vet degree. Since they are now American accredited degrees they are 100% equivalent and equal to any US DVM or VMD degree program ....and are licensable as such.
Again, I don't want to get into an argument. But really... many dental schools grant degrees and call their degrees many different things that
may or may not represent their admission scheme, curriculum, or academic standards.
So, regardless of what you call it.. every school is different.
Dr.Millisevert, I've noticed that you always get all bent out of shape whenever this topic arises, and express some insecurities in this regard, but I just needed to step in and set the record straight.
Just be proud of your education and whatever they call the degree they grant you. Some of the best dentists in this very country and several global pioneers are BDS's.
If at the end of the day, it makes you sleep better to think that all degrees are equal, then so be it ...
I
am very proud of my education.
I hope you're proud of yours! If you feel like the DDS you've earned in the US represents a much better dental education or a higher level degree than the BDS you earned in Egypt. Then so be it...
Peace
