When you visit your dentist, you may notice they have certain letters after their name—and that not all dental care specialists have the same letters. Some are listed as DMD, while others are referred to as DDS. As a patient, you probably want to learn the difference between the two. Surprisingly, there are very few. The following information will help you understand why.

Degree Requirements

DDS refers to Doctor of Dental Surgery, while DMD refers to Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (or Doctor of Dental Medicine).

Despite the difference in their names, these two degrees indicate the same thing—this person is authorized to provide professional dental care. The school your dentist attends will choose the degree they award, but the curriculum is no different. That’s why state licensing boards accept both. Whether you’re looking for pediatric care or a cosmetic dentist, you don’t need to look for a certain degree to ensure you’re in the hands of someone more qualified.

Explaining the Difference

If there is no difference in qualifications, why is there a difference in the name of the degrees? The answer is surprisingly simple. For a long time, there was only one name for a dental degree. When Harvard opened a dental school, that changed, as they print their degrees in Latin. Unfortunately, the Latin name of a traditional dental degree, DDS, was very long. Therefore, they decided to change the name of their degree for the sake of convenience. Others started using DMD as well, but the requirements for each degree remained constant. No matter what kind of dental treatment you need, with a DMD or DDS, you can be sure you’re in the hands of a qualified professional.

If you’re looking for a dentist in the Kahului, HI, area, get in touch with Implant Center of Maui. They have been making patients throughout the area smile proudly for more than 30 years. Contact them online for more information, or call (808) 877-3606.