What Are a DDS and DMD?

The American Dental Association says that there's no difference between a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. They're both degrees granted to dentists who followed the same courses and passed the same tests. There is, however, a historical difference between the two degrees. While the majority of dental schools in the U.S. currently grant the DDS degree, according to the University of Illinois, there is a recent trend in newer schools towards granting the DMD.

Latin Degrees at Harvard

• Harvard University, which grants its degrees based on their Latin names, established its dental school in the mid 19th century as the Harvard Dental School. It was the first in the country affiliated with both a university and a medical school. It grants the DMD degree instead of the DDS, which in Latin is difficult to pronounce. In 1940, it was renamed Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Predoctoral students now study at Harvard Medical School as well.

History and Future of Dental Schools Granting DDS and DMD

• The majority of dental schools in the United States grant the DDS degree. The DMD degree was granted by a minority, which included prestigious schools such as those at Harvard and Tufts universities. According to the University of Illinois at Chicago, which recently switched from DDS to granting the DMD degree to reflect a new "systems" approach, in recent decades there has been a trend towards granting DMD degrees at newer schools.

Public Perception of DDS versus DMD

• Although the American Dental Society clearly notes that the educational and testing process for both degrees remains the same, the existence of two degrees for the same occupation continues to confuse the public. Those who believe that the DMD degree is more "medical" can find evidence to support that conclusion, as can those who consider it a more "Ivy League" degree. Still, the ADA maintains that they are equivalent.

Changes in Educational Philosophy

• Schools such as the University of Illinois at Chicago, Harvard University and Oregon Health and Science University, which grant the DMD degree, have also noted a focus on a medical and diagnostic model of dentistry, rather than a treatment-oriented one. While the DDS and DMD degrees may not provide a definitive indication of the school's philosophy, the simultaneous change of philosophy and degree granted at the University of Illinois at Chicago may be an indication of future trends.