Doctor of Dental Surgery
Encyclopedia : D : DO : DOC : Doctor of Dental Surgery
The Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) suffix denotes one of two common doctorates in the United States for dentists, the other being Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). DDS is also recognized in Canada. In the past, the difference consisted of having a DMD train for a brief period with general medical students, while a DDS studied in a more surgery-focused program that continued during the summers of the four year graduate degree. These extra surgical clerkships equated to a six year clinic program. Thus DDS graduates could confidently practice oral and maxillofacial surgery at a specialty level until 1997 when the American Dental Association House of Delegates revised the definitions of specialties; at this time the two degrees were deemed equal.
Until 1992 the United States government Medicaid and Medicare systems recognized the significant difference and denied DMD graduates from participating as providers due to their lack of surgical training. However with the new American Dental Association definitions and the training of dentists and physicians separately, the title has less significance than in the past.
References
[Dental School Admissions Site]
"Public perception of DDS versus DMD degrees." Journal of the American College of Dentists. 1999. Fall; 66(3):29-37. Lalumandier, JA.
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