What do the dentists initials DDS and DMD mean?
The initials DDS stand for doctor of dental surgery. The initials DMD stand for doctor of dental medicine. Both sets of initials refer to the degree awarded upon graduation from dental school. Both degrees have the same curriculum requirements set by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. Generally, three or more years of undergraduate education plus four years of dental school are required to become a general dentist. State licensing boards accept either degree as equivalent, and both degrees allow licensed individuals to practice the same scope of general dentistry. Additional postgraduate training is required to become a dental specialist, such as an orthodontist.
