DDS vs DMD: What Is the Difference?
DDS and DMD are both legitimate dental degrees with identical training requirements. Learn why dentists use different initials and what actually matters when choosing a provider.
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Almost every dentist's name is followed by one of two sets of initials: DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). Patients often assume one is a specialist credential or a "higher" degree than the other. It isn't — the two are functionally identical.
DDS and DMD require the same training
Every accredited U.S. dental school program, whether it grants a DDS or a DMD, requires the same coursework: four years covering biomedical sciences, clinical dentistry, and supervised patient care, followed by the same national board examinations. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) holds both degree types to the identical accreditation standard.
Why do the names differ?
It comes down to which Latin degree name a dental school chose when it was founded. Harvard's dental school, established in 1867, awarded graduates the degree "Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae" — DMD. Most dental schools founded afterward adopted "Doctor of Dental Surgery" (DDS) instead. A handful of schools (including Harvard, Penn, and Tufts) still use DMD today purely for historical reasons, not because their programs differ from DDS-granting schools.
Does it affect licensing or what a dentist can do?
No. State dental boards license general dentists the same way regardless of which degree they hold. A DDS and a DMD have identical scope of practice. If a dentist has additional training in a specialty — oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, and so on — that comes from a separate residency and is reflected in their specialty credential, not in DDS vs DMD.
What actually matters when choosing a dentist
- Active license status with the state dental board — see how to check a dental license
- Any public disciplinary history on file with the state board
- Whether the practice is accepting new patients and takes your insurance
- Specialty training relevant to your treatment (e.g. an oral surgeon for extractions, an orthodontist for braces)
The DDS/DMD distinction isn't one of them. Use our state-by-state license lookup guide to verify credentials, and search for a dentist near you once you're ready to book.
Frequently asked questions
Is a DMD better than a DDS, or vice versa?
No. Both degrees require the same coursework, clinical training, and national board exams. The letters a dentist uses depend on which dental school they attended, not their skill level.
Why do dental schools use different degree names?
It's a historical quirk. Harvard awarded the first dental degree in Latin as "Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae" (DMD) in 1867; most schools that followed used "Doctor of Dental Surgery" (DDS) instead. Both abbreviations describe the same accredited program today.
Does DDS vs DMD affect a dentist's license?
No. State dental boards license dentists to practice general dentistry regardless of which degree they hold. Specialty training (orthodontics, oral surgery, etc.) is a separate credential layered on top of either degree.
What should I actually check before choosing a dentist?
Active state license status, any disciplinary history, and whether the practice accepts your insurance and new patients — not which of the two equivalent degrees they hold.
Related guides and tools
- How to check a dental license
- Dentist license lookup by state
- Search dentist by name
- Find a dentist near you
Core DentistGrid resources
- find a dentist near you
- dentist near me
- dentist directory
- search dentist by name
- dentist lookup
- emergency dentist near me
- dentists accepting new patients
- dentist by ZIP code
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