twinkle05 Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 What is the difference between the two degrees -- DMD and DDS? I know UBC offers a DMD program, while Alberta's is a DDS. I read somewhere that DMD can prescribe medication while DDS can't (but that is from an American forum). Is that true in Canada? Thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigzinc10 Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 This is straight off of the American Dental Association Website: What is the difference between a DDS and a DMD? The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. The difference is a matter of semantics. The majority of dental schools award the DDS degree; however, some award a DMD degree. The education and degrees are the same. I'm sure both can prescribe meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
microserf Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 This is straight off of the American Dental Association Website: What is the difference between a DDS and a DMD? The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. The difference is a matter of semantics. The majority of dental schools award the DDS degree; however, some award a DMD degree. The education and degrees are the same. I'm sure both can prescribe meds. Well said, the DMD degree was only created to recognized the widening scope of oral healthcare. Functionally, there is no difference between the two. You are licensed by the exact same governing boards irregardless of whether you have a DDS or DMD, and thus have the same rights and privileges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adversary Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 The following was copied from http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nhealth/0,,3xlx,00.html?arrivalSA=1&cobrandRef=0&arrival_freqCap=1&pba=adid=9208033 *Note: I found this link through Student Doctor Network a long time ago and bookmarked it because I figure someone will ask. D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree? Many people, including dentists, share your confusion over the use of the D.D.S. and D.M.D. degrees. Today, some dental schools grant a D.D.S. degree and others prefer to award the D.M.D. degree instead. The training the dentists receive is very similar but the degree granted is different. Here are the details: Ancient medicine was divided into two groups: 1. the surgery group that dealt with treating diseases and injuries using instruments; and 2. the medicine group that dealt with healing diseases using internal remedies. Originally there was only the D.D.S. degree which stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery. This all changed in 1867 when Harvard University added a dental school. Harvard University only grants degrees in Latin. Harvard did not adopt the D.D.S. or "Doctor of Dental Surgery" degree because the Latin translation was "Chirurgae Dentium Doctoris" or C.D.D. The people at Harvard thought that C.D.D. was cumbersome. A Latin scholar was consulted. The scholar suggested the ancient "Medicinae Doctor" be prefixed with "Dentariae". This is how the D.M.D. or "Dentariae Medicinae Doctor" degree was started. (Congratulations! Now you probably know more Latin than most dentists!) At the turn of the century, there were 57 dental schools in the U.S. but only Harvard and Oregon awarded the D.M.D. In 1989, 23 of the 66 North American dental schools awarded the D.M.D. I think about half the Canadian dental schools now award the D.M.D. degree. The American Dental Association (A.D.A.) is aware of the public confusion surrounding these degrees. The A.D.A. has tried on several occasions to reduce this confusion. Several sample proposals include: 1. eliminate the D.M.D. degree; 2. eliminate the D.D.S. degree; or 3. eliminate both degrees and invent a brand new degree that every dental school will agree to use. Unfortunately, this confusion may be with us for a long time. When emotional factors like "school pride" and "tradition" arise, it is difficult to find a compromise. *************** I wish to thank Information Express, 3250 Ash Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 494-8787, for securing copies of the following articles that I used as references to respond to your question: 1. Crawford, P.R., "To be or not to be: DDS or DMD," Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, (August 1989) 55(8):639-640. 2. Griggs, D., "The DDS vs. DMD situation," Journal of the American Dental Association, (April 1974) 88(4):691-693. 3. Hillenbrand, H., "DDS or DMD: The glacial period," Journal of Dental Education, (July 1972) 36(7):3. 4. Letter, "The DDS-DMD issue," Journal of the American Dental Association, (June 1974) 88(6):1241. 5. Robinson J.B., "DDS or DMD: Footnotes to dental history," Journal of Dental Education, (January 1973) 37(1):17-20. Hope that clears things up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koft Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Well, just love the US trying to confuse ppl. Anyways, it makes no differences in terms of scope of practice b/t DDS / DMD. ________ Chevrolet Matiz Specifications Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.