DDS vs DMD: Is There Really a Difference?: Guide

Editorially reviewed by the Dental.me Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

There is no real difference between a DDS and a DMD. They are the same degree wearing two different names. A dentist with either set of letters went through the same kind of dental school, sat the same national and state board exams, and holds the same license. The only thing that changes is which abbreviation a given school decided to print on the diploma.

That’s the whole answer. Everything below explains why two identical degrees ended up with different initials, because the confusion is old, it’s stamped on signage and business cards in every state, and patients ask about it all the time when they’re picking a new office.

What do DDS and DMD stand for?

DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery. DMD stands for Doctor of Dental Medicine, or in Latin, Dentariae Medicinae Doctor — which is why the letters look scrambled. Both are the primary professional degree awarded to general dentists in the United States.

The American Dental Association is blunt about it: the two degrees represent the same education and the same scope of practice. A school picks which title to grant, and that choice comes down to tradition and Latin naming conventions, not curriculum.

So when one door reads “Jane Smith, DDS” and the next reads “John Lee, DMD,” you are not looking at two tiers of dentist. You’re looking at graduates of two schools that made different naming calls decades ago.

Why are there two different dental degree names?

The split is a historical accident. The Doctor of Dental Surgery came first, awarded by the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery when it opened in 1840 as the world’s first dental school.

When Harvard started its dental program in 1867, it wanted a Latin degree name to match the rest of its diplomas, which were all written in Latin. “Doctor of Dental Surgery” translated awkwardly, so Harvard went with Dentariae Medicinae Doctor, and that gave us DMD. Other schools picked one path or the other, and the two conventions have run side by side ever since with no practical difference between them.

Today both degrees answer to the same accreditor, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). No school can quietly offer a watered-down version under one label. DDS or DMD, the diploma comes from a CODA-accredited program held to identical standards.

DDS vs DMD: side-by-side comparison

Here’s the honest breakdown of where the two degrees line up. Look how short the “different” column is.

Does the degree affect the quality of your dentist?

No. The letters after a dentist’s name tell you nothing about skill, chairside manner, how gentle their hands are, or whether they’ll talk you into work you don’t need. A brilliant clinician can hold a DMD. So can a mediocre one. Same goes for DDS.

If you’re trying to judge quality, the degree is the wrong signal. Look at the things that actually vary from one dentist to the next:

• State license status — active, in good standing, no disciplinary actions. Every state makes this public record.
• Continuing education and special interests — dentists who keep training in areas like implants, sedation, or cosmetic work.
• Patient reviews across multiple sources — the pattern tells you far more than any single review.
• How the office communicates — clear treatment plans, straight answers on price, no pressure to sign up for work you don’t understand.

That’s the thinking behind our independent ranking methodology. We don’t weight DDS over DMD, because they’re equivalent. We look at signals that reflect how a practice actually treats its patients.

Do the letters matter more for dental specialists?

This is where a real distinction lives, and it has nothing to do with DDS versus DMD. It’s about the additional training that comes after the primary degree.

Every dental specialist starts as a general dentist with a DDS or DMD, then completes a residency of two to six more years in a recognized specialty. The American Dental Association recognizes twelve of them. That extra training is what separates a general dentist from an orthodontist, an oral surgeon, or an endodontist. The four base letters do not.

So a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon might sign “DDS, MD” or “DMD,” and it’s the specialty credentials and board certification that point to advanced expertise. Need braces, a root canal specialist, or gum surgery? The credential to check is the specialty, not whether the base degree ends in S or M. You can browse the full range of dental specialties and what each one treats to work out who you actually need.

Which US dental schools award DDS vs DMD?

Roughly two-thirds of US dental schools grant the DDS and about a third grant the DMD, and the exact split drifts a little as schools occasionally switch conventions. On the DMD side you’ll find Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Florida, among others. Many of the big public university programs go with DDS.

None of this changes where a graduate can practice. A DMD from Harvard and a DDS from a state university can both apply for a license in any of the 50 states, and both meet the identical exam and background requirements. The license travels with the dentist, not with the abbreviation.

Frequently asked questions

Is a DMD higher than a DDS?

No. Neither degree ranks above the other. They are equivalent credentials representing the same education, the same exams, and the same license to practice general dentistry. The difference is only in the name each school chose.

Can a DDS and a DMD do the same procedures?

Yes. Both are licensed to perform the full scope of general dentistry — cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, root canals, and more. Any limits on what a specific dentist does come from their own training and comfort level, not from the degree abbreviation.

Why did my dentist’s degree change from one to the other?

Occasionally a dental school switches which title it awards, or a dentist earned a second credential. If your dentist’s letters look different than you remember, it doesn’t change their qualifications. Both degrees are fully equivalent and accredited by the same body.

Do I need to check the degree when choosing a dentist?

Not for the DDS-versus-DMD question, since they’re the same. Focus instead on active licensure, patient reviews, the office’s communication style, and, if you need specialized care, the dentist’s specialty training and board certification.

What comes after DDS or DMD for specialists?

Specialists complete a residency of two to six additional years in one of the ADA-recognized specialties, such as orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, or oral surgery. That post-graduate training, plus board certification, is what signals advanced expertise.

Are DDS and DMD recognized in every state?

Yes. Both degrees are recognized nationwide as long as they come from a CODA-accredited program. Licensing is handled state by state, but the base degree is treated identically everywhere.

Finding the right dentist near you

The letters after your dentist’s name are a coin flip between two identical degrees, so let them go and focus on fit. Whether you want a general dentist or a specific specialist, you can search dentists near you and compare practices on the things that actually matter — reputation, patient experience, and the care they provide.

This article is general information, not dental advice. Only a licensed dentist who examines you can accurately assess your dental health and treatment needs.

Find care near you: compare local dentists on Dental.me, or read more Dental Insights.