DMD versus DDS: Tamborello Dental Associates
When looking for the appropriate dentist, you might observe various designations following their names: DMD or DDS. But what do these titles signify — and is there a distinction between DMD vs. DDS?
At Tamborello Dental Associates, we prioritize keeping our patients well-informed, so here is a brief and straightforward clarification on DMD vs. DDS.

How Did Two Titles Come About?
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) are two titles signifying a dentist’s completion of dental school and licensing to practice dentistry. Despite the varying nomenclature, when comparing DMD vs. DDS, both degrees ensure a dentist’s proficiency, professionalism, and commitment to maintaining oral health standards.
The discrepancy in titles dates back to the establishment of the first dental school, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, which introduced the DDS degree in 1840. Subsequently, Harvard University, upon opening its dental school in 1867, opted for a Latinized term, “Dentariae Medicinae Doctor” (DMD), instead of directly translating “Doctor of Dental Surgery.”
Quick Comparison: DDS vs. DMD
Aspect | DDS | DMD |
---|---|---|
Full Title | Doctor of Dental Surgery | Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry |
First Awarded | 1840 | 1867 |
Training | Identical | Identical |
Licensing | Same | Same |
Skills | Same | Same |
Difference | Only the title | Only the title |
Each dental school can award a DDS or DMD degree, but the educational curriculum and rigor remain consistent regardless of the title conferred. This discussion of DMD vs. DDS emphasizes the uniformity in dental education standards.
Trust Your Care to Tamborello Dental Associates
At Tamborello Dental Associates in Houston, patients can trust the expertise, patient-centered approach, and unwavering commitment to excellence of Dr. Tamborello and the entire dental team, regardless of whether their degree bears the initials DMD or DDS.
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