---
title: "What Is DDS and DMD? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "DDS means Doctor of Dental Surgery and DMD means Doctor of Dental Medicine. They are the same degree and use the same curriculum."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dds-and-dmd
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Dental Team and Specialties

# DDS and DMD

DDS means Doctor of Dental Surgery and DMD means Doctor of Dental Medicine. They are the same degree and use the same curriculum.

DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery. DMD stands for Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, or Doctor of Dental Medicine. The ADA says they are the same degrees, and dentists with either one have the same education. Each university decides which degree to award, but both use the same curriculum requirements.

Both mean the dentist graduated from an accredited dental school. After school, a dentist must pass a national written exam and a state or regional clinical licensing exam in order to practice. To keep a license, a dentist must meet continuing education requirements.

Additional post-graduate training is needed for a recognized specialty. A [general dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/general-dentist) may hold either degree. See [about the practice](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/about) for the dentists at Town Center Dental. See also [orthodontist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/orthodontist) and [dental hygienist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-hygienist).

## Related terms

-   [General dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/general-dentist)
-   [Dental hygienist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-hygienist)
-   [Orthodontist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/orthodontist)
-   [Endodontist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/endodontist)

## Sources

1.  [ADA MouthHealthy: DDS and DMD](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/dds-and-dmd)
2.  [ADA MouthHealthy: DDS and DMD](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/dds-and-dmd)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)