Which Dentist in Upland CA is Better, a DDS or a DMD?

DDS and DMD are both signs of a trained dental professional.

If you are looking for a new dentist in Upland CA, you may be becoming confused by all the different abbreviations a dentist may have attached to their name. The two most common abbreviations are:

• DDS—Doctor of Dental Surgery
• DMD—Doctor of Dental Medicine

There is a common misconception that these are two different degrees indicating different levels of training or expertise. For example, some people assume that a DDS is the better choice for an extraction because they have the word “surgery” in their title.

In reality, DDS and DMD are the same degree. Both require the same level of education and clinical training. The only difference between a dentist with DDS after their name and one with DMD is where they went to dental school, as universities have the ability to decide which degree their dental school is going to award.

What Education Does a DDS or DMD Have?

Any trained dentist has completed 4 years of dental school in addition to their undergraduate degree (which is typically in the area of biology or some other pre-med field). During dental school, dental students complete a rigorous set of classes according to a curriculum set by the American Dental Association. Following graduation, dental students must pass a national exam plus a state or regional clinical licensing exam in order to become qualified to see patients. Dentists must continue to educate themselves throughout their career in order to stay up to date with changing technology and treatment techniques and to keep their dental licenses active.

Dental Specialties

DDS and DMD are both general dentistry certifications. With additional post-graduate work dentists can become specialists in different areas of care, such as:

• Endodontics: care for the root and pulp of the tooth
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects
• Orthodontics: correcting misaligned teeth
• Pediatric Dentistry: care for young children’s teeth
• Periodontics: care and treatment of the gums
• Prosthodontics: placing of dental implants and other replacements for missing teeth

Choosing Your Dentist in Upland CA

As you can see, when choosing your dentist in Upland CA, the choice between DDS and DMD is much less important than other factors such as the reputation of the dentist, the quality of care provided, and the availability of any specialized services.

If you are looking for a dentist in Upland CA, we invite you to contact our Upland CA office today. We’ll be happy to set up an appointment for you to get expert care plus answers to any questions you may have.