A DMD dentist holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, one of two equivalent degrees awarded to dentists in the United States. The other is DDS, or Doctor of Dental Surgery. Despite the different names, these degrees represent identical training, identical clinical skills, and identical licensing requirements. A dentist with DMD after their name has the same qualifications as one with DDS.
Why Two Degrees Exist
The split dates back to 1867, when Harvard University established the first dental school affiliated with a university and its medical school. Harvard chose to call its degree “Doctor of Dental Medicine” to emphasize the medical training its dental students received. Most other dental schools at the time were standalone institutions that awarded the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, which had been the standard title since dental education began in the U.S.
That naming difference simply stuck. Today, each dental school chooses which title to award. As of the most recent national survey, about 40 accredited U.S. dental schools grant the DDS degree while 24 grant the DMD. The American Dental Education Association puts it plainly: both degrees use the same curriculum requirements set by the ADA, and both mean the dentist graduated from an accredited dental school.
What DMD Training Involves
Dental school typically takes four years after completing an undergraduate degree. The first two years focus heavily on biomedical sciences: anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and the biology of oral disease. The final two years shift toward hands-on clinical work, where students treat patients under faculty supervision. This structure is the same whether the school awards a DMD or a DDS.
By graduation, a DMD dentist is trained to perform a wide range of procedures. That includes diagnosing cavities and gum disease, taking and interpreting X-rays, performing tooth extractions (including some surgical extractions), doing root canal assessments, removing benign lesions, placing fillings and crowns, and managing common oral conditions like cold sores and fungal infections. General dentists also evaluate patients’ overall medical histories and coordinate with other healthcare providers when a systemic condition affects dental care.
Licensing and Board Exams
Graduating from dental school is only part of becoming a licensed dentist. Every DMD and DDS graduate must pass the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE), a two-day, multiple-choice test that spans roughly 12 and a half hours of administration time. The exam covers 500 questions across biomedical sciences, clinical dentistry, and patient case scenarios. Scores are scaled from 49 to 99, with 75 as the minimum passing score. Results are simply reported as pass or fail.
Beyond the national board exam, each state requires its own clinical licensing exam and may impose additional requirements. Once licensed, dentists must complete continuing education to keep their credentials active. Requirements vary by state. In Florida, for example, dentists must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, including mandatory topics like safe prescribing of controlled substances, medical error prevention, and current CPR certification through a live course.
General Practice vs. Specialization
Most DMD graduates enter general practice, where they serve as a patient’s primary dental care provider. General dentists handle everything from routine cleanings and cavity fillings to screening for oral cancer, managing gum disease, and performing straightforward surgical procedures.
Those who want to specialize complete additional residency training after dental school. The ADA recognizes 12 dental specialties:
- Orthodontics: braces and jaw alignment
- Periodontics: gum disease and dental implants
- Endodontics: root canal therapy
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: complex jaw and facial procedures
- Pediatric dentistry: care for children
- Prosthodontics: dentures, bridges, and complex restorations
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: diagnosing diseases of the mouth and jaw
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: advanced imaging and interpretation
- Dental public health: community-level oral health programs
- Dental anesthesiology: sedation and pain management
- Oral medicine: managing medically complex patients
- Orofacial pain: chronic jaw and facial pain conditions
Residency programs for these specialties range from two to six additional years of training. The initial degree, whether DMD or DDS, makes no difference in which specialties a dentist can pursue.
How to Verify Your Dentist’s Credentials
If you see “DMD” after your dentist’s name on their office wall or website, it tells you they graduated from a school that uses the Doctor of Dental Medicine title. It does not indicate a different type of training, a higher or lower level of expertise, or a particular specialty. The only meaningful distinction between dentists comes from their additional training (such as a specialty residency), years of experience, and standing with their state licensing board, not from whether their diploma reads DMD or DDS.
Your state dental board’s website will let you look up any dentist’s active license status, education, and any disciplinary history. That information is far more useful than the specific initials after their name.