Dental Degree

Dental Degree

There are a number of professional degrees in dentistry offered by dental schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
• Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
• Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DrMedDent)
• Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent)
• Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS or BChD or BDentS)
• Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc or BDentSc)
• Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Science (B OH DSc)
• Graduate Diploma in Dentistry (Grad Dip Dent)
• Cirujano Dentista (CD)

There are a number of post-graduate degrees in dentistry as well.

• Master of Science (MS or MSc)
• Master of Medical Science (MMSc)
• Master of Dentistry (MDent)
• Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent)
• Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)
• Master of Dental Science (MDSc)
• Doctor of Dental Science (DDSc)
• Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In some universities, especially in the U.S., some post-graduate programs award Certificate only.

• Certificate, GPR/AEGD/Dental Anesthesiology
• Certificate, Endodontics/Prosthodontics/Periodontics/Orthodontics/Dental Public Health/Pediatric Dentistry/OMS (CODA-recognized specialty programs)

In Commonwealth countries, the Royal Colleges of dentistry (or Faculty of Dentistry of the College) awards post-nominals upon completion of a series of examinations.

• Fellow of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons (FDSRCS)
• Membership in Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College Surgeons (MFDS RCS)
• Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDS)
• Membership in Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (MRACDS)
• Membership in Orthodontics, Royal College of Surgeons (M.Orth RCS)
• Fellow of Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCD(C))
• Member of Royal College of Dentists of Canada (MRCD(C))

In the U.S., most dental specialists attain Board Certification (Diplomate Status) by completing a series of written and oral examinations with the appropriate Boards. e.g. Diplomate, American Board of Periodontics.

Each fully qualifies the holder to practice dentistry in at least the jurisdiction in which the degree was presented, assuming local and federal government licensure requirements are met.