Dental Degree - Dental Specialties

Dental Specialties

In addition to general dentistry, there are about 9 recognized dental specialties in the US, Canada,India and Australia. To become a specialist requires one to train in a residency or advanced graduate training program. Once residency is completed, the doctor is granted a certificate of specialty training. Many specialty programs have optional or required advanced degrees such as a masters degree: (MS, MSc, MDS, MSD, MDSc, MMSc, MPhil, or MDent), doctoral degree: (DClinDent, DChDent, DMSc, PhD), or medical degree: (MD/MBBS specific to maxillofacial surgery and sometimes oral medicine).

• Orthodontics: 2–3 years
• Endodontics: 2–3 years
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery: 4–6 years (additional time for MD/MBBS degree granting programs)
• Periodontics: 3 years
• Prosthodontics: 2–3 years
  • Maxillofacial prosthodontics 1 year (a prosthodontist may elect to sub-specialize in maxillofacial prosthodontics)
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology: 3 years
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology: 3 years
• Pediatric Dentistry: 2–3 years
• Dental public health: 3 years

The following are not currently recognized dental specialties in the US:

• Anesthesiology (programs currently undergoing CODA accreditation and ADA review): 2–3 years
• Oral medicine: 2–4 years
• Special needs dentistry 3 years
• Cosmetic Dentistry - ranges from a weekend course to a 1-year course depending on the certificate issuing agency.

Dentists who have completed accredited specialty training programs in these fields are designated registrable (U.S. "Board Eligible") and warrant exclusive titles such as orthodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, endodontist, pedodontist, periodontist, or prosthodontist upon satisfying certain local (U.S. "Board Certified"), (Australia/NZ: "FRACDS"), or (Canada: "FRCD(C)") registry requirements.