They both mean the same thing—your dentist graduated from an accredited dental school. The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education.

Is a DMD a professional degree?

In the United States the Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Dental Medicine are terminal professional doctorates which qualify a professional for licensure. The DDS and DMD degrees are considered equivalent. ... They are awarded upon graduation from dental school to become a General Dentist.

How many years of college does it take to be a DMD?

It generally takes eight years to become a dentist: four years to earn a bachelor's degree as an undergraduate and four years to earn a DDS or DMD in dental school. If you're interested in specializing, you'll also need to complete a dental residency (more on that below).