What is a DDS?

Your search for good dental care can expose you to a sometimes bewildering array of initials: DDS, DMD, DD, BDSc and more. But once you match initials with services, it all starts to make sense.

Probably the most recognized dental degree in the United States is the DDS, or Doctor of Dental Surgery. This degree qualifies dentists to gain their state licenses to work in a private or group practice.

A licensed DDS provides medical and cosmetic services tied to tooth, jaw and gum health. These services ranging from giving check-ups and filling cavities to creating crowns and performing root-canal surgery.

But what if a dentist has a different set of initials – DMD – after his or her name? This abbreviation, Doctor of Dental Medicine, is essentially identical to DDS in terms of training and education. As the American Dental Association puts it, “Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. It’s up to the universities to determine what degree is awarded. Both degrees use the same curriculum requirements set by the American Dental Association.”

DDS with a Specialty

Dr. John Stone, DDS

Many dentists expand their expertise from general dentistry to one or more specialties. It can take years of additional training and certification to perform services like endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, orthodontics and periodontics.

One specialty – prosthodontics – is centered on dental implant therapy, a discipline that covers dental restoration, reconstruction and replacement. You might consult a DDS with a Prosthodontics license for crowns, caps, veneers, bridges and partial dentures.

Because surgical implants are part of Prosthodontics, the doctor’s background in a hospital environment is key to a successful outcome.  One of the best Prosthodontists in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. John C. Stone, has been placing implants surgically since 1991.

He not only completed his DDS hospital residency, he was named Chief Resident in his second year. That thorough grounding in advanced surgical procedure helped make Dr. Stone a leader in the dental-surgery field. In fact, he teaches implant dentistry to other dentists.

Have Confidence in Your DDS

Whether your needs are medical or cosmetic – or a combination of both – you stand to gain a better bite and more beautiful smile when you select the right dentist. You’ll want one who, like Dr. Stone, sees the “big picture” of your dental health in the context of your overall health.

And you’ll benefit even more from a dental team ready to provide assitance, advice and answers to ensure your continued satisfaction.