A Dentist is a medical professional who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. This includes the teeth, gums, and oral cavity as whole. It also includes the removal, correction, and replacement of decayed and damaged teeth. In the United States, Dentists complete four years of undergraduate work to earn a Bachelor’s degree, then complete another three to four years of dental school to earn either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree, or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. DMD and DDS are more or less equivalent; each university decides which degree is awarded. Both degrees cover the same curriculum.