Searching orthodontist credentials and MS?

Message

#1 Post by **Emetic** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:23 pm

Does anyone know of any sites where I can search an orthodontist's credentials? I've noticed a few orthodontists in my yellow book with a DMD, a DDS, or a DDS combined with a MS. How important is a MS?

Should they be ABO-certified? http://www.americanboardortho.com/
Which board(s) should they be certified from?

Help a dumb person out.

#2 Post by **rsprouse** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:03 pm

The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Most dental schools award the DDS degree; however, some award a DMD degree. The education and degrees are the same.

Got that backwards. DMD is the "more modern" degree program and DDS is "Old school". But in reality it simply tells you where the doc went to school since some places are stuck on DDS and some are on DMD.

#3 Post by **Rickysa** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:26 am

emetic,

I'm not so sure about any difference between DMD vs. DDS...the old school/new school thing is new to me.

MS (Master of Science) denotes a research component of the program, where the resident has to complete a research project worthy of a "Masters" degree. Whether the graduate program is 2 years, 3 years, Master degree or not, learning how to do "braces" is covered in all.

As an aside.....PA after the name just means the practice is "incorporated" for tax/liability etc reasons

Dr. S