Doctor of Dental Surgery

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) is a professional degree in dentistry awarded upon graduation from dental school in the United States and Canada. The pronunciation is /ˈdɒktər ɒv ˈdɛntəl ˈsɜːrdʒəri/. The term originates from the Latin words "doctor" meaning teacher and "surgery" from the Greek "cheirourgia" meaning hand work.

Education and Training

To become a Doctor of Dental Surgery, one must complete a bachelor's degree, usually in a science-related field, followed by four years of dental school. Dental school includes both classroom instruction and hands-on training in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases. Upon completion of dental school, graduates must pass a licensure examination to practice dentistry.

Scope of Practice

A Doctor of Dental Surgery is qualified to diagnose and treat diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity, as well as the maxillofacial area and associated structures. This includes performing surgical procedures such as extractions and dental implants, and providing preventive care such as cleanings and fluoride treatments.

Related Terms

  • Dentistry: The branch of medicine that involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity.
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A specialty of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the hard and soft tissues of the face, mouth, and jaws.
  • Dental Implants: Artificial tooth roots that provide a permanent base for fixed, replacement teeth.
  • Dental Extraction: The removal of a tooth from the mouth.
  • Preventive Care: Measures taken to prevent diseases, rather than curing them or treating their symptoms.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski