What is the difference between DDS and DMD

The medical field uses dozens of acronyms and abbreviations that stand for the various titles and certifications a medical professional has earned or achieved. Some are very familiar —like MD for medical doctor and RN for registered nurse, while others are not as recognizable to the general public. In the dental industry, you will most often see DDS or DMD following a dentist’s name. The only difference between a DMD vs DDS title is where the dentist attended school and earned their degree in dentistry.

The training of DMD and DDS dentist are essentially the same. DMD stands for “Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae,” meaning Doctor of Dental Medicine in Latin. Harvard University was the first to offer a DMD degree. A Doctor of Dental Surgery or DDS has to pass the same licensing examinations as a DMD and vice versa. 

Both Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Adhikari earned a DDS degree from their respective universities. Dr. Dougherty attended Creighton University for his graduate degree in dentistry, while Dr. Adhikari graduated from New York University College of Dentistry. In addition, they are both dedicated to continuing education to stay abreast of the latest treatments and provide the best care options to Artistic Dental patients. 

In 2012, Dr. Dougherty earned his Master Academy of General Dentistry or MAGD, which only 3 percent of dentist in the U.S. have achieved. Dr. Adhikari is in the process of earning her MAGD and has currently earned a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), meaning she has completed at least 500 hours of additional dental education credits. An MAGD requires 1000 hours of additional education. 

Given their extensive training, Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Adhikari are able to offer patients comprehensive list of services treatments including:

• Restorative dentistry (Oral surgery, root canal therapy, tooth filling)

• Cosmetic dentistry (veneers, teeth whitening, orthodontics, dental implants and more)

• Preventative care (Dental check-ups, x-rays, oral cancer screenings)

You may wonder after reading this, why do the two different titles exist, if they mean the same thing? The simple answer is that the titles hold significance to the universities that have used them for years. In other words, the universities don’t have a reason to change it. There has been some debate about establishing one general dentist title, but for now DDS and DMD will remain the official designations. 

A couple of other titles that you may see include Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) and Certified Dental Assistant (CDA). The education and certification for a hygienist is more extensive, but both individuals will work with the dentists in the overall care of patients.

 If you would like to learn more about the services and treatments we provide at Artistic Dental you can call (602)840-5400 to book a complimentary consultation or visit our website.

5 fun alternatives to Halloween Candy

Going trick-or-treating is a highlight of the year for most kids and, let’s be serious, many adults too. After it’s the one night of the year where you get to wear a cool creative costume and fill up on Halloween candy to your hearts content (or until Mom says, “No more.”)

Unfortunately, eating too much candy can build up plaque, which leads to cavities and other health problems. The American Heart Association recommends that children eat or drink less than 25 grams of added sugar a day. On Halloween, the average trick-or-treater takes home candy that contains more than 600 grams of sugar! That’s nearly three cups of sugar being consumed in a very short amount of time.

In a previous blog we discussed how to limit Halloween candy and other preventative measures to help maintain oral hygiene during the sweets-filled holiday season. It’s especially important to begin educating children at an early age about how much sugar is in food and the damage it can do to their teeth. Offering healthy alternatives can keep your family from reaching into the candy jar or bag, and increasing the chances for those dreaded post-Halloween cavities. To help prepare for the holiday here are five alternatives to Halloween candy:

Make fruit and veggies fun

Halloween candy doesn’t have to be the only Halloween treat that’s fun! Get creative with fruits and vegetables and watch people line up for your spooky creations. Make a veggie skeleton with carrots, celery, bell peppers and broccoli. Use the curve of the chopped bell pepper for ribs, celery for legs, broccoli for feet and a cup of ranch dip for the skeleton’s face. Try apple slices with peanut butter and mini marshmallows. Place the marshmallows in-between two apple slices to create a tasty grin. This treat can also serve as a reminder to brush your teeth after eating sweets!

Give away toys

Buying a big bag of Halloween candy for trick-or-treaters often becomes a temptation that has you sneaking several pieces for yourself. To keep the sneaking of sweets to a minimum consider giving out something other than candy this Halloween. Inexpensive options include temporary tattoos, fake bugs and glow sticks.

Host a pumpkin decorating contest

Decorating pumpkins is a fun activity for all ages and it can be a great alternative to trick-or-treating. Make it into a competition and see who can paint or carve the most creative jack-o-lantern. Offer prizes and serve your fun fruit and veggie creations for hors d'oeuvres.

Build a homemade piñata

Making a homemade piñata may sound like a lot of work but with some paper mache skills and a little paint, anyone can do it! Blow up a balloon and use it as your base of the piñata. Use paper mache mix and newspaper to cover the balloon, wait for it to dry and then pop the balloon from the bottom. You can then paint it to make a ghost, a pumpkin or anything else you can imagine. Fill the piñata with Halloween toys or confetti and get the blindfold and stick ready.!

Visit a pumpkin patch

There are pumpkin patches with a variety of outdoor activities and plenty of healthy food alternatives, like apple stands. Spend time walking through a maze or feeding animals at the petting zoo. Being outdoors in the fresh air is a great distraction from sugary Halloween temptations.

Seeking out alternatives can save your teeth from decay, while creating new family traditions. And if you do decide to indulge from time to time, don’t forget to brush your teeth after eating and visit your dentist regularly.

Learn how a CEREC crown can transform your smile

Spreading joy, improving attitude and relieving stress are just some of the side effects of smiling more often. A damaged tooth can be stressful and inconvenient, however, advancements in CEREC technology will give you even more reasons to show off your amazing smile.

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEREC, allows for same-day restoration of dental crowns. This means that Artistic Dental patients in need of a crown no longer need to come for multiple appointments as we wait on a lab to manufacture and send back. Now, patients only need to come in for one appointment that usually takes a couple of hours.

How it works:

The advanced technology takes an exact image of your tooth and uses it to create a permanent restoration crown. After being precisely shaped, the permanent crown is immediately placed on your tooth. The quick process is just one of the benefits of the CEREC method.

Benefits of CEREC over traditional methods: 

Fixed in one visit: Other restoration systems require impressions of patient’s teeth be sent to a lab. CEREC technology is not only fast, but precise. 

No temporary crowns: Some procedures require that patients wear a temporary crown while waiting for the new one to come in. CEREC allows patients to get a new crown right way! 

Precise digital imaging: CEREC uses digital imaging to accurately scan a patient’s tooth without any uncomfortable impressions needed.

Innovative porcelain material: Metal crowns can be distracting from the natural color of your teeth. CEREC crowns are made of ceramic material that’s compatible with tissue in your mouth, plaque-resistant and anti-abrasive. The crowns can be custom-made to the exact shade of the patient’s teeth making them virtually unnoticeable.

Preserves your natural teeth: CEREC is valuable for dentists and patients because it preserves and protects your natural teeth.

The images below represent what your teeth may look before and after you get a CEREC crown:

BEFORE                          AFTER


We know our patients have busy schedules and appreciate a quick, permanent solution to a damaged tooth. The Artistic Dental staff treats you like family and wants you to have the best restorative dental experience possible.

If you have missing, damaged, stained or broken teeth, Dr. John Dougherty and Dr. Prabidhi Adhikari are highly trained in comprehensive and cosmetic dental care, which includes, in-office tooth whitening, porcelain dental veneers, tooth-colored composite fillings, bridges and tooth bonding.

To learn more about our service or to book a complementary consultation call our office at (602) 840 – 5400 or visit artisticd.com.