Final answer:
It is true that DDS or DMD degrees are granted depending on the dental school. The difference in degree name does not reflect a difference in the level of education or clinical training required.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, depending on the dental school, either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry/Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree is granted. Both degrees require the same level of education and clinical training. The difference is largely related to the history and preference of the university granting the degree. Some schools prefer DDS while others offer DMD, but both degrees allow graduates to practice dentistry.
Historical Context in Dentistry
After the Civil War, significant progress was made with respect to African Americans entering the medical field. Robert Tanner Freeman, the son of former slaves, became a trailblazer by being the first African American to earn a doctorate in dental surgery. Despite facing initial rejections due to racial prejudice, Freeman managed to graduate from Harvard Dental School in 1869, reflecting both the struggles and achievements of African Americans during that era. Similarly, Ida Gray Nelson Rollins made history as the first female African American doctor of dentistry.