What Does It Mean That My Dentist Is Board Certified?
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It Means A Commitment To Excellence |
| The achievement of board certification is the culmination of years of rigorous study and testing in all aspects of general dentistry. In the words of the American Board of General Dentistry - |
| "Board certification by the American Board of General Dentistry signifies the pinnacle of achievement in general dentistry and is an individual credential beyond any other in general dentistry. Board certification with the ABGD demonstrates (an) ongoing commitment to excellence." Board certification is an accomplishment "that only a select handful in the profession will ever achieve." |
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In order to be eligible for board certification, a dentist must earn a
Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry by attending over 500
hours of continuing education courses and taking a written examination.
Then, a dentist must earn a Mastership from the Academy of General
Dentistry. This requires that a dentist "complete a minimum of 1,100
hours in approved continuing dental education. At least 400 hours
must be accrued in participation courses, those that involve actual
application of a technique or skill under close supervision by highly
qualified experts. Masters have been trained by the best to be the best.
In addition, to qualify for Mastership, individuals must meet the
requirements of a rigorous didactic formula that insures they are
exposed to current scientific and clinical approaches in all disciplines
of dentistry." The board certification process involves taking a written examination that must demonstrate knowledge in all aspects of dentistry. Then, the candidate must complete an arduous oral examination covering all specialties of dentistry and present actual cases performed by the candidate. |