Dentist Certifications

You may have noticed that your dentist has a few letters after his or her name when listed professionally. What do all those letters mean? The most common, that all dentists possess, is their dental school degree. This will be either D-M-D or D-D-S. Both degrees follow the same curriculum, and it’s usually a preference of the university as to which degree they award. Another acronym you may see is F-A-G-D. This signifies that this dentist is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry. This certification is gained through hours of continuing education and training. The A-A-A-C-D signifies that a dentist is an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. This certification requires extended training in cosmetic dentistry. In short, the letters behind a dentist’s name explain their qualifications and certifications.