The AGD Mastership Award Recognizes Your Dentist’s Commitment to High-Quality Care
No one ever said it was easy to become a dentist. After earning an undergraduate degree in science, prospective dentists must successfully complete four years in the rigorous environment of an accredited dental school. After that, every dentist must pass a state-administered exam before being licensed to practice in that state. At that point, you might think the dental educational process is over. But it isn’t.
State regulations generally require dentists to complete a certain number of continuing-education credits every year, in order to maintain their licenses. It’s a way of ensuring that dentists stay current with the latest innovations in their field, and provide their patients with good-quality care. But some dedicated practitioners take it even further.
Dentists who join the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) — a professional organization founded in 1952, which currently has about 37,000 members — must live up to a stricter standard. AGD members are committed to taking at least 75 hours of continuing education courses every three years. According to surveys, however, most members average more than 40 hours every year: That’s a full work-week dedicated to education.
When a dentist has been a member of the AGD for three years, completed 500 hours of continuing education, and passed a comprehensive examination, he or she can become a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. This honorary designation is a way of recognizing a dentist’s commitment to providing excellence in patient care. To date, about 11,000 members of the AGD have become Fellows.
There’s one more step in the pyramid: Mastership. To attain this designation, after becoming a Fellow, a dentist must complete an additional 600 hours of continuing education, including 400 hours of “hands-on” training. Needless to say, this denotes an extremely high level of dedication. A dentist who receives this honor has devoted a significant amount of time to his or her profession, and is up to date on the most current standards of care. About 1,000 AGD members have achieved Mastership thus far.
We’re pleased to let our patients know that Dr. Cindy Sumarauw was recently recognized as a Master by the Academy of General Dentistry. The Mastership Award symbolizes Dr. Sumarauw’s commitment to remain at the forefront of dental science. And it’s one more way of showing her dedication to providing excellent dental care for her patients. If you have questions or concerns about your dental health, please contact Dr. Cindy Sumarauw at 801-281-3500 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.
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