Dentists with F.A.G.D. ana M.A.G.D.

[The Candidate]

Are these dentists considered at the very top of their professions? I noticed most of them are in academics.

I would like know how long it takes to get these titles after dental school, and where?

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[mamelons]

These titles stand for Fellowship and Mastership of the Academy of General Dentistry. For each one you have to be a member of the Academy of General Dentistry for a certain number of years consecutively, do a certain amount of CE, and take an exam. I think it is 3 years of membership before you can apply for the fellowship.

 

[pntbutter]

These titles stand for Fellowship and Mastership of the Academy of General Dentistry. For each one you have to be a member of the Academy of General Dentistry for a certain number of years consecutively, do a certain amount of CE, and take an exam. I think it is 3 years of membership before you can apply for the fellowship.

I have always wondered about this too. What are the benefits of having these credentials after ones name?

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

These titles stand for Fellowship and Mastership of the Academy of General Dentistry.

I think its Fellowship and Membership. (just being pedantic) 🙂

 

[mamelons]

http://www.agd.org/education/fagd/
http://www.agd.org/education/magd/

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

http://www.agd.org/education/fagd/
http://www.agd.org/education/magd/

It is mastership. Odd... my mistake.

 

[krmower]

I've gotten my mastership. It does take a lot of time to complete it. For me the reason is personal satisfaction. I think as a general dentist I wanted something to show that I had taken my education to a differnet point following dental school.

I am not saying that having more initials after your name makes you better, but out of many of the organizations out there the AGD is one of the larger and better established. I see them as having more credibility than some of the others.

I guess it comes down to a personel decision. I wouldn't get the fellowship or mastership to use as part of your marketing ploy.

 

[desert rat]

Dentists in Military or college settings get hundreds of hours a year CE without choice. I knew some that got over 500 hours a year.

The military pushes it's dentists to join the ADA and AGD. If after 3 years of membership and having those CE hours why not go ahead and get the credentials.

Now also most general dentists in the military beyond the rank of major have completed a two year AEGD (Army made a residency a requirement to get to LTC). These people take and pass the board of general dentistry and are board certified general dentists.

As a general dentist in private practice in a rural area there is no value in joining the organized dentistry unless you feel good giving money to support dentistry in washington. The AGD and ADA have no rural CE, they do have free CE for people in urban areas. Still many members of the AGD do seek out the credentials of FAGD and MAGD. Those credentials don't impress patients, but if you want to do dental teaching of dentists it gives credibility.

I give my money back to my community and not to a private company like ADA (not a non profit, makes almost a billion a year). I don't give to the AGD to support urban dentists or to chase credential (I did that for a few years and dropped out before the credentials).

Personally, I wish these credentials could not be placed after the DDS and only specialists could put further credentials. The FAGD looks like it implies a degree or specialty when it realy does not.

 

[jspicoli]

Dentists in Military or college settings get hundreds of hours a year CE without choice. I knew some that got over 500 hours a year.

The military pushes it's dentists to join the ADA and AGD. If after 3 years of membership and having those CE hours why not go ahead and get the credentials.

Now also most general dentists in the military beyond the rank of major have completed a two year AEGD (Army made a residency a requirement to get to LTC). These people take and pass the board of general dentistry and are board certified general dentists.

As a general dentist in private practice in a rural area there is no value in joining the organized dentistry unless you feel good giving money to support dentistry in washington. The AGD and ADA have no rural CE, they do have free CE for people in urban areas. Still many members of the AGD do seek out the credentials of FAGD and MAGD. Those credentials don't impress patients, but if you want to do dental teaching of dentists it gives credibility.

I give my money back to my community and not to a private company like ADA (not a non profit, makes almost a billion a year). I don't give to the AGD to support urban dentists or to chase credential (I did that for a few years and dropped out before the credentials).

Personally, I wish these credentials could not be placed after the DDS and only specialists could put further credentials. The FAGD looks like it implies a degree or specialty when it realy does not.

Desert Rat,
I would like to clarify some things you said that are not altogether accurate.
First of all, as someone that is in the military (and getting out this year finally) and has been for almost 5 years, I can tell you that there are individuals that are general dentists in the Army that have not done a 2 year AEGD (known as 63Bravos) and are lietenant Colonels this is a fact. I worked with one in Germany for a year.
Secondly, getting 500 hours of CE in a year would not ever be common. Everyone can get 250 hours of CE for any AEGD program....civilian or military..., but 500 hours in a year would be extremely difficult even if you spent most of your off time taking online courses on Dental Town, the Crest Website, or anywhere else...much less doing military sponsored CE. We get one formal meeting a year (about 25 hours of CE) and I am a member of the local dental society (which they encourage) and get 1 hour a month. Other than that, you are on your own. You do have a yearly requirement of 30 hours of CE.
Finally, people that do a 2-year residency are not required to become "board certified in general dentistry", but are encouraged to by a small increase in pay and some promotion brownie points. Also, many are not board certified as the exam and board process is somewhat grueling and not all pass.
Most importanty, as a person that has been awarded the FAGD, I must say that the one area that you are right is that most patients don't care. There is also a somewhat difficult but passable exam similar to part II of the national boards but with more clinically based questions. What FAGD and MAGD's do show to the well informed patient and your colleagues, is that you have made an effort to be a lifelong learner and continually try and improve your skills.
These organizations do also stand up for us and fight for organized dentistry. You have seen the most recent example with the hygienists trying to take a shortcut to practicing dentistry in Minnesota and with fighting against the dental insurance industry trying to control dentistry.

I would really strive to make sure all your facts are straight and accurate, and try not to go on hearsay. I have had significant personal experience with both the AGD, and the Army.

 

[Rube]

Just to pile on a bit.... The ADA fights very hard at the state level to defeat legislation legalizing Advanced Dental Hygiene practioners and other mid levels. Currently there is another bill being pushed in NH to study the ADHP. Were I a practicing dentist, I would definitely join the ADA ( despite its problems), your $$ and the health of the profession could hinge on it.

 

[toofshucker]

I do agree with Rat when he says that the initials should NOT be allowed to be used in advertising. They imply a specialty or a superiority to the patient that may or may not be there. Just because you are a FAGD or MAGD just means you jumped through the hoops. Unless I am mistaken, they do not test your ability to actually perform dentistry. I don't care how well you know dentistry, if you can't hold a drill properly you can't perform good dentistry.

I guess my point is that by adding the initials to your name, you give a false impression to the patient. The initials mean nothing when it comes to the type/quality of dentistry you provide, but the patient doesn't know that.

 

[shabu2]

Most patients won't even know you have a DDS or a DMD, let alone try to figure out any extra letters behind your name. They just want a comfortable experience from an individual they can trust and not hurt them.