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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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What Is Continuing Education, and What Does It Mean to Me?

 

What is continuing education?

Continuing education consists of courses that dentists take after they graduate from dental school in order to remain up to date in the field and to learn about the latest techniques and procedures.

Dentists take the courses at college and university campuses, at dental association meetings or on the Web. Online courses can be completed on the dentist's own time, which is useful, since dentists are working professionals with busy schedules.

What are the AGD's continuing education requirements?

AGD members never stop learning; the AGD requires its members to participate in 75 hours of continuing education every three years. However, surveys have shown that AGD members complete more than 40 hours of continuing education on average each year. By choosing an AGD member as your dentist, you can trust that he or she is up to date regarding the latest procedures in general dentistry and able to provide your entire family with high-quality treatment.

How is continuing education beneficial?

Dentists take continuing education courses to ensure that they are aware of new developments, techniques and treatments in their field and to learn new services that they can offer to their patients, such as laser dentistry, cosmetic procedures or sleep dentistry.

Do states require continuing education for dentists?

State regulations require dentists to meet certain continuing education requirements. These requirements help to ensure that only the most competent professionals maintain their practice. Many AGD dentists exceed the number of state-required continuing education hours because of their AGD membership requirements.

Does the AGD give any recognition for continuing education?

AGD members who have completed the most rigorous continuing dental education programs can earn the prestigious Fellowship (FAGD) and Mastership (MAGD) Awards. To learn more about the FAGD and MAGD Awards, click here.
Reviewed: January 2012