AGD provides powerful tools

For more than 50 years, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has provided general dentists with powerful tools to achieve their professional and educational goals. The AGD offers exclusive benefits to help members accomplish these goals.

With a commitment to lifelong learning at the core of the AGD’s mission, it is no surprise that members have the best continuing education opportunities in general dentistry available to them. The Annual Meeting & Exhibition, which offers more than 30 hours of hands-on participation credit, is a great way for members to help fulfill their annual state and AGD requirements for continuing education. Additionally, members can receive credit through the DART self-instruction program and a variety of local, state, and provincial opportunities.

In addition to providing the best continuing dental education (CDE) opportunities, the AGD is the premiere provider of CDE course credit recording. And with transcripts available through the AGD Web site, a member dentist’s CDE is always current and available whenever and wherever.

In such a highly competitive field, it is important for dentists to make themselves stand out. Through the Fellowship (FAGD) and Mastership (MAGD) programs, the only recognized achievement-based awards in general dentistry, members have the opportunity to challenge themselves and gain a competitive edge among other dental professionals.

Access to professional services and resources is another invaluable member benefit at the AGD. One example is the recently established relationship with Zoll Medical Corporation to offer members a custom defibrillator package for a discounted price. Since some U.S. states are requiring these life-saving devices in all medical offices, the AGD makes acquiring them easy and economical for its members.

AGD members receive discounts on other important professional resources such as liability and group insurance. Patient financing and credit card processing programs make patient acceptance of proposed treatment simpler and more efficient. Member dentists also have professional financing opportunities to help improve their dental practice. Some member benefits can be used personally as well as professionally, such as discounted car rental, travel, low interest credit cards, auto insurance, and residential mortgage opportunities.

The AGD has worked hard to provide member dentists with an abundance of resources for members. Recent enhancements include the AGD Web site. Members are able to build Web pages to promote their dental services, office hours, and communicate with their patients. Another great member benefit is access to AGD publications. Through free subscriptions to General Dentistry and AGD Impact, member dentists can keep themselves informed on current issues in the field of dentistry.

AGD hosts single Web pages where you can list your dental services, announce your office hours, and, most importantly, communicate with your patients. A step-by-step tutorial will make you a webmaster in minutes. Additionally, our Web forums allow you to network with other members - virtually. The electronic discussion boards offer a convenient way to discuss issues affecting the profession

Our patient referral service, (877) 2X-A-YEAR ((877) 292-9327), is free to AGD members and connects the public with local, AGD member, general dentists. Consumers call the toll-free number and an operator provides the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three local Academy member dentists. As of January 2005, the service had fielded more than 12,000 calls from consumers, resulting in more than 22,000 AGD member referrals.

From providing discounts on products and services to helping members achieve educational goals, AGD works hard to make membership a valuable and meaningful experience. For more information on becoming a member of the AGD, visit www.agd.org.

Editor’s Note: This is the second of a yearlong series of articles from the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). The AGD and Dental Equipment & Materials are working together throughout 2005 to bring you articles that will help you in your practice. For more information on the AGD, log on to www.agd.org or call (888) 243-3368.

Dr. R. Claire Campbell graduated with honors from the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry in 1996. She is currently in private practice in Clackamas, Ore. She received her AGD Fellowship in 2002. Dr. Campbell is immediate past president of the Oregon AGD, chair of the AGD Membership Council, and also currently serving on the OHSU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. She is a 2004 DHS Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship Fellow. Dr. Campbell is an active member of the AGD, the ADA, and their component societies. She has previously been a clinical instructor at the OHSU School of Dentistry. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

A Capitol Investment

Click here to enlarge image

The 2005 AGD Annual Meeting & Exhibition is the best dental education event of the year for general practitioners and their dental teams. Join us when the AGD arrives in Washington, D.C., from July 13-17. For more information, visit www.agd.org/annual_meeting.