When you put your health in someone else’s hands, you need to have confidence in their capabilities. You wouldn’t take your car to an ill-qualified mechanic or hire a tutor for your child without the proper credentials, so why would your standards be any lower for your smile? However, in a complex field like dentistry, you can’t always tell for yourself if a doctor is qualified. This is where dental boards come into play; these professional organizations require rigorous testing and hold their members to the highest caliber of care.
At Denture and Dental Services, Dr. Peter Masone and our team are committed to helping you take charge of your oral health. Read on to learn more about board certification and what it means for you. In the following blog, we answer the question, “Should my dentist be board certified?” (with a resounding: “yes!”).
Dr. Peter Masone is board-certified in Florida and New York. Having owned practices is both states, patients travel from all over to experience his renowned services. Our Destination Dentistry program allows out-of-town patients and his former New York clientele to experience his Destin, Florida practice, and the area's pristine beaches.
Board Basics
When you read about “board certification” you may find yourself wondering, “Who is on this board? How does a doctor get certified"? A board is simply a group of esteemed leaders in their field who sets the guidelines for their area of expertise. If a doctor wants to join the ranks of the board, he or she must pass this elite group’s evaluations. If he or she is deemed worthy, the doctor becomes “board-certified".
Board certification is one of the ways patients can ensure they get appropriate care. In many ways, this process exists in order to keep patients safe, giving them a standard by which to measure their potential healthcare providers. Consumers’ Checkbook, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart, healthy choices, explains: “We advise consumers to select physicians who are ‘board-certified’” because “board certification provides tools for quality improvement, channels through which well-motivated physicians can fulfill a desire for professional improvement, and a way for each physician to demonstrate to patients and the public that he or she is committed to professional development.” Board certification offers a seal of approval that speaks to the skill, ethics, and devotion of a given dentist.
So, what does board certification actually entail? The American Board of Dental Specialties describes board certification as “the process by which dentists…physicians…or other health care practitioners in the United States demonstrate through written, oral, practical, and/or simulator-based testing, a mastery of the basic knowledge and skills that define an area of dental/medical specialization.” This advanced assessment process is, of course, in addition to having a medical degree, “approved post-graduate training,” and a variety of other “prerequisites” set by the specific board. If a dentist is a board-certified, he or she must have already successfully jumped through a variety of professional hoops.
For example, as a 2003 study published in the Journal of Prosthodontics (the specialty in dentistry concerned with artificial teeth and restorations like crowns, dentures, and bridges) explains, “91 percent” of those who got certified with the American College of Prosthodontists took a special class (in addition to all their other coursework) in preparation for this process, while “41 percent…prepared for the boards by reviewing prosthodontic literature, reading textbooks, using the ACP Study Guide, and seeking the help of other board-certified prosthodontists.” According to the scientists’ findings, overall, “the most gratifying aspect of becoming board-certified” for these dentists “was a personal accomplishment.” This demonstrates that the dentists, who invest the time and effort necessary to become board certified, do so because they are passionate about their field and want to do their best work.
Why Should Your Dentist Be Board Certified?
A more fitting question would be, “Why wouldn’t you want your dentist to be board certified?” The American Board of Dental Specialties explains the essence of board certification: “[It] helps ensure the public that formal training has been completed and a sufficient knowledge base in the specialty has been demonstrated.” If your dentist is board certified, you can be sure that your practitioner has:
Extensive experience
Knowledge of some of the latest technologies (especially since many boards make an effort to keep their members updated and may even require regular testing to maintain certification)
Sufficient training
The commitment and drive to pass the board’s many tests
Excelled to the top percentage of dentists in the United States or even worldwide
The two words “board-certified” mean quite a bit about a dentist when you understand what underlies them. Essentially, a board-certified dentist is someone exceptionally qualified to take care of your teeth.
Contact Your Destin Board Certified Dentist Today!
You deserve the utmost in dental professionalism – adept treatment from a board-certified dentist. Are you ready to take charge of your oral health? Contact us today to find out more and schedule your visit. We look forward to seeing you!
Call (850)-650-7979 to schedule your free consultation with Florida and New York board-certified dentist Dr. Peter Masone.