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(a)Unearned, Non-health Degrees. A dentist may use the title Doctor, Dentist, DDS, DMD or any additional earned, advanced academic degrees in health service areas in an announcement to the public. The announcement of an unearned academic degree, however, may be misleading because of the likelihood that it will indicate to the public the attainment of specialty or diplomate status. An unearned academic degree is one which is awarded by an educational institution not accredited by a generally recognized accrediting body or is an honorary degree. (1)The use of a non-health degree in an announcement to the public may be a representation which is misleading because the public is likely to assume that any degree announced is related to the qualifications of the dentist as a practitioner. (2)Some organizations grant dentists fellowship status as a token of membership in the organization or some other form of voluntary association. The use of such fellowships in advertising to the general public may be misleading because of the likelihood that it will indicate to the public attainment of education or skill in the field of dentistry. (3)Generally, unearned or non-health degrees and fellowships that designate association, rather than attainment, should be limited to scientific papers and curriculum vitae. Dentists may also include these unearned or non-health degrees and fellowships on business cards and/or stationery but shall be accompanied by a definition of the acronym. For example: John Doe, D.D.S., F.I.C.D. Fellow of the International College of Dentistry (b)Credentials in General Dentistry. General dentists may announce fellowships or other credentials earned in the area of general dentistry so long as they avoid any communications that express or imply specialization in a recognized specialty. In order to prevent a reasonable person from concluding that abbreviations indicate a designation of an academic degree, any use of abbreviations to designate credentials in non-ADA recognized specialty areas in an advertisement shall be accompanied by a definition of the acronym. For example: John Doe, D.D.S., F.A.G.D. Fellow Academy of General Dentistry
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has
been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's
legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on May 4, 2012
TRD-201202290 Glenn Parker
Interim
Executive Director
State Board of Dental Examiners
Earliest possible date of adoption: June 17, 2012
For further information, please call: (512) 475-0972
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