CHICAGO — The Academy of General Dentistry and the Academy of Laser Dentistry are pleased to announce a recently formed agreement that will allow members to enjoy benefits from both organizations and to encourage them to go further in their general practice through enhanced continuing education opportunities.
In 2006, the AGD and the ALD will work together to inform general dentists about the programs and services each organization has to offer its members. This alliance between these two organizations will raise consciousness among general dentists regarding the benefits of belonging to both organizations, encourage them to learn more about lasers, and to promote the concept of going further in general practice through continuing dental education.
Since the first dental lasers-approved for soft tissue applications and hardening of composite resin dental fillings-were introduced in 1991, dental lasers have become more sophisticated, varied and applicable for more procedures. Today more than 17 different dental laser applications can help patients achieve better oral health.
"We look forward to provide cross-education opportunities on this technology to a large audience of AGD members," says ALD President Steven P.A. Parker, BDS, LDS RCS, MFGDP RCS. AGD's commitment to excellence in continuing dental education and focus on lifetime learning attracted us to network in this effort."
"Our agreement with ALD will provide our membership with a prime opportunity to learn how to use the latest technology to help their patients," says AGD President Bruce A. Burton, DMD, MAGD, ABGD. "We too are pleased to build an alliance with the ALD, so we may provide our members with the latest information regarding advances in technology."
Highlights of the AGD/ALD agreement include cross-promotion of the organization's annual meetings via Web sites, development of a joint patient education fact sheet that will appear in AGD and ALD publications, creation of Web links to be used as shared resources between the organizations, and articles on laser dentistry that may appear in AGD's clinical journal, General Dentistry.
