Certification

ESCD CERTIFICATION demonstrates a real commitment to developing skills in the art and science of cosmetic dentistry. CERTIFICATION is awarded to those members who can show real understanding of examination, treatment planning and treatment execution as well as an interest in other aspects of dental cosmetic service and education. Dentists, dental technicians and physicians who provide evidence of special theoretical and practical knowledge in the area of cosmetic and esthetic procedures in the maxillo-facial, oral and dental field or dental laboratory techniques, can become CERTIFIED and FELLOW MEMBERS.

The criteria for this evidence are determined in the guidelines for CERTIFICATION of the ESCD. The CERTIFICATION committee, formed by the elected chairman for education and his selected CERTIFIED MEMBERS decides upon demand in a constitutive session whether the prerequisites for obtaining the CERTIFIED MEMBERSHIP have been fulfilled by the applicant or not. To find out more details on CERTIFICATION regulations click here.

Certification Benefits

Why to become certified?

ESCD CERTIFICATION is important to:   You…  Your Colleagues…  Your Patients…

1.

ESCD members all have an interest in providing excellent cosmetic services and spend time and money on postgraduate education and training. Gaining CERTIFICATION is our personal confirmation of recognition by our peers that we have succeeded in achieving a high level of skill and are respected for our professional endeavours.

2.

Our colleagues recognize that we have developed certain skills and abilities which allow us to confidently approach and treat a wide range of cosmetic problems. For this reason, colleagues may feel it appropriate to refer cosmetic cases to us which they are unsure about treating themselves.

3.

Our patients can have the knowledge that we have followed correct treatment protocols and have been assessed by examiners from a respected cosmetic dental society. Patients may be more likely to choose treatment from a dentist who can demonstrate this kind of experience. In addition to this, the CERTIFICATION process helps develop our skill and understanding as we carefully record and assess every aspect of our treatment. It gives us a new interest in our work and helps our clinical and professional development.

Certification Process

What is necessary to gain CERTIFICATION?

In order to gain CERTIFICATION we have to demonstrate competence by completing a number of cosmetic treatments and presenting at least one of these cases at the ESCD Annual Meeting. As well as this we can gain additional credits by demonstrating active membership of certain dental societies, publishing papers or books or holding recognised qualifications in cosmetic dentistry. Full details of the CERTIFICATION criteria are available at the Membership area of the ESCD website.

Gaining ESCD CERTIFICATION is challenging but completely possible for all ESCD MEMBERS. It requires some work, some thought and some professional discipline but the rewards of personal satisfaction and demonstrable clinical competency are certainly worth the effort. In future Newsletters we will publish examples of actual cases submitted by members, but in the meantime, visit the website and get started!

Click here for CERTIFICATION regulations

Download CERTIFICATION procedure instructions in PDF

Certification Criteria

100 points are required to become a CERTIFIED MEMBER of the European Society of Cosmetic Dentistry (ESCD). These points may be accumulated through a variety of professional activities. Some are mandatory, others are optional. All must be related to esthetic dentistry / esthetic laboratory techniques.

Navigate tabs on the top (Mandatory and Optional Criteria) for the two mandatory criteria or to view the sixteen optional criteria of accumulating the 100 required points.

Certification Programs of ESCD Partnership Associations

If there is a comparable CERTIFICATION Program established the ESCD can also accept the CERTIFIED MEMBER Status of another esthetic association. The CERTIFICATION Committee will give a recommendation to the membership and the CERTIFIED MEMBERS of the ESCD will decide about acceptance. On the other hand the partnership associations should act the same and accept the CERTIFICATION Criteria of the ESCD.

Mandatory Criteria

1. Submission of 3 completed cases. (max. 30 Points)
Each case is judged by the Certification Committee and scored out of a possible ten points. A minimum of seven points must be achieved on each case to be considered a pass. Therefore a minimum of 21 points is scored for three cases which each score a minimal passing grade, up to a maximum of 30 points for five superior cases. A variety of techniques and procedures must be represented in the five cases. At least two of the cases must involve cosmetic / cosmetic laboratory techniques of at least the anterior teeth. Perfection is not the required standard. It is understood that patients seldom present with ideal circumstances and often decline an aspect of treatment which can mean the difference between an adequate case and a superior one. Cases are judged based upon the results achieved given the situation presented and the limitations imposed by the patient. Minor shortcomings in the esthetic results can be considered acceptable if adequate explanation is given by the candidate. Such explanation must show understanding of the shortcoming as well as how it can be addressed. In the submitted cases such shortcomings must be the exception, and not the norm. Case presentations must follow the outline provided to candidates for the purpose. This includes a brief review of the comprehensive dental examination, including periodontal health, contributory medical history, and any other considerations normally considered pertinent to dental treatment. These may include radiographs, documentation of consultation with specialists or physicians, and other data depending on the requirements of the case. The dental technician also must be able to explain the basic conditions but not in detail. General standards for evaluation of the overall esthetic result include: Does the case meet generally accepted standards of quality dental care? Does the case display a substantial improvement in esthetics from the “before” to the “after” photos? Is the case free of obvious esthetic errors? The quality of the photography is not be used as a criterion for evaluation of the treatment. If the photography is inadequate to evaluate the merits of the case, the candidate is be asked to retake the photographs or to submit another case.
2. Presentation of at least one case at the Annual Meeting of the ESCD
Candidates are required to present at least one case to the members. The style and format of such presentation is flexible, but open to direction by the Certification Committee

Optional Criteria

1) Postgraduate Certificate in Esthetics Dentistry (50 Points)
This is considered the gold standard in esthetic dental education. Successful completion of a minimum one year full time (or its equivalent) post-graduate program fully devoted to esthetic dentistry, and leading to a diploma, certificate or degree in esthetic dentistry from an accredited university, or it’s equivalent, is required for credit under this category. This could e.g. include the certificate program in esthetic dentistry from SUNY Buffalo, University of Catalonia Barcelona or a similar program to be established by the ESCD. Other programs which are not solely devoted to esthetic dentistry can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
2) Level 1 Postgraduate Esthetics Program (10 Points)
Programs of this nature are typically 100 hours in duration and consist of lecture and laboratory hands-on components. (One point = approximately 10 hours of classroom participation.)
3) Level 2 Postgraduate Esthetics Program (15 Points)
Level 2 programs are approximately 80 hours duration and are 50-70% clinical. (One point = approximately 7 hours of clinical participation.)
4) Other continuing education in esthetic dentistry (max. 30 Points)
Classroom participation: 1 point per 8 hours Clinical participation: 1 point per 6 hours Other postgraduate programs are evaluated on an individual basis and credit given for esthetic content and merit relative to the programs listed above. Where the requirements for one program include another program as an included component, credit is given only for the more extensive program. For example, the SUNY Buffalo Certificate Program includes Level 1 Postgraduate Esthetics in its requirements, therefore credit will be given only for the Certificate Program, not for Level 1 as well.
5) Fellowship of a national academy
e.g. DGÄZ (German Association for Esthetic Dentistry) (10 Points)
6) Active Membership of an international academy
e.g. EAED (European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry) (15 Points)
7) Mastership
e.g. MAGD (Academy of General Dentistry) (15 Points)
8) Accreditation
e.g AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) (40 Points)
9) AACD fellowship (60 Points)
e.g. AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) -Credit is given for either Active Membership, Mastership, Accreditation or Fellowship
10) Published articles
on esthetics and related topics in dental journals (5 Points each max. 20 Points)
11) Certified specialist in orthodontics, periodontics, or prosthodontics (30 Points)
12) Teaching esthetics at postgraduate level (0.1 Point / hour max. 10 Points)
13) Author textbook related to esthetics (30 Points max. 30 Points)
14) Author chapter related to esthetics (5 Points max. 10 Points)
15) Attendance at Annual Meetings of Esthetic Societies
e.g. ESCD, CAED, SSER, SACD, EAED, DGKZ, DGÄZ, AACD, AAED, IAACD (5 Points max. 15 Points)
16) Submission of additional cases (10 Points each max. 20 Points)
Up to 3 additional complex esthetic cases. Additional cases can be included for credit if the candidate otherwise achieves 80 points toward Certification. Complex cases are those which involve at least three of the following esthetic treatment components: – direct restorations – indirect restorations – esthetic periodontal surgery – endodontic esthetic complications – occlusal correction – bleaching – esthetic recontouring – orthodontics – laser surgery – implantology These additional complex cases are evaluated in the same way as the mandatory cases. Each submission is graded out of ten points and must achieve a minimum score of seven to be included