American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

	The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) will launch a cosmetic dentistry residency pilot program this August with three dental residents, each learning from an AACD Accredited Fellow. Elizabeth M. Bakeman, DDS, FAACD; Susan Hollar, DDS, FAACD, and Brian P. LeSage, DDS, FAACD, will each be instructing a dental resident and providing experience relating to all facets of an esthetic restorative dental practice, including effective practice management, diagnostic tools and restorative considerations.

	Residents will acquire the clinical and business experience needed to jump start a career in a cosmetic-oriented restorative dental practice by completing a series of requirements, including studying dental literature and implementing simple to complex restorative cases.

	“The AACD Residency program is designed to expose young dentists to the clinical and business side of a fee-for-service style private practice,” says preceptor Brian LeSage, DDS, FAACD.

Read more: New AACD survey measures pulse of cosmetic dentistry industry

The AACD is excited to announce the first AACD 

		Natalie Downs, DDS, graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry in 2017 and has been practicing as an associate at James C. Peurach DDS and Cascade Village Dental. Dr. Downs will be studying under the guidance of Elizabeth M. Bakeman, DDS, FAACD, at her practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

		Amirali Zandinejad, DDS, MSc, completed his dental training in 1996, a residency program in operative dentistry and a master’s degree in restorative dentistry from Sheffield University in the United Kingdom, and the AEGD residency and prosthodontics program from the University of Rochester in New York. He currently serves as the director of the AEGD residency program at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Dr. Zandinejad will be studying under the guidance of Susan Hollar, DDS, FAACD, at her practice in Arlington, Texas.

		Caroline Girard, DDS, graduated from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in 2015 and currently practices as an associate at La Canada Smiles Dentistry. Dr. Girard will be studying under the guidance of Brian LeSage, DDS, FAACD, at his practice in Beverly Hills, California.

	These dental professionals will have the unique opportunity to learn one on one from some of the most successful restorative dentists in the country and to observe, document and execute a variety of 

. In addition to gaining knowledge and experience relating to all facets of an esthetic restorative dental practice, these residents will gain the skills and confidence they need to enjoy the professional and financial successes that comes with a responsible, esthetic dental practice.

	For more information about the AACD Residency pilot program, visit 

Articles

The program will provide experience relating to all facets of an esthetic restorative dental practice.

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry launches cosmetic dentistry residency pilot program

	A recent survey of dental professionals conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and Acuitim Marketing Research and Consultancy reveals that cosmetic procedures continue to bring life to dental practices.

	The 2017 survey was conducted between October and December of 2017 and garnered responses from 363 dental professionals. The survey includes a snapshot of current cosmetic dental practice demographics, narrative summaries of key survey results, comparisons to 2015 data when applicable, and comparisons between AACD member and non-member respondents.

Read more: 6 cosmetic dentistry procedures every practice should offer

	Overall, the data presents encouraging findings relating to the profitability of 

, even though the average number of procedures performed by respondent practices is down about 15 percent from 2015. The amount the average cosmetic dentistry patient spent on services at respondents’ practices in the past year increased, with 45 percent of respondents selecting the top five tiers available in the survey ($2,500 to $20,000+), up eight points since 2015 and two points higher than 2013.

The 2017 survey findings also present encouraging findings relating to membership in the 

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD)

 than non-members for cosmetic procedures, and Accredited Members report charging 90 percent more than non-members for cosmetic procedures. Non-members reported average total revenues of $523,585 from all dentistry (cosmetic and non-cosmetic), while AACD General Members averaged twice that ($1,065,642). AACD Accredited Members’ revenues averaged $1,602,823, and 71 percent of AACD Accredited Members who responded are in practices with more than $1 million in revenues.

The results of the survey are reassuring for dentists who already offer cosmetic procedures in their practice and should be catalyzing for dentists who don’t. Sixty percent of respondents identified themselves as general dentists, strongly suggesting that cosmetic procedures are no longer exclusively in the realm of a few practitioners - though specialized training in cosmetic procedures and membership in the AACD offer a competitive advantage and tangible financial gains.

	The AACD has conducted the biennial State of the Cosmetic Dentistry Industry Survey since 2004, and the data collected is used to determine the size and impact, in terms of procedures and revenues, of the cosmetic dentistry market. The State of the Cosmetic Dentistry Industry Survey Report provides valuable insights into the industry and can help dentists make informed decisions for the future of their practices - a future that continues to look bright.

	The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is a valuable resource for continuing education in comprehensive cosmetic dentistry. The AACD equips dentists with the skills and confidence they need to provide their patients predictable cosmetic results, which in turn translates to treating more cosmetic patients and being able to charge more for cosmetic procedures.

	To download the State of the Cosmetic Dentistry Industry 2017 Report, visit 

	To learn more about the benefits of AACD membership, visit 

The 2017 survey presents encouraging findings relating to the profitability of offering cosmetic procedures.