Many patients wonder about the meaning of the F.A.G.D. that appears after some of our doctors’ names, and it’s a great question! The following dentists – Francis, Marshall, Ream, Richards, Sorge-Richards, DeMille, and Swenson – all hold a D.D.S. and F.A.G.D. degree.

Becoming a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) is one of the few added distinctions that a general dentist can achieve. In fact, only 7% of general dentists in the U.S. have earned this honor. The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is the sole professional association that serves general dentists.

To achieve Fellowship in the AGD, dentists must complete over 500 hours of educational courses in various fields and pass a challenging exam that covers 16 different dental disciplines. After that, the award is presented to general dentists in a formal graduation ceremony. To learn more about this distinction or the AGD, please visit www.agd.org.

Dr. Gailbraith has D.M.D. after his name. The D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and D.M.D. (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees, and the universities determine which title to use when conferring the degree.

At our practice, all of our dentists attend ongoing continual education courses to provide you with the best possible care using cutting-edge training and techniques.