Dr. Gillis speaks on Accreditation with the AACD
AACD Accreditation – Purpose, Benefits, Process
Accreditation in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) serves to set standards for excellence in cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Julie Gillis became Accredited with the AACD in 1997. She was the very first dentist to become accredited in Colorado and is now one of only three dentists in Colorado and about 600 dentists around the world that have attained this honor. Dr. Gillis has server the AACD for years as an examiner for other dentists and dental lab technicians currently trying to become accredited. Accreditation represents the acknowledgment of a doctor’s or dental technician’s excellence in cosmetic dentistry. Accreditation and the examination process are administered by the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Gillis currently serves on this board.
Dr Gillis (third from right) and members of the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry
Accreditation is a three-part process consisting of a Written Examination, Clinical Case Submissions for Examination and an Oral Examination. Each part must be completed in sequence. The candidate has flexibility to proceed at a pace that works best for the individual as long as the process is completed by the fifth Annual Scientific Session following passing the Written Exam.
The Written Examination tests the candidate’s foundational knowledge in cosmetic dentistry. Dentists who are knowledgeable in all phases of cosmetic dentistry are expected to pass the test. The Written Examination is administered at the Annual Scientific Session and at additional dates as directed by the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry. The Annual Scientific Session is held in the spring at different locations, and is publicized well in advance of the meeting date. Dr. Gillis is proud to serve as the chair of the Written Examination Committee and has done this for years.
Dr Gillis notes, “I have a strong belief in the value of the AACD credential. I followed an unconventional path to dentistry by training and working as an entry-level architect and illustrator for firms in the Denver area. Dentistry allowed me to take these hand/eye skills to a new level of ‘micro architecture’ in the field of dentistry. During my first American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) meeting in 1995, I met several accredited members and knew that this was important for my career. In two years I completed the amazing process of accreditation.”
The process of accreditation continues to evolve and improve so that it is better for dentists, better for their patients, and better recognition by the public. I would like to see the accreditation process become something that every dentist with an interest in cosmetic dentistry wants to achieve. I firmly believe in the purpose of the AACD as it is also my purpose, ‘to create exciting learning and social environments where the confluence of health, beauty, and function inspire excellence in the art and science of cosmetic dentistry.’
I believe responsible esthetics with an emphasis on health should be a goal for all dental professionals and certainly is a personal goal of mine. The AACD core ideology is that cosmetic dentistry should integrate interdisciplinary medical and dental treatment to enhance a patient’s quality of life and comfort.
I personally try to gain insight from every lecture I attend to improve the quality of my dental care and treatment, the quality of my patient’s oral health, patient’s comfort during our dental treatment, and the quality of dental care and the work environment provided for and by my entire team. Any dentist wishing to improve the quality of their dental care will benefit by becoming accredited in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry!