About AOS Membership
WHO CAN BE A MEMBER?
- Dental Assistants (staff)
- Dental Hygienists (staff)
- General Dentists
- Periodontists
- Pediatric Dentists
- Orthodontists
- Endodontists
- Prosthodontists
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Staff may only join through an existing member and are not eligible for Mastership or Diplomate. Certain exemptions for membership apply to dental students, oral and maxillofacial surgery residents, and staff members.
WHAT ARE CRITERIA TO BE A MEMBER?
The AOS was established to raise the standards for DHCP education and training in office-based Oral Surgery.
- Certificate showing DMD or DDS degree. Staff and dental students are exempt from this requirement.
- If a Specialist, a certificate showing Residency training completion. Staff and dental students are exempt from this requirement. For residents and students, proof of status is required.
- Member in good standing with appropriate state, local, and national regulatory bodies.
- Members must have a current BLS certificate. If performing oral, IV sedation or general anesthesia, a current ACLS and/or PALS certificate is also required (depending on ages of patients treated and regulatory requirements).
- Good standing with the dental regulatory authority within the state they practice. Non-US applicants must submit a certificate of good standing from their licensing board, at the time of the application.
Requirements for Members
Members will be required to complete at least 30 hours of oral surgery training by online, workshop, and participation courses in each year of membership. Although practice staff, residents, and dental student members are exempt from the CE requirement for maintaining membership, they are encouraged to participate in approved courses.
The AOS will conduct Oral Surgery education and training via its live courses (including hands-on workshops), its online series, and through approved outside sources to facilitate members obtaining this education and training. An appropriate number of hours for each category will be required for maintenance of membership.
Approved course topics include:
- Preoperative patient assessment
- Informed consent
- Infection control
- Surgical anatomy and biology
- Anxiolysis
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
- Management of medical emergencies
- Surgical extractions
- Removal of impacted teeth
- Radiology and imaging
- Guided bone regeneration
- Implantology
- Suturing techniques
- Pre-prosthetic procedures
- Post-operative care
- Management of surgical complications
Additional exemptions may be granted to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon joining this group, as they may already have received more than the required hours of training in each category, depending on their Residency program.
Why Join the
Academy of Oral Surgery
The Mission of the Academy is to provide a pathway for interested dental healthcare providers to obtain the education and training necessary to successfully perform and complete procedures beyond what was taught to them in Dental School with the competence and confidence to provide the best care to their patients.
This requires teaching by well-qualified and experienced instructors, in which simple surgical procedures are mastered before more advanced ones are attempted, knowing the appropriate anatomy, biology, and preferred techniques, being able to avoid and manage complications with rare assistance, staying within the boundaries of their education and training, and knowing which cases should be treated by a specialist, or in cooperation with a specialist.
All dental healthcare practitioners who perform oral surgical procedures in their office are invited to be a part of the Academy.
Mastership in the Academy
Once membership has begun, the doctor begins the path to mastership in the academy.
Mastership Program (MAOS)
Diplomate Program (DAOS)
Annual Events
Application Fees and Annual Dues
- Application fee for membership is $99.
- Annual maintenance dues for DHCP’s and Specialists are $295 for DHCP and Specialists
- Annual maintenance dues for full-time faculty are $245
- Annual maintenance dues for Residents, dental students, and staff members are $49.
- Members will verify maintenance of 30 hours of approved Continuing Education in the topics required for membership each, year. Practice staff, residents, and dental student members are exempt from this requirement.
