2 . The announcement includes the following language : [ Name of announced area of dental practice ] is not recognized as a specialty area by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards or [ the name of the jurisdiction in which the dentist practices ].
Nothing in this advisory opinion affects the right of a properly qualified dentist to announce specialization in a recognized specialty area ( s ) or the responsibility of such dentist to maintain exclusivity in the special area ( s ) of dental practice announced as provided for under Section 5 . H of this Code . Specialists shall not announce their credentials in a manner that implies specialization in a nonspecialty interest area .
5 . I . GENERAL PRACTITIONER ANNOUNCEMENT OF SERVICES . General dentists who wish to announce the services available in their practices are permitted to announce the availability of those services so long as they avoid any communications that express or imply specialization . General dentists shall also state that the services are being provided by general dentists . No dentist shall announce available services in any way that would be false or misleading in any material respect . 3
ADVISORY OPINIONS
5 . I . 1 . GENERAL PRACTITIONER ANNOUNCEMENT OF CREDENTIALS IN INTEREST AREAS IN GENERAL DENTISTRY . A general dentist may not announce to the public that they are certified or a diplomate or otherwise similarly credentialed in an area of dentistry not recognized as a specialty area by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards or by the jurisdiction in which the dentist practices unless :
1 . The organization granting the credential grants certification or diplomate status based on the following : a ) the dentist ’ s successful completion of a formal , full-time advanced education program ( graduate or postgraduate level ) of at least 12 months duration ; and b ) the dentist ’ s training and experience ; and c ) successful completion of an oral and written examination based on psychometric principles ;
2 . The dentist discloses that they are a general dentist ; and
3 . The announcement includes the following language : [ Name of announced area of dental practice ] is not recognized as a specialty area by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards or [ the name of the jurisdiction in which the dentist practices ].
5 . I . 2 . CREDENTIALS IN GENERAL DENTISTRY . General dentists may announce fellowships or other credentials earned in the area of general dentistry so long as they avoid any communications that express or imply specialization and the announcement includes the disclaimer that the dentist is a general dentist . The use of abbreviations to designate credentials shall be avoided when such use would lead the reasonable person to believe that the designation represents an academic degree , when such is not the case .
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