Periodontist and Oral Surgeon Business Cards for Dental Specialty Professionals

Dental specialists — periodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, endodontists, orthodontists, prosthodontists, pediatric dentists, and oral radiologists — complete 2–6 years of specialty residency training after dental school, pass rigorous specialty board examinations, and practice at the technical frontier of their disciplines. Their business cards function differently from general dentist cards: they must communicate clearly to the referring dentists who direct patients to them and to patients who are specifically seeking specialist care.

Dental Degrees

All dental specialists first complete dental school:

• DMD (Doctor of Medical Dentistry) — awarded by most US dental schools
• DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) — awarded by some US dental schools; equivalent to DMD; no clinical difference in practice rights
• Dental school: 4 years post-bachelor's degree; requires DAT (Dental Admission Test)
• NBDE (National Board Dental Examinations) pass required for licensure; now INBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination)

Both DDS and DMD practitioners can note their degree: "John Smith, DDS" or "Jane Smith, DMD"

The Nine ADA-Recognized Dental Specialties

The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes nine dental specialties. Each has a CODA-accredited residency program and a specialty board:

1. Periodontics

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth (gingiva, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament) and placement of dental implants.

Residency: 3 years CODA-accredited periodontics residency post-dental school

Board certification:

• American Board of Periodontology (ABP) — voluntary board certification; requires 3 years specialty residency + ABPS examination
• Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology — board-certified periodontist
• Card notation: "DDS, MS, Diplomate ABP" or "DMD, Board Certified Periodontist"

Services:

• Scaling and root planing (non-surgical periodontal treatment)
• Periodontal surgery (osseous surgery, bone grafting, flap surgery)
• Dental implant placement (primary surgical specialty for implants)
• Crown lengthening
• Soft tissue graft (gingival graft, connective tissue graft, pedicle graft)
• Alveolar ridge reconstruction
• Periodontal maintenance

Degree note: Many periodontists earn an MS (Master of Science) in Periodontics during their residency. "DDS, MS" or "DMD, MS" notation is common.

2. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS / OMFS)

Surgical procedures of the face, mouth, jaws, and related structures.

Training: The longest dental specialty training: 4–6 years OMS residency; most programs lead to MD degree in addition to surgical training

Board certification:

• American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) — board certification
• Diplomate, American Board of OMS
• Card notation: "DDS, MD" (if MD earned) or "DMD" + "Board Certified OMS" or "Diplomate, ABOMS"

Services:

• Wisdom tooth (third molar) extraction (primary referral source from general dentists)
• Dentoalveolar surgery (tooth extractions, alveoplasty)
• Bone grafting for implants; socket preservation
• Dental implant placement
• Facial trauma (fractured jaw, facial bones)
• Pathology biopsy and treatment
• Orthognathic surgery (jaw repositioning for skeletal discrepancies)
• TMJ surgery
• Cleft lip and palate repair
• Maxillofacial reconstruction
• Pre-prosthetic surgery
• Facial aesthetics in some OMS practices

MD degree: OMS is unique among dental specialties in commonly granting an MD during residency; programs are 4 or 6 years; the 6-year programs include hospital-based medical training leading to MD; many OMS carry both "DDS, MD" or "DMD, MD"

3. Endodontics

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the dental pulp and periapical tissues.

Residency: 2–3 years CODA-accredited endodontics residency

Board certification:

• American Board of Endodontics (ABE) — board certification; Diplomate designation
• Card notation: "DDS, Board Certified Endodontist" or "DMD, Diplomate ABE"

Services:

• Root canal therapy (primary referral reason)
• Endodontic retreatment (revision of previous root canal)
• Apicoectomy / periapical surgery
• Cracked tooth treatment
• Traumatic dental injury management (avulsed teeth, luxation)
• Vital pulp therapy

4. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial malocclusions.

Residency: 2–3 years CODA-accredited orthodontic residency

Board certification:

• American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) — voluntary; requires case presentation + written and clinical examination
• Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics — board-certified orthodontist
• Card notation: "DDS, MS, Board Certified Orthodontist" or "DMD, Diplomate ABO"

Services:

• Traditional metal braces
• Ceramic braces
• Lingual braces (inside of teeth)
• Clear aligner therapy (Invisalign, ClearCorrect)
• Palatal expanders (for growing patients)
• Retainers and post-treatment maintenance
• TMJ bite therapy
• Sleep apnea appliances (in some practices)

5. Prosthodontics

Restoration and replacement of teeth, including complex rehabilitation.

Residency: 3 years CODA-accredited prosthodontic residency

Board certification:

• American Board of Prosthodontics (ABP) — board certification; Diplomate designation

Services:

• Crowns, bridges, and fixed partial dentures
• Complete and partial removable dentures
• Implant-supported prosthetics
• Full-mouth rehabilitation
• Maxillofacial prosthetics
• TMJ prosthetics

6. Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics)

Comprehensive oral health care for children and adolescents.

Residency: 2 years CODA-accredited pediatric dentistry residency

Board certification:

• American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) — Diplomate designation

Services:

• Preventive dental care for children
• Restorations for children
• Sedation and general anesthesia for pediatric patients
• Early orthodontic assessment (Phase I)
• Special needs patient care

7. Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Oral radiology and imaging diagnosis.

8. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Diagnosis and research of oral diseases.

9. Dental Public Health

Prevention and control of dental diseases in the community.

Card Design for Dental Specialists

Two Card Audiences

Dental specialists have two distinct audiences:

1. Referring general dentists — colleagues who send patients for specialty care; the referral relationship is the primary business development channel for most specialists
2. Patients — patients referred from general dentists, or patients seeking specialist care directly

Referral cards for general dentists:

• Emphasize specialty and board certification prominently
• Include referral/consultation phone line
• May include brief note about consultation process, scheduling, or referral form
• Often distributed at dental society meetings and professional events

Patient-facing cards:

• Include clear specialty description for those unfamiliar with dental specialties
• Patient contact phone and website for scheduling
• May include insurance/PPO information

What to Include

Front:

• Name + DDS/DMD + MS (if applicable) + MD (for OMS if applicable)
• "Board Certified [Specialty]" or "Diplomate, American Board of [Specialty]" — extremely important for specialists
• Specialty title: "Periodontist" | "Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon" | "Endodontist" | "Orthodontist"
• Practice name
• Phone (referral line for specialist-to-specialist use)
• Website

Back:

• Services accepted (for patient cards)
• "Accepting referrals from general dentists" (for referral cards)
• Insurance/PPO
• Convenient location

Checklist

• [ ] Name + DDS/DMD
• [ ] Additional degrees (MS, MD for OMS)
• [ ] Board certification ("Diplomate, ABP" or "Board Certified Periodontist")
• [ ] Specialty title (Periodontist, Oral Surgeon, Endodontist, etc.)
• [ ] Practice name
• [ ] Referral contact (for referring dentist cards)
• [ ] Patient scheduling phone
• [ ] Website (with online scheduling if possible)
• [ ] Insurance accepted (if PPO)
• [ ] "Accepting New Patients" / "Accepting Referrals"