Any licensed general dentist, specialty dentist, GPR or AEGD resident, dental student, dental team member, international dentist, or other person who supports the aims and objectives of the AGD.

Active General Dentist, Associate, Affiliate, Retired, Recent Graduate, Resident, and Student.

Dental team members qualify for the AGD’s Affiliate membership category. Affiliate members are given full access to the AGD website, receive the publications, AGD Impact and General Dentistry, and enjoy FREE registration to the AGD Annual Meeting & Exhibits if accompanied by a fully-registered dentist.

Dentists practicing in a specialty are eligible for our Associate membership category. Specialty dentists must meet the following qualifications:

Have graduated from a school of dentistry accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), OR have successfully completed a CODA- or CDAC-accredited specialty residency program,
OR hold a license to practice dentistry in any state or territory in the United States or province or territory of Canada.

There are a variety of circumstances that would determine your membership classification as an international dentist:

  • If you are an international dentist who holds a current license within the U.S. or Canada, you are eligible for our Active General Dentist category of membership.
  • If you are an international dentist who graduated from a CODA- or CDAC-accredited dental school, you are eligible for our Active General Dentist category of membership.
  • If you are an international dentist practicing in a dental specialty, have graduated from a school of dentistry accredited by CODA or CDAC, or have successfully completed a CODA or CDAC-accredited specialty residency program, AND hold a license to practice dentistry in any state or territory in the United States or province or territory of Canada you are eligible for our Associate membership category.

If you are an international dentist but do not meet the above criteria, you are eligible for our Affiliate membership category.
Still not sure? Contact the AGD Membership Services Center, toll-free, at 888.AGD.DENT (888.243.3368) or email membership@agd.org.

Retired membership status is available to those who have been an Active General Dentist member of the AGD for 10 years or more, are now a retired member of his or her AGD constituent, and no longer earn income from the performance of service as a member of the faculty of a dental school, as a dental administrator or consultant, or as a practitioner of any activity for which a license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene is required by the state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a dependency of the United States, or Canada.

To apply for Retired membership status, the Active General Dentist member shall submit an affidavit attesting to his or her retirement to the AGD Executive Director. AGD Headquarters will send notification to the applicant’s AGD constituent, and the constituent will have 30 days to provide input prior to the AGD Headquarters’ decision.

There are no special dues based on age with the exception of Emeritus status. Emeritus status is defined as an Active General Dentist, Associate, or Retired member in good standing with dues and assessments having been paid who has been a continuous member for 35 consecutive years or 40 non-consecutive years. Upon becoming 65 years old, this member may be classified as a member emeritus upon application to the AGD’s Membership Council, verified with the AGD’s records, followed by subsequent notification of the applicant’s AGD constituent.

Recent graduates qualify for the discounted dues rate from the year that they graduated, up to four years out of dental school. We do not offer a special rate for those members not in practice. Members experiencing significant financial hardships may apply for a dues waiver. For more information, contact the AGD Member Services Center at 888.AGD.DENT (888.243.3368).

AGD membership is based on a calendar year. The dues renewal cycle begins in October with an e-invoice to members who provide the AGD with their email address. If no email address is provided, invoices are mailed to members. The first mailed notification begins in November. The annual deadline to renew membership is March 31.

Yes, membership dues are tax deductible as a business expense. Per the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993, however, please note that 1.2 percent of your 2014 membership dues payment is not deductible as a business expense because it is allocable to lobbying activities of the organization. Please check with your accountant or tax adviser for detailed information.

Your member benefits begin as soon as your application has been processed and you’ve received confirmation with your AGD Member ID number. Application processing typically takes one to two days for online applications and longer for mailed or faxed applications.