Important Credentials

What Are Credentials And Why Are They Important?

A credential is defined as: “An attestation of qualification, competence, or authority issued to an individual by a third party with a relevant de jure or de facto authority or assumed competence to do so.”

In short, credentials are a testament to someone’s competence and qualification to do something. But how does the consumer (patient) know that the credentials touted by a professional really have value and are therefore, worthy of respect?

It is very important for you to know that there are many dental organizations which freely distribute “credentials” for a fee, or worse yet, sell advertising space designed to manipulate consumers into believing that a certain qualification or level of expertise is possessed by a professional, though it may not be.

Remember also, experience is not always a true measure of quality or thorough knowledge, especially in dentistry... One may have twenty years of experience, or two years of experience for twenty years.

Please know that this information is not intended to discredit anyone as a professional, but is being provided as a way to assist you, as a dental consumer, in making a wise and informed decision.

So that you may know the validity of Dr. Barber’s qualifications, we provide the following list of credentials, with an explanation of each.

Student of the Year – Early in his dental career, Dr. Barber set high, his standards for excellence. As a result, he was selected by the faculty and staff at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Dental Medicine, to become Student of the Year. This award is presented annually, by the Western Pennsylvania Section of the American College of Dentists to the most outstanding student in that year’s graduating class.

Omicron Kappa Upsilon – OKU is an academic honorary comparable to graduating Phi Beta Kappa in other academic fields. This honor is awarded to the top 10% of students in a graduating dental class. Dr. Barber continues to maintain membership in OKU.

General Practice Residency - Following graduation, Dr. Barber completed a one-year, hospital-based General Practice Residency with the Western Reserve Care System in Youngstown, OH. Dr. Barber considers this training invaluable, as fewer than 10% of dentists complete this type of advanced general practice residency training.

Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry - In 2005, Dr. Barber was honored with the award of Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. Fellowship is awarded after completing 500 hours of continuing education in all facets of general dentistry, and successfully passing a 4-hour written examination. Fellowship is held by fewer than 15% of dentists in the world. Dr. Barber will soon receive the academy’s highest honor of Mastership, which has been awarded to less than 5% of all dentists.

Board Certification, American Board of General Dentistry - In 2004, Dr. Barber became one of only 475 dentists on the planet to receive Board Certification in General Dentistry through the American Board of General Dentistry (ABGD). Board Certification is the highest honor available through the ABGD, and is a reflection of a dentist’s commitment to mastering the disciplines of general dentistry.

Board Certification requires that a dentist first attain several hundred hours of continuing education, followed by an intensive three-part examination process. The first part of the examination is 6-hour written test. Sections two and three of the process are administered by currently certified board members, and involve verbal question and answer, and case presentation periods lasting 8 hours. Dr. Barber currently serves on the Board as an Examiner of dentists seeking Board Certification.

Fellow, American Dental Implant Association - Dr. Barber has studied implant dentistry since 1998, and has been placing dental implants since 1999. To maintain consistency and remain up-to-date on the services provided in his office, Dr. Barber completed a continuum in implant dentistry in 2009. Thereafter, Dr. Barber completed the additional requirements to receive Fellowship status from the American Dental Implant Association.

Mastery Certificate in Cosmetic Dentistry - Because of his strong interest in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Barber has earned advanced certification in Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry from the University of Buffalo’s prestigious Center for Aesthetic Dentistry. He was honored as Valedictorian in the first phase of the program’s three levels.

After completing the final phase (Mastery Level) of the program in January 2006, Dr. Barber received a certificate of completion in Cosmetic Dentistry. This award is held by fewer than 100 dentists worldwide. He was then invited to serve as an instructor in the Mastery Level of the program. This particular Cosmetic Dentistry program is University-based and fully accredited; most are not.

Advanced Training in Functional Dentistry - The area of dentistry which most intrigues Dr. Barber is that of Functional Dentistry. This is the arena where he has chosen to stand out when compared to most other dentists. Unfortunately, this is the area most misunderstood and therefore, ignored, by an estimated 90% of all dentists. Proper function of the masticatory system should be the cornerstone of dental practice, however, due to the enormous expense and time commitment required to learn proper functional dentistry, most dentists never enter the pursuit.

Dr. Barber has dedicated the past 9 years of his life to studying, with the masters, the intricate science of the Temporomandibular Joints (TMJ) and functional dentistry. There is no formal certification process for this field of study, though in Dr. Barber’s opinion, it is the most important.

Associate Fellowship, World Clinical Laser Institute - Dr. Barber also holds a certificate of proficiency in the use of Dental LASERS. This exciting new field in dentistry now allows Dr. Barber to treat many dental diseases with absolute comfort and precision.

Some Credentials Dr. Barber Did Not Pursue
Again, please understand that this information is not intended to discredit anyone as a professional, but is being provided as a way to assist you, as a dental consumer, in making a wise and informed decision.

Remember, as stated before, there are some organizations that grant “credentials” for a fee or by some process other than that which would be considered truly earning the recognition.

For instance, some organizations grant certification or honors as the result of being “nominated or elected” by one’s peers. The dentist being recognized then pays a fee, or may purchase a plaque to be listed in the organization’s role. Most often, nominations come from a dentist friend or coworker. These organizations will tout members as the top in their field, when in fact very little is done to verify the member’s professional abilities.

Some of these organizations include:

Best Dentists in America
Top Docs
Best Dentists in (fill in your State)
Who’s Who in Dentistry
Top’s in America (Top 10 Dentists)

While this type of recognition is a fine marketing tool, little credence may be given to the listings’ validity in signifying great dentists. Some of the dentists in the listings may well be very good dentists, but consumers must see beyond, and look to valid credentialing bodies for credentials to be useful in decision making.

One organization which is popular in the cosmetic dentistry realm is the Academy of Dental and Facial Esthetics. This organization will grant Fellowship to dentists who respond to the organization’s invitation to join its ranks. FADFE is the designation which follows a dentist’s name to indicate this “credential” has been “earned”.

The “qualifications” to obtain Fellowship include: Take a few Cosmetic Dentistry classes, take a trip to New York, pay $500 and walk across a stage in cap and gown to receive the award.

In 1998, Dr. Barber was invited to join this organization as a Fellow, but declined the invitation because the “credential” has no validity, in his mind.

It is our sincere hope that this information may be used by the dental consumer to make wise decisions about whom they choose to provide care. A professional’s credentials should be scrutinized and verified before they are assumed to lend credibility to that professional. Dr. Barber invites you to contact him directly with any questions regarding the credentials listed above.

Beauty is the Natural Expression of Proper Function
From our state-of-the-art dental office in The Woodlands, Dr. Timothy Barber and our experienced team provide comprehensive dental care to patients from Conroe, Spring, and the greater Houston area. If you have questions or would like to reserve your consultation, second-opinion visit, or exam, call us today at 936-321-1477 or email us here.