CHICAGO, Aug. 11, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) has passed new Standards for Advanced Education Programs in Prosthodontics. These new Standards recognize digital dentistry and competence in the restoration and surgical placement of dental implants as an integral part of specialty education in prosthodontics.

As the national association representing the dental specialty of prosthodontists, the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) applauds these new Standards.

"This is a historic step. It moves the specialty in a direction that defines what prosthodontists are and what they will be," said ACP President Frank J. Tuminelli, DMD, FACP, who has been practicing implant therapy in his private practice for more than 25 years, as well as his role as the Program Director at a New York Presbyterian / Queens hospital-based prosthodontics graduate residency program. "This ensures that every prosthodontist will deliver optimal oral health care for the patients we serve."

Presently, 90% of graduate programs are teaching implant surgery as part of their comprehensive oral health care education at the specialty level. With the adoption of these new Standards, 100% of graduating prosthodontists will be surgically competent in placing dental implants.

The new Standards are scheduled for implementation on July 1, 2016, at which point all dental practitioners who pursue specialty training in prosthodontics will be competent in the surgical placement of dental implants, as defined in the Standards.

"The new Standards represent a comprehensive and visionary re-write that defines the very best in oral health care and futures for the patients we serve," said Stephen D. Campbell, DDS, MMSc, FACP, who is Head of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry's Restorative Department and the Prosthodontic Commissioner of CODA. "The Standards guide our educators as to the core didactic and clinical content that must be met by all programs and graduating students. They include competency in the diagnostic basis of prosthodontics and digital dentistry, as well as all aspects of implant supported therapy, including surgical implant placement."

"This has changed our specialty and our profession, forever and for the better. It enables us to care for our patients with the level of expertise they deserve," said Dr. Tuminelli.