AO Certificate program forges ahead
Above: New AO Master and AO Diplomate recipients proudly displayed their new certificates.
The Academy’s 2025 Annual Meeting saw another significant group of dental professionals bestowed with an AO Master or AO Diplomate Certificate, which speaks to the continued interest in and strength of this prestigious dental credentialing program.
A total of 26 recipients – 21 AO Masters and five AO Diplomates – were recognized on the main stage. See the full list of recipients.
The success of this year’s program was realized not only in terms of the large number of international individuals who earned this certification, but also because of the availability of a new AO training center.
Joey T. Chen, DDS, was instrumental in establishing the first AO training center in China and helping many of the recipients meet the requirements needed to earn an AO certificate. Upon completing a written exam at the training center, applicants were also required to pass an oral exam on site in Seattle. Dr. Chen was also instrumental in the initial development of the certification program.
“I immediately recognized the value of this initiative and carefully designed a comprehensive course curriculum that fulfills the Academy’s certification requirements, incorporating both didactic lectures and hands-on workshops across a wide range of essential topics in dental implantology,” said Dr. Chen. “English is not their first language, and I also helped familiarize them with key implant-related terminology in English.
Above: All Certificate recipients, such as Dandan Song, DDS who earned an AO Master in Surgical Dentistry, had their picture taken with Drs. Joerg Neugebauser (left) and Robert C. Vogel (right).
The AO Certificate program provides Masters and Diplomate certificates in either Surgical, Restorative or a combination of both. While each one has its own specific requirements, the program is geared toward:
- incentivizing practitioners to obtain advanced education, training and experience;
- promoting high quality implant education; and
- enhancing patient care.
Become an AO Master or AO Diplomate!
Would you like to be among the next group of recipients to earn an AO Certificate and be recognized at AO’s 2026 Annual Meeting? The next application period closes on October 31. For more information, please see our website.
