Dr. Balwant Vekaria is an AAID-credentialed implant dentist. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and has also won 2nd prize for a presentation and lecture on Innovative Dental Implant Treatment – a worldwide competition held in Boston, USA by the AAID; this competition included 10 international dentists hailing from different countries all over the world.
An international lecturer who conducts courses on advanced Dental Implantology Techniques to dentists in the UK, around Europe, and in the USA, Dr. Vekaria is one of the few dentists in the UK to be recommended by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Patients can find him through this link: aaid-implant.org
What is the AAID?
AAID stands for the American Academy of Implant Dentistry – an organization promoting the standard of care for comprehensive implant dentistry.
History of the AAID
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry was founded in 1951, and is the first worldwide organization solely dedicated to implant dentistry. The AAID’s members include oral and maxillofacial surgeons, general dentists, prosthodontists, periodontists, and other dental professionals who have a keen interest in the implant dentistry field. The AAID is currently representing more than 4,500 dentists from all over the world.
How the AAID Helps Patients
The AAID gives patients the valuable information they need when it comes to dental implants, and the steps involved in the entire treatment procedure. Patients can also use the AAID to find dental implant experts, through the organization’s Associate Fellow and Fellow credentials. These credentials, which are set by the AAID, can help patients in identifying which dentists adhere to the specific expertise and standards in the field of oral implantology.
Finding dental implant experts is easier with the help of the AAID. Implant dentists who have AAID credentials are guaranteed to provide patients with the best possible treatment options, compared to dentists who have the capability to place implants – but without the means to do so with great expertise and skills.
Dentists and AAID Credentialing
The AAID provides uses the Associate Fellow and Fellow membership examinations for bona fide credentialing in implant dentistry, and these credentials are recognized by the state boards. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry fully supports its members’ research and clinical interests, in the quest to attain the highest standards in implant dentistry. Members’ achievements and milestones are also recognized and highly encouraged by the AAID.
Dentists who wish to augment their expertise in the field of implant dentistry can do so starting with the Associate Fellow membership. This certificate will let patients know of a dentist’s credentials and experience in the field of implant dentistry. There are minimum requirements that need to be met with regards to the experience and educational attainment, before getting the Associate Fellow membership certificate.
The Fellow membership provides dentists with a special validation of their proficiency and expertise in implant dentistry. The examination for the Fellow membership can only be taken by dentists who have:
- The required minimum experience and educational attainment;
- Practiced implant dentistry for a minimum of five years;
- Proficient in both the surgical and restorative phases of the dental implant treatment