Most dental schools have copies of this report for their dental students. Otherwise, contact the ADA directly to obtain information. It is a planned, sequential post-doctoral training program specifically designed to meet the needs of recent graduates wanting to enhance their skills as general practitioners. The program is an advanced supplement to the predoctoral dental curriculum, not a continuation of that training. The majority of AEGD programs are one year.
Several programs offer two year positions with a primary objective of training academicians.
The major distinction between the AEGD and GPR programs is the emphasis that the AEGD program places on clinical dentistry in contrast to the emphasis on medical management in the GPR program. The specific objectives of the program are to enhance competence and confidence in the various clinical disciplines that are integral components of dentistry. AEGD graduates should have a broader base of knowledge and experience to facilitate judgments in diagnosis, treatment planning, and decision making during treatment. Completion of an AEGD program better prepares the dentist to evaluate patients' total oral health needs, provide a full range of general dental care, and refer patients, when indicated, to appropriate specialists. The AEGD program also increases the understanding of practice administration through hands-on experience in this area.