Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

The Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry represents the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry in Georgia and is dedicated to education, practice and research in the specialty of pediatric dentistry. The GAPD is comprised of approximately 165 pediatric dentists. The academy provides liaison with other health care organizations, entities, and private agencies concerned with the dental health of children, and individuals with special health care needs.

The purposes of this organization are:

1. To bring the pediatric dentists of the state of Georgia into one organization for the advancement of the science and art of pediatric dentistry.
2. To encourage, sponsor and advance the achievement of a high and ethical standard of practice, education and research in the art and science of all phases of dentistry for children, adolescents and the disabled and in the continuing education of the health professions and the public concerning recognized scientific advancements in the dental and general health of children.
3. To act in an advisory capacity to state and local dental societies in matters pertaining to pediatric dentistry.
4. To act as a spokesperson for Georgia pediatric dentists in legislative matters, third-party and publicly funded programs, publicity and public relations matters and in matters pertaining to the oral rehabilitation of disabled children.

The Pediatric Dentist is the specialist who is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy to the teen-age years. The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with behavior, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems and the pediatric dentist is best qualified to meet these needs.

Pediatric dentists have had at least two additional years of special training, which allows them to provide the most up-to-date and thorough treatment of children's dental problems. Pediatric dentists are trained in clinical sedation and hospital dentistry to treat a variety of patients and their behavior needs. As a specialist, pediatric dentists have the ability to recognize and treat conditions as they develop and thereby reduce the need for more extensive, invasive and expensive therapies later. Because of this specialized training and commitment to comprehensive oral health, many parents wisely choose a pediatric dentist to treat their children.