This article is part of our Trust Signals & E-E-A-T Guide: the bylines, reviewers, license numbers and schema that help Google, AI assistants and customers trust a business website. Want to know where your site stands? Get a free 20–30 page website audit within 24 hours.
The trust signals that matter most on a dental website are each dentist's degree and license, accurate specialist wording and recognized board certification. Dentist-reviewed blog content rounds out the list. Patients weigh these when choosing who treats them. This guide is part of our Trust Signals and E-E-A-T Guide.
Dental content is often YMYL (Your Money or Your Life), because it touches health and treatment choices. Google says E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trust) isn't a specific ranking factor, but it asks whether readers can tell who wrote your content.
The word "specialist" deserves the most care. State rules differ, and some have changed after court challenges. Rules vary by state; confirm with your licensing board or counsel.
Key Takeaways
- DDS and DMD degrees meet the same accreditation requirements, so show the one your school awarded.
- The National Commission recognizes 12 dental specialties and 11 certifying boards, as of November 2026.
- "Board certified," "board eligible" and "educationally qualified" mean different things, so use the exact term.
- Some states restrict "specialist" and may require a "General Dentist" notation, as the Texas rule text shows.
- Never add a "Reviewed by" line unless the named person actually reviewed that page.
The credentials that matter in dentistry
Start with the basics, then add what you can prove.
| Credential | What to show | Where to verify it |
|---|---|---|
| DDS or DMD | The degree your school awarded | ADA career information explains both |
| State dental license | License type, number and state | Your state dental board; in California, the DCA license search |
| Recognized specialty | The specialty by its exact name | National Commission list of specialties |
| Board certification | The full name of the certifying board | National Commission list of certifying boards, then the board's own site |
| Continuing education | Real, recent courses relevant to the service | Keep certificates on file |
The ADA says dental schools may award either degree, that holders of both have met the same CODA educational requirements, and that state boards accept both as equivalent. So neither one signals more training. Avoid copy implying otherwise.
The ADA's licensure overview says nearly all states require a degree from a CODA-accredited program, plus written and clinical assessments. CODA is the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Recognized specialties
The National Commission currently recognizes 12 specialties:
- Dental Anesthesiology
- Dental Public Health
- Endodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Oral Medicine
- Orofacial Pain
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Implant dentistry and cosmetic dentistry are not on that list. A dentist can still offer those services and describe them accurately.
Three terms that are not interchangeable
The National Commission's certifying boards page defines these levels:
- Board certified: completed the required education and residency, and passed the board certification examination, with continuing education to stay certified.
- Board eligible: completed the required education and residency, and is eligible to take the examination.
- Educationally qualified: completed the required education and residency, and holds a state dental license.
Continuing education
CE is a real signal, but state requirements are a floor. For example, the Dental Board of California requires 50 units for dentist renewal, taken within the most recent two-year period. The first renewal is exempt. Do not advertise required CE as if it were special training. List a course when it relates to the service on the page.
What the rules say about showing them
No rule we opened requires every dental practice nationwide to show a license number online. The rules below show how states limit the claims.
California example
California's Business and Professions Code section 651 applies to healing arts licensees, including communication over the internet. It bars false, misleading or deceptive claims. A claim of professional superiority must be relevant to the service and substantiated with objective scientific evidence. So "best dentist in town" is risky unless you can back it up.
The same section covers images and prices. A photo of a model must say so. Before and after views must name the procedures and state that results may not occur for all patients. Price ads must be exact, without phrases such as "as low as."
Texas example
The Texas rule on advertising of specialties, 22 TAC 108.54, as published by Cornell's Legal Information Institute, lists 12 recognized areas and sets criteria. A separate rule, 22 TAC 108.55, covers general dentists. Those ads must carry a clear disclosure. The notation "General Dentist" or "General Dentistry" goes directly after the name. Its font can be no smaller than the largest font used for the advertised services.
These rules have a history. In 2017 the Fifth Circuit affirmed a ruling that an earlier version of 108.54 violated the plaintiffs' commercial speech rights. Confirm the current text with the Texas board before you rely on it.
Bylines and reviewers for dental content
Blog posts about extractions, implants, sedation or gum disease are health content. A patient may act on them.
Who should write. A dentist, or a writer working from a dentist's notes. In our 149-site audit, 105 of 130 sites with articles had sampled articles credited to the company or to no one. Named authors fix that gap.
Who should review. Use a dentist whose work fits the topic. An endodontist suits a root canal article, and a periodontist suits a gum disease article. A hygienist can add useful experience on home care, but title them correctly. The company name vs named author guide covers ghostwriting honestly.
What the line should say.
"Reviewed by [Dr. full name, DDS or DMD], [general dentist or specialty], [state] license [number]. Last reviewed [date]."
Never add a "Reviewed by" line unless the named person actually reviewed that page. See what "reviewed by" means for more detail.
How often. Recheck treatment and sedation pages on a set schedule, such as yearly. Recheck sooner when your services, equipment or state rules change. Change the visible date only when someone truly rechecks the page.
Local signals matter too. Consistent names, addresses and profiles support local SEO for dentists, and clear, quotable facts help with AI-driven local search.
Where each signal goes on your site
| Signal | Where on the page | Schema property |
|---|---|---|
| Name and degree | Dentist profile, byline | name, honorificSuffix |
| License number and state | Dentist profile and footer | hasCredential, identifier |
| General dentist or specialty wording | Directly after the name, service pages | jobTitle, medicalSpecialty |
| Certifying board | Dentist profile, full name | hasCredential |
| CE highlights | Dentist profile | hasCredential where a credential was earned |
| Reviewer and date | Under the article title | reviewedBy, lastReviewed |
| Patient image notice | Next to the image | None; visible text only |
Schema describes what is already on the page. It does not make a claim true or guarantee a rich result. See our license and credential schema guide for examples.
Common mistakes
- Calling a general dentist an "implant specialist" without checking state rules.
- Using "board certified" for a course certificate or membership.
- Implying DMD is more advanced than DDS, or the reverse.
- Listing required CE hours as a special achievement.
- Using stock photos of smiles as if they were patient results.
- Adding a dentist's name to articles they did not read.
Next step
Audit each profile and service page for the word "specialist," then check it against your board's rules. Add reviewers where review really happened. See our dental website services, or get a free 20–30 page website audit within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can a general dentist say they offer implants or braces?
Often yes, if the wording is accurate and your state allows it. Some rules require a disclosure. The Texas rule text requires a "General Dentist" or "General Dentistry" notation in such ads, so check your own board.
Is DMD better than DDS?
No. The ADA says holders of both have met the same CODA educational requirements and that state boards accept both as equivalent. Show the degree your school awarded.
How many dental specialties are recognized?
The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards lists 12 as of November 2026. Check its page before updating your site, since the list has grown over time.
Should we list continuing education on the website?
List it when it is relevant, and describe it accurately. Do not present state-required CE as extra training. Keep certificates on file for anything you mention.
Who can review dental blog posts?
A licensed dentist whose experience fits the topic is the clearest choice. Publish a "Reviewed by" line only when that person really read and approved the page. Keep a record of the date and version.
