Experience-verified recognition

MSD Recognized

An annual recognition program for dental specialists who demonstrate clinical experience through peer endorsements from other verified specialists, verified credentials, and documented cases. Free to earn. Rank is never for sale.

MSD Recognized is not a marketing award. It is a credential-verified, peer-endorsed distinction that patients and referring providers can trust because it cannot be bought.

Two paths to recognition

Specialists earn MSD Recognized status through peer endorsements, published case studies, or both. Each path is free and independently verified.

Peer endorsement

The professionals who know specialty dentistry best are other specialists. Claimed, credential-verified providers on MSD can endorse colleagues in other specialties who they would refer their own patients to. Cross-specialty only, one endorsement per endorser per provider, no stacking.

How it works

1Claim your profile on MSD (free, takes 5 minutes)
2Endorse specialists in other specialties you trust with your own referrals
3Endorsers must be claimed and credential-verified. We re-verify board certification, active license, and practice status annually
4Specialists who meet the endorsement threshold and credential check earn MSD Recognized status

Cross-specialty only. An orthodontist endorses a periodontist. A prosthodontist endorses an oral surgeon. This design ensures endorsements reflect genuine clinical trust, not competitive positioning. Endorsers can revoke an endorsement at any time.

Coming Soon

Documented cases

Publish documented cases in minutes, reviewed by you before they go live. Each case shows real work, helps patients understand what to expect, and earns your practice a citation linking back to your website.

How it will work

1Submit before-and-after photos (or a written case narrative for non-visual procedures), title, and treatment context
2Patient-identifying information is removed. You attest that signed patient consent is on file. A YMYL disclaimer is automatically applied
3Our AI generates a structured draft. You review and approve every case before it goes live
4Your published case earns a citation linking back to your practice website and is embeddable on your own site

Case submissions are opening soon. Claim your profile now to be notified when this feature launches.

What patients see

When a specialist earns MSD Recognized status, their profile displays the recognition badge. Patients searching for a specialist can see that this provider was endorsed by peers, has published documented cases, or both.

For patients, this answers a question that reviews alone cannot: Would other specialists send their own patients to this provider? That is a fundamentally different signal than a star rating. It reflects clinical trust, not customer satisfaction alone.

Documented cases add another layer. They let patients see real work. Before-and-after photos, treatment rationale, and clinical context help patients understand what to expect and evaluate a provider's experience with their specific condition.

What this is not

MSD Recognized is not a paid placement or advertising program. Rank is never for sale. Specialists cannot purchase, sponsor, or negotiate their way to recognition. There is no fee to participate, no fee to maintain the status, and no premium tier that unlocks additional visibility.

It is also not a "best of" list based on subjective editorial selection. The criteria are transparent: peer endorsements from verified specialists, credential verification against public records, and optionally, documented cases reviewed and approved by the treating provider.

The model is closer to Super Lawyers (peer-endorsed, credential- verified) than to "Top Dentist" lists that are often self-nominated or paid.

For dental specialists

Get started

Your profile is already live on MSD with NPI-verified data. Claiming or enhancing it takes about 5 minutes and is always free.

1
Find your profile. Open the directory and search by your name, NPI, or city. Every US dental specialist already has a stub profile from public records.
2
Open your profile page. You will see a Claim button if the profile is unclaimed, or Enhance options once claimed (add bio, services, photo, endorsements, documented cases).
3
Verify and publish. Confirm by phone or email tied to your practice. Edits go live immediately. Rank is never for sale — visibility is earned through verified credentials, documented experience, and peer endorsements.

Can't find your profile, or have a question that isn't answered here? Reach out to our team.

Find your profile Browse articles and guides

Frequently asked questions

Does MSD Recognized cost anything?: No. There is no fee to earn, maintain, or display MSD Recognized status. Rank is never for sale.
Can I endorse a specialist in my own specialty?: No. Endorsements are cross-specialty only. An endodontist endorses a periodontist, not another endodontist. This prevents competitive self-selection and ensures endorsements reflect genuine referral trust.
Who can endorse?: Only claimed, credential-verified providers can endorse. Each endorser can give one endorsement per provider (no stacking). Endorsers can revoke an endorsement at any time.
How many endorsements does a specialist need?: The threshold is reviewed annually and depends on the number of active endorsers in the region and specialty. We do not publish exact thresholds to prevent gaming.
What happens to patient information in documented cases?: All personally identifying information is removed before publication. Providers attest that signed patient consent is on file, and an optional upload of the signed document is available. A YMYL disclaimer is automatically applied. Images are watermarked with the treating provider's name and NPI number for attribution.
Who reviews each case before it goes live?: You do. Our AI generates a structured draft from your photos, title, and context. You review and approve every case before it publishes. Nothing goes live without your sign-off.
Do I get a backlink from my case?: Yes. Each published case includes a citation linking back to your practice website, and the case is embeddable on your own site.
Can MSD Recognized status be revoked?: Yes. If a specialist's license is suspended, board certification lapses, or disciplinary action is taken, MSD Recognized status is removed. The program is re-verified annually.
How is this different from "Top Dentist" lists?: Most "Top Dentist" lists are self-nominated, editorially selected, or paid. MSD Recognized is peer-endorsed by other verified specialists and independently credential-checked. No specialist can purchase or negotiate their way to recognition.