Key Professional Media performs the polling, research and selection for Super Dentists in a process designed to identify dental professionals who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Dentists names a selective yet diverse listing of outstanding dentists, representing the consumer-oriented dental specialties.

1. Survey of Dentists
Each year, Key Professional Media sends thousands of ballots to dentists, asking "If you needed dental care, which dentist would you choose?"

2. The Blue-Ribbon Panel Review
The nominees are grouped into eight dental specialties:

• cosmetic
• endodontist
• general practice
• oral and maxillofacial surgery
• orthodontist
• pediatric
• periodontist
• prosthodontist

Those nominees with the highest point totals from each specialty are invited to serve on the blue ribbon panel. Each blue ribbon panelist reviews and scores a list of nominees for their specialty.

3. The Research Process
Interviews and contacts: Key Professional Media interviews and corresponds with dental professionals to identify the top dentists in each specialty.

Independent research: The Key Professional Media research team actively searches for outstanding dentists to complement the survey of dentists. The research team evaluates prospective candidates on indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement as a supplement to the balloting and blue ribbon panel review.

Data verification: Each candidate is contacted to verify the dentist's professional information, including licensed specialty. Even if selected, a candidate's name will not be published on the Super Dentists list unless all information is verified prior to publication.
 
Good standing review: Key Professional Media reviews the discipline record of each candidate and verifies that the dentist is active and in good standing.

4. The Final Selection Process
The point totals from the ballot surveys, blue ribbon panels and the screening process are added to arrive at a final point score. Texas Super Dentists is published in a special advertising section in the November issue of TEXAS MONTHLY magazine. Kansas City Super Dentists is published in a special advertising section in the December issue of KC Magazine.