The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has installed Manuel A. Cordero, DDS, CPH, MAGD, of Sewell, New Jersey, as the organization’s new president. Dr. Cordero, who had most recently served as the AGD’s president-elect, assumed his new position during the AGD’s Annual Meeting this November 3-5 in Chicago. An esteemed leader in organized dentistry as well as a professional with more than 34 years serving his community as a general dentist, Dr. Cordero will act on behalf of the AGD in this role for one year.

During his tenure as president, Dr. Cordero seeks to ensure that AGD members feel that the organization is focused on serving the needs of general dentists.  He’s committed to furthering professional competency among AGD members and all general dentists. Dr. Cordero believes that there is empowerment through education and a great opportunity for dentists to become even greater in their field.

“When I pursued education after school, it was through the Academy of General Dentistry— which really made a difference, because dentistry is such a competitive field,” said Dr. Cordero. “You have to differentiate yourself from others, and I chose to do so through education. That’s why I’m very passionate about the AGD, because it has been my source of education since I left school, and it empowers people to achieve their maximum potential.”

Dr. Cordero has been involved with the AGD since 1987 and has served the New Jersey AGD (NJAGD) as Membership chair, receiving awards for his efforts two years in a row. He then became the constituent’s public information officer, working to create new programs and to support the constituent’s award-winning public relations efforts. He served the NJAGD while also working for AGD as the first Hispanic spokesperson and as an original contributor of Smileline since its inception. He started AGD’s multilingual distribution of Dental Notes and contributed to the Spanish and French translations of other in-office support material for dentists in the US and Canada. His efforts increased the AGD’s outreach to other populations.

Collaborating with other organizations to advance the work of general dentists, Dr. Cordero has been a member of the ADA since he joined the AGD. He is past president of the Richard V Tucker Study Club Academy, past regent of the Academy of Dentistry International, and Councilor of the Academy of Operative Dentistry.  He has served as an Hispanic Dental Association trustee and continues to be a mentor and consultant to its leadership.

Stepping outside solely dental organizations, Dr. Cordero has also been recognized by two medical societies for his contributions depicting how oral health impacts systemic health. He has served as president of the Society of Ibero Latin Medical Professionals and received a Distinguished Award from the Hispanic American Medical Association.

Eager to share his enthusiasm for learning, Dr. Cordero has lectured on restorative dentistry, materials and gold casting techniques internationally and in the US. He has presented to the new dentists of the World Organization during the FDI Congress in Poland and Spain during the past two years. Tirelessly seeking to better himself so that he can better serve his fellow man, he has earned AGD Fellowship and Mastership status. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International and became a Fellow of the American College of Dentists in 2005. In 1998, Dr. Cordero became a Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Dentistry. He is a member of the Academy of Operative Dentistry and past president of the Academy of R.V. Tucker Study Clubs (2013) and was named one of 29 mentors of this exclusive academy.

Prior to attending and graduating from Temple University School of Dentistry, Dr. Cordero earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Literature, with a minor in Fine Arts, while also earning a degree in Secondary Education from Bryn Mawr College.

Dr. Cordero was blessed to have found a true partner in life and has been married to his wife Harriet for 43 years. They have four children, three of whom followed his passion into dentistry. His eldest, Maria is the Director of Pediatric Dentistry at Temple University while Rebecca is a faculty member at Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. David has joined his father’s practice and will begin working for the Veterans Administration in Philadelphia at the start of the new year. Laura is a Public Policy consultant for Deloitte, taking after her mother in a field of management.

About the Academy of General Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of more than 40,000 general dentists, dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. Founded in 1952, AGD is the second largest dental association in the United States, and serves the needs and represents the interests of general dentists. For more information about the AGD, visit, agd.org.