— DR. MELISSA ZETTLER
The Gold Standard in Cosmetic Dentistry.
Fewer than 400 dentists in the world hold full AACD accreditation. Dr. Melissa Zettler is one of them — a distinction earned through rigorous examination, proven case outcomes, and an unwavering commitment to cosmetic excellence spanning 30 years of practice.
— THE CREDENTIAL EXPLAINED
What the AAACD actually means
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry was founded with a single mission: to advance excellence in cosmetic dental care through education, research, and the promotion of the highest standards in aesthetic treatment. Its accreditation program is the most demanding credential in the cosmetic dental specialty.
AAACD membership is open to any licensed dentist. Accreditation is something entirely different. It requires candidates to demonstrate clinical mastery through a structured, multi-stage evaluation conducted by an international panel of dental experts. There is no shortcut and no grandfathering — every accredited dentist has earned the credential on merit.
Dr. Zettler's AAACD accreditation tells patients something concrete: that her cosmetic case outcomes have been judged excellent by the world's leading cosmetic dental authority. It is an independent, verified measure of what she can achieve for your smile.
Every patient's smile is as unique as their fingerprints. Accreditation means I've proven I can honor that uniqueness at the highest level of the craft.
< 400
Accredited Dentists Worldwide
Out of hundreds of thousands of practicing dentists globally, fewer than 400 have achieved full AAACD accreditation. Dr. Zettler is among them.
3
Stages of Evaluation
Written examination, oral examination before a live panel, and submission of verified cosmetic cases — all must be passed to achieve accreditation.
30
Years Serving Savage, MN
Three decades of cosmetic and restorative dental care in the Twin Cities area, continuously advancing through education and technology.
5+
Cosmetic Disciplines Evaluated
Case submissions span veneers, composite bonding, crowns, full-arch rehabilitation, and multi-unit cosmetic restorations — each graded by the accreditation board.
— THE ACCREDITATION JOURNY
How AACD accreditation is earned
Written Examination
Candidates must pass a comprehensive written examination covering cosmetic dental science, aesthetic theory, materials science, and clinical protocols — assessed at an expert level.
What it tests
Deep knowledge of color theory, smile design principles, material properties, tissue management, and the science behind aesthetic restorations across all modalities.
Case Submission & Review
Candidates submit documented cosmetic cases spanning multiple disciplines — veneers, composite restorations, crowns, and full-smile rehabilitations — for review and scoring by the accreditation board.
What is evaluated
Each submitted case is judged on diagnosis, treatment planning, aesthetic execution, tissue health, occlusal integrity, and long-term stability. Only excellent outcomes pass.
Oral Examination
The final stage — a live oral examination conducted before a panel of internationally recognized AAACD evaluators. Candidates defend their clinical decisions, demonstrate aesthetic judgment, and prove mastery under expert scrutiny.
Why it matters
The oral exam cannot be memorized or rehearsed. It tests real clinical reasoning, the ability to think under pressure, and a genuine command of cosmetic dentistry as both a science and an art.
Continuing Excellence
Accreditation is not a one-time award. Dr. Zettler maintains her credential through continuing education, active AAACD membership, board participation in the Minnesota Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and faculty mentorship through the Spear Institute.
Dr. Zettler's ongoing roles
AAACD member · MACD Board · Spear Faculty Mentor · Regional Study Club Leader · Dawson Academy alumna · ICOI Fellow since 2015.
— HER STORY
Thirty years in the pursuit of excellence
Dr. Zettler's path to AACD accreditation began with two defining passions: the desire to keep learning, and the drive to genuinely help people. After earning her undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College, she went on to graduate with honors from the University of Minnesota's dental program, then completed a one-year clinical residency at the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis.
What followed was a 30-year career defined by continuous advancement. Every major development in cosmetic and restorative dentistry — digital imaging, CEREC same-day crowns, Invisalign, 3-D surgical guides, the Bioclear method — Dr. Zettler adopted, trained in, and integrated into her practice, not for novelty, but because each one made outcomes meaningfully better for patients.
AACD accreditation was the logical culmination of that journey — a formal, independently verified recognition that her cosmetic outcomes meet the highest standard the dental profession can bestow. She holds it alongside a fellowship in oral implantology, a board seat with the MACD, and a faculty mentorship at the Spear Institute — all of which she sustains while running a full practice in Savage for the community she has served for three decades.
St. Olaf Undergraduate Degree
Where an academic passion for learning first took root — laying the intellectual foundation for everything that followed.
University of Minnesota Doctor of Dental Surgery — Honors
Graduated with distinction from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.
Year 1 VA Hospital Residency
One-year clinical residency in Minneapolis — comprehensive, high-volume patient care experience.
1997 Cherrywood Dental, Savage MN
Founded Cherrywood Dental — now nearly 30 years serving the Twin Cities with continuously evolving expertise.
2022 FAGD — Academy of General Dentistry
Earned Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, requiring 500+ hours of continuing education and a comprehensive written examination.
2015 ICOI Fellowship
Earned fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists through testing and verified case submission.
2025 AAACD Accredited
One of fewer than 400 dentists worldwide to hold full accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
— FOR PATIENTS
Why accreditation matters to you
When you choose an AACD-accredited dentist, you are choosing someone whose cosmetic outcomes have been independently verified to be excellent — not self-reported, not implied by years of experience, but proven.
Independently Verified Results
Dr. Zettler's cosmetic case outcomes were reviewed and scored by an international panel of dental experts — not by her, not by her peers, but by the world's leading cosmetic dental authority.
Cosmetic Dentistry as Art & Science
AACD accreditation requires demonstrated mastery of both: the biological science of healthy teeth and tissue, and the aesthetic art of proportion, color, and smile design.
AACD is a Standard You Can Trust
In a field with many practitioners and many claims, accreditation is one of the few credentials with a rigorous, standardized evaluation process. It removes ambiguity from the question of quality.
Precision Planning Before Treatment
The AACD philosophy aligns perfectly with Dr. Zettler's: plan meticulously before touching a tooth. 3-D scanning, digital design, and surgical guides are all part of that commitment.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning
Accreditation is maintained through ongoing education. Dr. Zettler's board membership, mentorship roles, and continued coursework reflect a career that never stops advancing.
Beautiful Outcomes That Last
From veneers to Bioclear bonding to full-smile rehabilitations, Dr. Zettler's cosmetic work is designed to be stunning on day one and durable for years — the AAACD standard demands nothing less.