A criterion for determining the acceptability of a case presented for the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Phase III clinical examination is case difficulty. Case difficulty can often be subjective; however, it is related to case complexity, which can be quantifiable. Over the past 5 years, the ABO has developed and field-tested a discrepancy index, made up of various clinical entities that are measurable and have generally accepted norms. These entities summarize the clinical features of a patient's condition with a quantifiable, objective list of target disorders that represent the common elements of an orthodontic diagnosis: overjet, overbite, anterior open bite, lateral open bite, crowding, occlusion, lingual posterior crossbite, buccal posterior crossbite, ANB angle, IMPA, and SN-GoGn angle. The greater the number of these conditions in a patient, the greater the complexity and the greater the challenge to the orthodontist. The ABO is considering several options for applying the discrepancy index to the Phase III clinical examination.

Cephalometry↗

PubMed2004

The American Board of Orthodontics and specialty certification: the first 50 years.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Certification↗

PubMed2004

The American Board of Orthodontics: Diplomate recertification.

Although some specialty certifying boards began recommending or requiring recertification of their "boarded" specialists as early as 1986, recertification is a relatively new concept for the specialty of orthodontics. In the mid 1990s, the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) recognized that many other medical and dental specialty boards had already established voluntary or mandatory recertification policies and decided to establish its own time-limited certifying policy. After a series of field tests involving former directors, council members of the College of Diplomates of the ABO, and volunteer diplomates, the ABO instituted a recertification policy for candidates who applied for initial certification after January 1, 1998. Since then, the total number of diplomates who have been recertified has steadily increased. Surveys of successfully recertified diplomates reflect a positive feeling about the process. When medical and dental specialists are expected to be more accountable, recertification has been shown to be a valid method to help ensure continued competency. The ABO believes that the formulation of educational and certifying processes to document a diplomate's clinical competency throughout his or her career will help to serve the public welfare. The ABO is attempting to make initial certification and periodic recertification attainable for more orthodontists and, in so doing, to provide a standard by which we exist as a specialty.

American Dental Association↗