American Board of Dental Specialties

American Board of Dental Specialties
Name	American Board of Dental Specialties
Abbreviation	ABDS
Formation	2012
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	United States
Region served	United States
Leader title	President

American Board of Dental Specialties is a coordinating organization that recognizes and supports independent specialty certifying boards in dental medicine. Formed in the early 21st century, it positions itself within the landscape of American professional certification alongside organizations such as American Dental Association, American Board of Orthodontics, American Board of Periodontology, American Board of Prosthodontics, and American Board of Endodontics. The organization interacts with institutions like American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry.

History

The genesis of the organization occurred amid debates involving entities such as American Dental Association, Council on Dental Education and Licensure, American Association of Dental Boards, National Board Dental Examination, and specialty groups including American Academy of Implant Dentistry, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, and American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. Early discussions referenced professional models from American Board of Medical Specialties, Royal College of Surgeons, and General Medical Council (United Kingdom), and involved academic centers like Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, and University of Washington School of Dentistry. The formation intersected with policy debates in venues such as United States Congress hearings and state boards including the California Dental Board, New York State Education Department, and Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.

Mission and Objectives

The stated mission aligns with professional standards promulgated by organizations such as American Dental Association, Joint Commission, National Commission for Certifying Agencies, Commission on Dental Accreditation, and American Board of Medical Specialties. Objectives include advancing board certification frameworks similar to models promoted by American Board of Orthodontics, American Board of Periodontology, American Board of Prosthodontics, American Board of Endodontics, and specialty societies like American Academy of Periodontology, American College of Prosthodontists, American Association of Endodontists, and American Association of Orthodontists. The organization advocates recognition pathways affecting stakeholders such as Fellowship of the American College of Dentists, Academy of General Dentistry Fellowship, academic institutions including University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry and professional groups such as American Association of Dental Public Health.

Recognized Dental Specialties and Member Boards

Member boards acknowledged by the organization reflect specialties represented elsewhere by entities such as American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Board of Endodontics, American Board of Orthodontics, American Board of Periodontology, American Board of Prosthodontics, and newer certifying boards associated with organizations like Academy of General Dentistry, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Board of Forensic Odontology, and American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry. These member boards interface with specialty societies such as American Academy of Implant Dentistry, National Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, International Association for Dental Research, and academic departments at institutions like Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, University of Southern California Ostrow School of Dentistry, and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.

Certification Process and Standards

Certification processes promulgated by member boards reference assessment models similar to those used by American Board of Orthodontics, American Board of Periodontology, American Board of Prosthodontics, American Board of Endodontics, and American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Standards draw on precedents from accrediting bodies such as Commission on Dental Accreditation, National Commission for Certifying Agencies, and practices in academic centers like Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Stanford University School of Medicine. Candidate requirements typically include advanced training at programs affiliated with institutions such as University of Florida College of Dentistry, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, and Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, portfolio assessments akin to processes used by American Board of Medical Specialties member boards, written and oral examinations, and maintenance of certification protocols comparable to those of American Board of Medical Specialties boards.

Governance and Accreditation

Governance structures mirror board models found in organizations such as American Dental Association, American Board of Medical Specialties, National Commission for Certifying Agencies, Commission on Dental Accreditation, and state regulatory bodies like the New York State Education Department and California Dental Board. Leadership has included professionals with affiliations to universities such as University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and specialty societies including American Society of Anesthesiologists (in cross-disciplinary contexts), American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Accreditation relationships and recognition decisions affect credentialing practices used by hospitals such as Mayo Clinic, academic centers such as Cleveland Clinic, and health systems like Kaiser Permanente.

Controversies and Criticism

The organization's emergence prompted debate among stakeholders including American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, state boards including the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, and academic critics from institutions such as University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry and University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Criticisms have centered on issues raised in commentary by specialty groups like American Board of Orthodontics, American Board of Periodontology, and publications in journals associated with Journal of Dental Research, Journal of the American Dental Association, and British Dental Journal concerning recognition standards, overlap with certification models from American Board of Medical Specialties, and implications for licensure in jurisdictions represented by American Association of Dental Boards. Debates have invoked comparisons to credentialing controversies involving organizations such as American Board of Medical Specialties and international bodies like the General Dental Council.

Category:Dental organizations in the United States