American Board of Orthodontics

American Board of Orthodontics
Name	American Board of Orthodontics
Formation	1929
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	United States
Leader title	President

American Board of Orthodontics is a certifying entity for specialists in Orthodontics in the United States. It evaluates clinical competence and ethical standards among practitioners who treat dentofacial anomalies and malocclusion, engaging with academic centers, specialty societies, and regulatory bodies. The board interacts with organizations such as the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, and academic institutions including Harvard School of Dental Medicine and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.

History

The board was founded in 1929 amid a period of professional consolidation that also saw developments at institutions like Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Early leaders had connections with figures from American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the National Dental Association. Throughout the twentieth century, the board paralleled reforms enacted by bodies such as the Council on Dental Education and Licensure and collaborations with specialty certifying boards like the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and American Board of Pediatrics. In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries the board adapted to changes influenced by trial outcomes at centers like Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and regulatory initiatives associated with Food and Drug Administration oversight of orthodontic devices.

Mission and Objectives

The board’s stated mission emphasizes assessment of specialist competence and protection of patient welfare, aligning with standards advanced by the Joint Commission and professional societies including the American Association of Orthodontists and the World Federation of Orthodontists. Objectives include establishing certification criteria comparable to those used by the American Board of Periodontology and promoting evidence-based practice similar to initiatives at National Institutes of Health and research programs at University of Michigan School of Dentistry. The board also seeks engagement with educational leaders at institutions such as University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry and University of Illinois College of Dentistry.

Certification Process

Certification involves credential review, submission of clinical cases, and an oral examination modeled on assessment frameworks used by the American Board of Medical Specialties and other dental specialty boards like the American Board of Prosthodontics. Candidates submit comprehensive case records drawn from practices affiliated with institutions such as Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. The process requires demonstration of proficiency comparable to standards at centers like Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and involves panels of examiners drawn from faculty at universities such as University of Washington School of Dentistry and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School.

Maintenance of Certification and Continuing Education

Once certified, diplomates participate in maintenance activities analogous to programs run by the American Board of Internal Medicine and accreditation pathways overseen by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education standards in allied fields. Continuing certification options emphasize lifelong learning through courses and symposia presented by organizations such as the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation and continuing education at venues including American Dental Association annual meetings and conferences hosted by Kappa Delta Pi-affiliated education providers. The board’s maintenance model parallels recertification trends seen with the American Board of Surgery and addresses quality improvement initiatives promoted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Governance and Organizational Structure

Governance is carried out by a board of directors and elected officers drawn from practicing specialists and academic leaders with affiliations at institutions like Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. Committees mirror structures found in organizations such as the American Dental Education Association and include exam, credentials, and appeals panels similar to committees in the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The organization maintains liaison relationships with the American Association of Orthodontists and international groups including the European Orthodontic Society and World Federation of Orthodontists.

Influence on Clinical Practice and Research

Certification standards have shaped curricula at programs like University of Michigan School of Dentistry and research priorities at centers such as Stanford University School of Medicine and University of California, San Francisco. By setting case-report requirements and outcome benchmarks, the board has influenced clinical practice patterns observed in private practices and clinics affiliated with Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and academic departments at University of Pennsylvania. Its emphasis on evidence and outcomes supports collaborations with funding agencies like the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and informs peer-reviewed publications appearing in journals associated with the American Association of Orthodontists. The board’s standards have also intersected with device regulation dialogues involving the Food and Drug Administration and with global practice trends endorsed by the World Health Organization.

Category:Orthodontics Category:Dental organizations in the United States