Exam Information

 Candidates are allowed a maximum of four (4) hours to complete the written examination for Diplomate status, which is a proctored examination comprised of 200 psychometrically-derived, multiple-choice questions. The ABCP Board of Directors governs all aspects of this written certification qualifying examination for Diplomate status and is solely responsible for its content. The composition of this examination is rooted in the results of a national practice survey and correct responses are evidence-based.

All questions have been designed to a) determine how well a candidate's knowledge, skills and aptitude are integrated into patient care, and b) evaluate the candidate's competence in this area of clinical sciences as outlined by the American Dental Association and mandated by the Accreditation Standards for Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Orofacial Pain of the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA).

The current composition of the ABCP Diplomate written examination is as follows:
Anatomy 25.0% 

Imaging 5.0%

Nutrition Concepts 2.0% 

Pain Concepts 19.5% 

Neural and Pain Science 2.0% 

Dental Sleep Medicine 10.0% 

Orthodontic/Orthopedic Concepts 5.0% 

Intraoral Appliance Therapy 8.5%

Stabilization Therapy 3.0% 

Physical Medicine 5.0% 

Neuromuscular Concepts 5.5% 

Trauma Care 2.5% 

Informed Consent 2.0% 

Pharmacology 5.0%
The ABCP is happy to make a recommended reading list available to candidates to assist them in their preparation for the ABCP Diplomate written examination. Please view the Resources tab above to view.

*Note: In order to be eligible to sit for the written examination, dentists must satisfy all application requirements and/or correct deficiencies prior to the application deadline. Sorry; late or incomplete applications cannot be accepted. 

 Candidates whose applications are deemed complete will be deemed "Board -Eligible," invited to sit for the written and oral examinations, and notified of their date, time and location by the ABCP.

This examination is proctored. Each candidate should bring two forms of identification (including one picture ID). Attire is casual.

Recording devices, cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, and other non-medically necessary electronic equipment is not permitted in the examination room. Any candidate found in possession of such non-medical devices will be disqualified without further consideration of refund.  

 Board certification by the ABCP is open to qualified applicants who:

• Hold, at minimum, a dental degree (DDS or DMD) or its equivalent;
• Possess an active and unrestricted license to practice dentistry;
  
  OR
   
• Possess an ABOP Diplomate certification in good standing for year of 2019. (ABOP Diplomates see Diplomate Transfer section)
• Have been involved for the previous two (2) years in the assessment, diagnosis and management of Craniofacial Pain of non-dental or alveolar origin.

Prerequisites:

• At least two (2) or more academic years of graduate study in a US CODA-accredited Advanced Dental Education Program in Orofacial Pain;
  
  OR
   
•  A minimum of five hundred (500) hours of continuing education courses which have been completed within the immediate ten years prior to the date of submission of the written application for Diplomate status. Of these courses, 80% must be directly related to Craniofacial Pain/Temporomandibular Disorders and up to 20% ( 100 hours) may be related course categories and are subject to the final discretion of the Board. In lieu of completing and attaching "Exhibit B" to your application, you may highlight pertinent coursework on an AGD transcript, being certain to total the resulting CE hours, and submit it with their application. 
• Completion, personally, of all aspects of diagnosis and treatment for one hundred (100) patients whose chief complaints included Craniofacial Pain of non-dental or alveolar origin.
• Personal involvement in the diagnosis and treatment of Craniofacial Pain not of dental or alveolar origin during the two years immediately preceding the application for Diplomate Status.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation/sponsorship from current ABCP Diplomates in good standing.

 Scoring
All scoring of written examinations for Diplomate status in the ABCP is performed without consideration of the candidate's identity, and all decisions concerning written examination scoring are made impartially.

The entire examination process is supervised by the ABCP Examination Committee. Determinations of successful completion are based on objective criteria applied universally to all candidates Individual scores will not be changed, except in the case of a granted appeal.

Written Examination Results
Candidates for Diplomate status whose applications and supporting documentation have been reviewed and accepted by the ABCP may sit for the written and oral examinations in a single examination period. Successful completion of the written examination is not a prerequisite for the oral examination.

Examination results are mailed to candidates within 30-60 days following the examination date. Results are not available by telephone; please do not contact the ABCP Executive Office for this information.

Dentists who have previously taken the written examination unsuccessfully may retake the examination upon reapplication.  

 Oral Examination for Diplomate Status
Candidates for Diplomate status whose applications and supporting documentation have been reviewed and accepted by the ABCP are eligible to sit for the oral examination for Diplomate status. Although successful completion of the written examination is not a prerequisite for the oral examination, candidates for Diplomate status must successfully complete the oral examination no later than five (5) years after passing the written exam.

Dentists who have previously taken the oral examination unsuccessfully may retake the oral examination. After two times of failing the oral examination, candidates for Diplomate status are required to retake, and successfully complete, the written examination again before taking the oral examination again.

Submission of Patient Case Histories
All candidates must submit three (3) patient case histories on forms approved and provided by the ABCP Board for case defense (see Exhibit E, Exhibit F and Exhibit G) with their applications for ABCP Diplomate status. The patient case histories must include one craniofacial pain case plus one internal derangement case. For the third patient case history, the applicant may choose to provide either a craniofacial pain case or an internal derangement case. (Note: Candidates who are reapplying must submit three (3) patient case histories, only one of which may be a previously submitted patient case history.)

Patient case histories must include the diagnosis and treatment to completion of a patient by the candidate, and establish the candidate's ability, proficiency and exceptional skill in a broad spectrum of treatment procedures relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of Craniofacial Pain and temporomandibular disorders of non-dental or alveolar origin to the satisfaction of the ABCP Board.

Each patient case history must include a brief (35 words or less) description of the case, and address the justification of any treatment and contain documentation thereof, which shall include:

• Radiographs: Of a quality sufficient to derive the information recorded
  
• Models
  
• Medical History: A thorough review of the patient's past and current medical history
  
• Examination: The patient's chief complaint, clinical signs and symptoms, and a description of the general condition of the patient at the inception of treatment
  
• Clinical Diagnosis: A pre-treatment clinical diagnosis consistent with the symptoms and clinical tests reported
  
• Treatment Plan: A recommended plan of treatment with alternative treatment plans where indicated
  
• Clinical Procedures: A presentation of clinical procedures for the case
  
• General Documentation (Note: typewritten documentation should be clear and precise. The quality of radiography must be sufficient to derive the information recorded.)
  

The ABCP Examination Committee will evaluate case histories. Case histories which are found to contain procedural deficiencies or which are otherwise flawed so as to render them inadequate, either during or prior to their circulation for evaluation, will be returned without prejudice to the candidate with instruction for correction and resubmission. Resubmissions must be received on or before the application deadline.

Oral Case Defense
The purpose of the Oral Case Defense is to a) determine how well a candidate's knowledge, skills and aptitude are integrated into patient care, and b) evaluate the candidate's competence in this area of clinical sciences as mandated by the Accreditation Standards for Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Orofacial Pain of the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA).

The oral examination of each candidate is conducted by three (3) ABCP Diplomates.

The format is an interactive one, in which one or more of the examiners may pose pertinent and clinically-relevant questions to the candidate at any point during his or her presentation of each of the three (3) required cases.

Although exact times will vary, for planning purposes we recommend that candidates allot approximately 30 minutes for the presentation, review and discussion of each case.

Candidates for Diplomate status agree to present three (3) patient case histories (i.e., one craniofacial pain case history, one internal derangement patient case history, and one patient case history of their choosing).

Said case histories and defenses shall include the diagnosis and treatment to completion of said patients and establish to the satisfaction of the Board the candidate’s ability, proficiency and exceptional skill in a broad spectrum of treatment procedures relevant to the assessment, diagnosis and management of Craniofacial Pain and temporomandibular disorders of non-dental origin. Such case histories must provide justification of any treatment and documentation thereof.

• Craniofacial Pain Case — Sample 1
  
• Internal Derangement Case — Sample 1 

 Oral Case Defense Scoring
Scoring of oral case defenses for Diplomate status in the ABCP is based on objective criteria, which is applied universally to all candidates. This step in the certification process is completed successfully when the candidate's oral case presentations are deemed acceptable by a majority of the examiners, at least one of whom must be an ABCP officer or director and all of whom must be ABCP Diplomates in good standing.

The entire examination process is supervised by the ABCP Examination Committee.

Determinations of successful completion will not be changed, except in the case of a granted appeal.

Oral Examination Results
Results will be mailed to candidates 30-60 days following completion of the oral case defense by the candidate for Diplomate status.

Examination results are not available by telephone. Please do not call the ABCP Executive Office for this information.

Dentists who have previously taken the oral examination unsuccessfully may reapply by notifying the ABCP Executive Office in writing and submitting the three (3) patient case histories they plan to present by the application deadline.  

 A candidate may appeal a negative determination (i.e., rejection of prerequisites or failure of the written or oral examination) by submitting a written explanation of the reason for refuting the determination..

This appeal must be made within 30 days of the date of the notification letter. Materials can be submitted via email to info@abcfp.org or by mail to the American Board of Craniofacial Pain (2574 Oak Trails Dr. Aurora, IL 60506).

All appeals will be carefully reviewed, and a final decision will be made by the ABCP Board of Directors with input from the Examination Committee when deemed necessary by the Board.

The decision by the ABCP Board of Directors will be communicated to the candidate in writing, and shall be considered final.

Note:

• Dentists who have taken the written examination unsuccessfully may retake the examination upon reapplication.
  
  
• Dentists who have previously taken the oral examination unsuccessfully may retake the oral examination upon reapplication. After two attempts resulting in unsuccessful completion of the oral examination, candidates will be required to retake the written examination.