Background

The Clinical Examination is an assessment of an examinee's orthodontic therapeutic knowledge and skills. There are several components of the Clinical Examination, and there are different types of clinical examinations that are utilized in the certification and recertification process. Specific components of an exam may differ depending on the reason for the examination. In other words, different formats will be used depending upon whether the examinee is being certified for the first time, recertified, etc.

Components of the Clinical Examination

A. CASE REPORTS PRESENTED BY THE EXAMINEE

1. Case Report Examination (CRE) -

A comprehensive evaluation of case reports for patients treated solely by the examinee. The number of reports is dependent on the type of Clinical Examination for the particular stage in the certification/recertification process.

2. Case Report Oral Examination (CROE) -

An assessment of the examinee's knowledge about the case reports that they have presented.

B. BOARD CASES PRESENTED TO THE EXAMINEE

1. Board Case Examination (BCE for Voluntary Recertification only) -

An examinee review of case records on the ABO website with a response concerning the treatment decision needed for the case.

2. Board Case Oral Examination (BCOE) -

An assessment of the examinee's explanation of treatment decisions for two cases provided by the ABO.

The Board Case Oral Exam is that portion of the Clinical Examination that involves two sets of case records presented to the examinee to evaluate and treatment plan. The examinee cannot specifically prepare for this portion of the Clinical Examination. The clinical practice of orthodontics where treatment decisions are made on a daily basis should be sufficient preparation for this exam.

This will be the first portion of the Clinical Examination and the examinee will appear at the appointed time. Complete records via computer format provide all required information to develop appropriate treatment decisions.

An Examinee Worksheet will be provided for each case and contains four major areas that will be discussed by the examiners. Be reminded that treatment objectives are not the mechanotherapy used to accomplish these objectives.

Sample Board Case Oral Exam
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The Discrepancy Index (DI), a measurement system of case complexity, is used for evaluating the acceptability of cases presented to the clinical examination. Points are scored on pre-treatment dental casts according to a measurement discrepancy from accepted norms in eleven target disorders. These are: linear measurements of overjet, overbite, anterior open bite, lateral open bite, crowding, occlusion, lingual posterior crossbite, buccal posterior crossbite, and the angular measurements of ANB, SN-MP, and Lower incisor to MP. An additional category designated "Other" has been added so that other conditions which may affect or add to complexity of treatment may be scored. The total points scored produce a value of Discrepancy Index, or case complexity. Cases are selected for clinical examination by meeting exam specifications for Discrepancy Index. More information can be found at Measurement Instruments of the Clinical Examination.