BOARD CERTIFIED ORTHODONTIST
An orthodontist is a dentist who has not only completed a graduate program in dentistry to receive their DDS or DMD (Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine) but has also gone through a competitive residency at a CODA-accredited orthodontic program for an additional 2-3 years to be trained specifically in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
ABO Board Certification is a voluntary credential that represents an orthodontist’s personal and public commitment to the standards of specialty practice and lifelong learning. The ABO Certification process requires the completion of peer-developed, externally validated written and clinical examinations. A Board Certified Orthodontist has reached this level of achievement by pursuing additional voluntary education and ongoing self-assessment.
Board Certification is confirmation of an orthodontist’s personal commitment to providing lifelong quality patient care.
The American Board of Orthodontics is the only orthodontic specialty board recognized by the American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists.
BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST
The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) believes that every child, every adolescent, and every individual with special needs deserves quality care. ABPD’s commitment to excellence through a certification process that inspires lifelong learning enables pediatric dentists to deliver quality care. Intrinsically tied to its value a commitment to lifelong learning, ABPD acknowledges that it must continue to evolve and intentionally focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to deliver excellence and quality pediatric oral health care. ABPD defines DEI as:
- Diversity: A commitment to certifying pediatric dentists from varied backgrounds who respect the diversity of the patients, families, and communities they serve. Diversity includes (but is not limited to): different cultures, perspectives, abilities, racial and ethnic identities, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, socioeconomics, geographies, religions, and ages.
- Equity: A commitment to administering a fair and valid examination and striving to provide the tools that may be needed by individuals based on their unique situation.
- Inclusion: A commitment to listening and understanding to foster collaboration and build a safe and respectful environment, allowing for the full participation of every individual in the board certification process.
ABPD has acted by creating a DEI Committee; facilitating a DEI workshop for board and staff; providing annual unconscious bias training for examiners; removing unnecessary identifiers in exams; beginning data collection; and more. DEI is currently a pillar of the 2022-2025 strategic plan as ABPD intentionally focuses on DEI with the plan to infuse DEI into every pillar in the future.
