ABO Professional Knowledge 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification process consists of how many main phases?
- A single comprehensive exam
- A written exam followed by a clinical/scenario-based exam (Correct answer)
- Three separate written exams
- An oral interview only
Correct answer: A written exam followed by a clinical/scenario-based exam
ABO certification involves a Written Examination followed by the Clinical Examination (Scenario-Based Clinical Examination).
Question 2: Which organization officially recognizes the ABO as the certifying board for orthodontics?
- American Dental Association (ADA) (Correct answer)
- American Medical Association
- State dental boards only
- Federal Trade Commission
Correct answer: American Dental Association (ADA)
The ABO is the certifying board for orthodontics recognized by the American Dental Association.
Question 3: Board certification by the ABO is best described as:
- A legal requirement to practice orthodontics
- A voluntary achievement demonstrating pursuit of excellence (Correct answer)
- Required for dental school admission
- Automatically granted upon residency graduation
Correct answer: A voluntary achievement demonstrating pursuit of excellence
ABO certification is a voluntary process demonstrating a commitment to continued excellence beyond licensure.
Question 4: How often must an ABO Diplomate complete recertification to maintain their status?
- Every 2 years
- Every 10 years (Correct answer)
- Every 25 years
- Only once, it never expires
Correct answer: Every 10 years
ABO certification is time-limited and requires recertification every 10 years.
Question 5: What is a prerequisite to sit for the ABO Written Examination?
- Ten years of private practice
- Graduation from a CODA-accredited orthodontic residency program (Correct answer)
- Publication of a peer-reviewed article
- Membership in a state legislature
Correct answer: Graduation from a CODA-accredited orthodontic residency program
Candidates must have completed an accredited (CODA) orthodontic residency to be eligible.
Question 6: The ABO Written Examination primarily assesses knowledge in which area?
- General medicine
- The basic and clinical sciences related to orthodontics (Correct answer)
- Business management
- Dental laboratory technology
Correct answer: The basic and clinical sciences related to orthodontics
The written exam covers biomedical and clinical sciences fundamental to orthodontic practice.
Question 7: A dentist who achieves ABO certification earns the professional designation of:
- Fellow of the ABO
- Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (Correct answer)
- Certified Orthodontic Technician
- Master of Orthodontics
Correct answer: Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics
Successful candidates become Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics.
ABO Professional Knowledge 2
The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification process consists of how many main phases?