Mail-In FAQs

The examinee is expected to bring cases that are challenging and represent his or her best work. The Board expects all case exhibits to be well treated. Simply put, poorly finished exhibits, even though they may be difficult and interesting, are not acceptable.

The examinee is expected to bring cases that are challenging and represent his or her best work. If you choose to bring a surgical case, a complete set of Interim or Pre-Surgical records must be present. The examinee is expected to understand exactly what happened during the treatment of each patient, including work done by other specialists. It should be clear that a surgical orthodontic case had a pre-surgical treatment plan. The examinee must know what surgical procedures were performed and the extent to which his or her pre-surgical treatment goals were achieved. Simple alignment of the teeth and referral of the patient to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to decide what to do is unacceptable.

The second molars must be erupted and should be aligned in cases submitted for the ABO Clinical Examination. The second molars are scored on the Cast Radiographic Evaluation form.

In order for this case to satisfy the requirement of a four quadrant extraction case, pre-extraction records would need be produced and presented. If these records are not available, the case would not fulfill the extraction case requirement. However, the case could be presented if the Discrepancy Index was sufficient to qualify it for the Clinical Examination.

If the faculty member supervised the diagnosis, treatment plan, placement of appliance, treatment progress, removal of the appliance and retainer placement, then yes, the educator may present the case as part of their six case submission.

Class II cases treated to a Class II molar with the extraction of upper premolars only (camouflage) will not satisfy the Class II requirement, however they may be acceptable to satisfy a DI requirement.

You must effectively demonstrate management of the extraction space. A significant majority of the extraction space must remain prior to the initiation of orthodontic treatment.

Yes. There are no points added on the Cast Radiograph Evaluation (CRE) form for root resorption. However, point(s) may be added on the Case Management Form (CMF) if the root resorption is attributable to biomechanics or case management.

No, the ABO does not accept substitutions for the Class II case requirement.

No. The ABO offers one Certification. The Craniofacial exam was created for orthodontists who primarily treat patients with syndromic or craniofacial history which do not fit the standard case criteria.

The Written Case Report should be detailed enough so that the examiners can understand the appliance and principles that the examinee used in treatment. For instance, the statement "placement of a maxillary headgear" is not as precise as the statement "placement of a high-pull facebow headgear." Clearly identify the treatment objectives, evaluate whether or not you, as the exaimee, have met them, and comment appropriately.

Do not confuse treatment objectives with appliances; i.e., placing a straight wire appliance, a TPA or a segmental arch is not a treatment objective. Treatment objectives relate to changes in dental, skeletal and soft tissue structures. The Case Management Form "Examinee Treatment Objectives" should be a summary of the objectives stated in the Written Case Report.

Be sure to consult the Discrepancy Index instructions as these are very specific for each parameter. Overjet is measured from the facial surface of the most lingual tooth (Mx or Mn) to the middle of the incisal edge of the most facially positioned tooth (Mx or Mn).

This answer depends on the parameter you are scoring. The examinee must consult the instructions for each parameter for accuracy. For example, in scoring Overjet the canines are not considered anterior teeth, but the canines are considered anterior teeth in the Anterior Open Bite parameter.

A line of occlusion is constructed from the mesial of the first molars over the mid-alveolus of the most crowded or spaced arch. Perimeter deficiency or excess is then noted and scored. The website instructs the examinee to refrain from scoring the Buccolingual Inclination of the lower FIRST premolars.

All second premolars are scored in the Buccolingual Inclination parameter. The Cast-Radiograph Instruction Sheet indicates this requirement in the “Buccolingual Inclination” section.

If the third molars are substituted for the second molars in the final occlusal scheme, the thirds are scored exactly as second molars. In cases of second molar submission for missing / extracted first molars, the case is considered unfinished if the third molars have not erupted.  The third molars are not scored if the first and second molars are present.

Yes. Likewise, a panoramic film taken three months before treatment completion could be used as a final record.

The board seeks symmetry in model base trimming. A five degree tolerance in base angles is acceptable.

Yes. You can format the lateral cephalogram and panoramic views in JPEG images. Note that the lateral cephalogram will be available from either the left or right side of the mid-sagittal plane. Therefore you must maintain consistency in whichever side you choose to display, so comparison of pre- and post-treatment images are valid. CBCT images are also acceptable for periapical radiographs if required.

A fixed retainer may be in place when posttreatment records are taken. Be sure to smooth and polish models in such a manner that tooth and soft tissue detail is not destroyed.

No. Periodontal Screening Records do not meet the ABO standards for periodontal documentation.

The third molars as a second molar substitution will be scored unless they are absent.

As part of the Agreement to Rules of Examination, examinees attest to having obtained the appropriate HIPAA forms from each patient being presented for clinical examination. It is the responsibility of the examinee to maintain the signed form, but it does not need to accompany the records submitted to the ABO.

Affidavits and program certificates must be sent to the ABO administrative office. Please email your affidavit and orthodontic program certificate to info@americanboardortho.com.

No. Place the stapled CRWF into the pocket folder of the binder. 

Since SARPE is done at the beginning of treatment, initial records are sufficient. Therefore, interim records are not required and you do not need to indicate the case as surgical in the WCR.