Comments sought to recognize American Board of Orofacial Pain as national certifying board for specialty

The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards is seeking comments through May 3 on an application to recognize the American Board of Orofacial Pain as the national certifying board for orofacial pain.

The National Commission is inviting public comment for a 60-day period, per its Application Process for Recognition of a Dental Specialty Certifying Board protocol based on the applicant’s compliance with the ADA Requirements for Recognition of National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists.

If approved by the National Commission, the American Board of Orofacial Pain would become recognized as the national certifying board that administers the board certification examination certifying qualified dentists as diplomats in the specialty of orofacial pain. According to the Requirements for Recognition of National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists, the National Commission will recognize only one certifying board that has a close working relationship with the sponsoring organization.

The National Commission had recognized orofacial pain as a dental specialty in 2020, based on the determination that the American Academy of Orofacial Pain’s application met all the ADA’s Requirements for Recognition of a Dental Specialty.

Submit electronic comments to Catherine Baumann, director, National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards at nationalcommission@ada.org. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, only comments submitted electronically will be accepted.