Educational Resources

Serving the Public

The mission and values of the National Commission is to serve the public and the profession by providing review of the recognized specialty organizations, prospective specialty organizations and their respective certifying boards through:

• Objectivity
• Integrity
• Transparency
• Consistency
• Professionalism

To better assist the public and the profession, the National Commission has developed educational resources and series to help explain and illustrate the intricate policies and procedures adopted by the National Commission and specialty recognition. The series will include information and resources for these areas:

• Dental Specialty Recognition and the Requirements for Recognition (PDF)
• Periodic Review of Dental Specialty Education and Practice (PDF)
• 2030 Template - Periodic Review of Dental Specialty Education and Practice (PDF)

At its March 28-29, 2022 meeting the Board of Commissioners adopted a staggered review cycle for the Periodic Review of Dental Specialty Education and practice starting in 2029 with three (3) sponsoring organizations completing the review, three (3) in 2030, three (3) in 2031 and three (3) in 2032. The following specialty sponsoring organizations will complete the Periodic Review in the following years:

2029
American Academy of Oral Medicine
American Academy of Orofacial Pain
American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists

2030
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Association of Orthodontists
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

2031
American Academy of Periodontology
American Association of Endodontists
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

2032
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
American Association of Public Health Dentistry
American College of Prosthodontists

Recognized Specialty Certifying Boards

• Dental Specialty Certifying Board Recognition and the Requirements for Recognition (PDF)
• Annual Survey of the Recognized Certifying Boards (PDF)
• Modified Annual Survey of the Recognized Certifying Boards (PDF)
• Template of Full Annual Survey of the Recognized Certifying Boards (PDF)
• Template of Modified Annual Survey of the Recognized Certifying Boards (PDF)

Communities of Interest and the Public

• History of Dental Specialty Recognition (PDF)
• Recognition Status Definitions (PDF)
• Submitting Comments on Applications for Specialty Recognition (PDF)
• Submitting Comments on Applications for Specialty Certifying Board Recognition (PDF)
• Complaint Process (PDF)
• Due Process and the Appeal Board (PDF)

Any questions related to dental licensure should be directed to CDEL@ada.org.

Applicants for Specialty and Certifying Board Recognition

• Recognition Process (PDF)
• Submitting an Application for Specialty Recognition (PDF)
• Submitting an Application for Specialty Certifying Board Recognition (PDF)