Becoming a Credentialed Provider

 Eligibility

The information provided here is intended to familiarize you with the eligibility requirements and supplementary documentation necessary for ABCDSM board certification. Complete details pertaining to submission of supplementary documentation are included within the application and may also be found on this website.

Prior to application, please determine if you meet all of the eligibility requirements and are (or will be) prepared to submit documentation of completion of all supplementary requirements within the time allotted. If you do not, please do not submit an application.

All supplementary requirements must be submitted at the time of application EXCEPT for the 10 pateint case studies.  Successful submission of the patient case studies must be completed within 12 months of submission of the application.

Applications and documentation of completion of all prerequisites will be reviewed by the ABCDSM and the ABCDSM will send notification of acceptance/approval to applicants.

The "Diplomate, American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine" examination is open to qualified applicants who:

• Hold, at minimum, a dental degree (DDS or DMD) or its equivalent;
• Possess an active and unrestricted license to practice dentistry; AND,
• Have been personally involved as a primary care provider in assessment and management of sleep-disordered breathing for at least two (2) years immediately preceding their applications, experience gained while earning a DDS or DMD degree (or its equivalent) notwithstanding.

 Written Examination for ABCDSM Diplomate Status
Candidates are allowed a maximum of four (4) hours to complete the ABCDSM Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine written credentialing examination, which is a proctored examination comprised of 200 multiple-choice questions.

All questions have been designed to a) determine how well a candidate's knowledge, skills and abilities are integrated into patient care, and b) evaluate the candidate's competence in this area of clinical sciences as outlined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine practice parameters.

The current composition of the ABCDSM Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine written credentialing examination is as follows:

  Sleep Medicine 40%

• Physiology of Normal & Abnormal Sleep  15%
• Classification of Sleep Disorders                10%
• Interpreting PSG & PM Reports                    5%
• Treatment Options for OSA                         10%

  Dental Sleep Medicine  60%

• 10%  Oropharyngeal Anatomy & Related Areas
• 15%  Physical & Neurobehavioral Examination in Dental Sleep Medicine
• 20%  Understanding Appliance Selection, Bite Registration, Fitting, Titrating & Follow-Up
• 10%  Managing Side-Effects of Oral Appliance Therapy
•   5% Informed Consent

The ABCDSM is happy to make a recommended reading list, review notes, sample test questions, plus sample patient case summaries and expanded patient cases available to candidates to assist them in their preparation. Please contact admin@abcdsm.org for more information.

Written Examination Process
Candidates whose applications are deemed complete will be invited to sit for the written examination, and notified of its date, time and location by the ABCDSM.

This examination is proctored. Each candidate should bring two forms of identification (including one picture ID). Attire is casual.

Recording devices, cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, and other non-medically necessary electronic equipment is not permitted in the examination room. Any candidate found in possession of such non-medical devices will be disqualified without further consideration of refund.  

Upcoming Examination - (TBD)

Scoring
All scoring of written tests for Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine credentialing is performed without consideration of the candidate's identity, and all decisions concerning written examination scoring are made impartially.

The entire examination process is supervised by the ABCDSM Examination Committee. Determinations of successful completion are based on objective criteria applied universally to all candidates.

Individual scores will not be changed, except in the case of a granted appeal.

Examination Results
Results will be mailed to candidates 30-60 days following completion of the Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine credentialing examination.

Examination results are not available by telephone. Please do not call the ABCDSM Executive Office for this information.

Dentists who have previously taken the Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine credentialing examination unsuccessfully may retake it upon reapplication.

Appeal Process
A candidate may appeal a negative determination (i.e. failure of the written examination or rejection of documentation of completion of supplementary requirements) by submitting a written explanation of the reason for refuting the determination.

This appeal must be made within 30 days of the date of the notification letter, and all materials must be submitted in writing to the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine (380 Ice Center Lane, Ste C | Bozeman, MT 59718).

All appeals will be carefully reviewed, and a final decision will be made by the ABCDSM Board of Directors with input from the Examination Committee when deemed necessary by the Board.

The decision by the ABCDSM Board of Directors will be communicated to the candidate in writing, and shall be considered final.

Note: Dentists who have taken the Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine written credentialing examination unsuccessfully may reapply the following year by submitting a new application, including a copy of their current dental license and application fee.