Obstacles Pediatric Dentistry Faces The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and Diplomates: Establishing the Standard for Excellence vs. Minimal Competence

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) has admirably and conscientiously grappled with the dilemma of how to maintain the bar of clinical competency while vastly enhancing its membership numbers to pursue board certification. This editorial seeks to discuss the changes which have occurred historically that has impacted on the nature and quality of the examination process that is used to determine what constitutes a level of competency for pediatric dentists in the U.S. For matters of practicality and consistency throughout various disciplines within medicine and dentistry, perceptions have increasingly moved in the direction that a degree of competency be defined for which the vast majority of providers potentially qualify. While it would be optimal to set the bar for achievement at the level of excellence, doing such excludes the bulk of practitioners as previously existed in health care during the previous half-century. The need to redefine what sufficiently constitutes merely an acceptable level of comprehension has become the rule rather than the exception by today’s standards. Recognition of the achievement of excellence, while beyond the purview of certifying boards, might still best be re-examined, re-designed and awarded to the benefit of the practitioners and public these boards are intended to endorse and serve. The fact of the matter is that satisfactory completion of current board certification does not carry the weight or prestige it once represented. Certification boards might do well to reassess or reframe the reward of Diplomate status on the basis of the achievement of excellence vs. adequacy that is measured.