About ABOMS

The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) is the certifying board for the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the United States and is recognized and approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association.

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Objectives

The objectives of the ABOMS are to elevate the standards of oral and maxillofacial surgery and to aid Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in their efforts to provide optimum health care in the United States. In order to fulfill these objectives, the Board establishes criteria for competence and knowledge that determine a sufficient and acceptable performance for safe practice of the specialty and examines qualified candidates. Those individuals who demonstrate achievement of the requisite training, experience, and knowledge are granted Diplomate certificates. The Board may also perform such other activities as will enable the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery to achieve its goal of providing optimum health care.

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Mission

The Mission of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is to help set the standards for the confluence of  education, training, and experience for the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to assure the public of an acceptable level of attainment by those who are Board Certified.  To this end, the Board's mission includes examination and certification of candidates, and recertification of Diplomates.

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Organization

A committee was authorized at the 1945 annual meeting of the American Society of Oral Surgeons to establish an American Board of Oral Surgery, which would conduct examinations for the certification of specialists in oral surgery.

In 1946, the American Board of Oral Surgery was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. During the following year, the American Board of Oral Surgery was approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association and was authorized to proceed with the certification of specialists in oral surgery.

The American Board of Oral Surgery was renamed the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1978 to reflect the scope of the specialty. The name modification was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois.

The operation of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is entrusted to a seven-member Board of Directors. These Directors are Diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Fellows of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. One Director is elected each year to a seven-year term by the House of Delegates of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. An Examination Committee composed of Diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is appointed by the Board of Directors to prepare and conduct the annual certification examination. The Board of Directors and its Examination Committee serve without salary.

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