The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations plans to launch a new clinical licensure exam in June, according to the American Dental Association.
The Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination evaluates clinical judgment and skills using 3D models, without the need to involve patients, Cataldo Leone, DMD, Joint Commission chair, wrote in a letter to the dental community.
The new exam assesses clinical judgment in the following areas: restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, oral pathology, pain management and temporomandibular disorders, periodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, medical emergencies, and prescriptions.
"Diagnosis, treatment planning and occlusion are assessed across all of the examination topic areas," Dr. Leone said.
The Joint Commission plans to hold informational webinars regarding the exam and will answer questions before the release of the new program.
"The [Joint Commission] is confident that the DLOSCE is a strong examination that is well-suited for use in addressing the clinical examination licensure requirements of each board, and is particularly responsive to their pressing needs in these challenging times," Dr. Leone wrote.