CDCA-WREB-CITA is pleased to share the following as received from the American Board of Dental Examiners, ADEX.
Industry-wide shift attributed to CompeDont™ simulated fidelity
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (February 3, 2025) — The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) is pleased to share that the CompeDont™ tooth has driven a nationwide shift in dental licensure. Designed to address ethical and logistical concerns and improve the testing experience for candidates, use of the CompeDont™ has now replaced the patient-based examination entirely. Data indicates that patient involvement in licensure examinations dropped to zero in 2024 following just fourteen such assessments in 2023. The ADEX simulated patient dental and dental hygiene examinations are accepted in and portable to every US state(1).
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ADEX’s industry-leading simulated patient platforms transformed initial licensure assessments by combining portability and ethical testing.
The agency began developing alternatives to patient-based testing in 2016 to address ethical concerns and improve the testing experience for candidates. Introduced in 2020, ADEX and its test administration partner, CDCA-WREB-CITA, invested over $1 million to create the ground-breaking CompeDont™ tooth, which allows candidates to diagnose and treat Class II and Class III variable caries in a simulated tooth. This innovation maintains high testing standards and offers a more convenient and consistent examination process for dental professionals.
“The simulated teeth and arches used in ADEX exams have evolved dramatically under continuous scrutiny, and today, they truly mimic the clinical variability found in natural structures. The models provide for reliable assessments while eliminating potential ethical dilemmas associated with patient involvement,” explained outgoing ADEX Dental Examination Committee Chair Dr. Kevin Collins of North Carolina.
Examinations are administered to licensure candidates from every U.S. dental school and most dental hygiene programs. Because of its broad acceptance as the national licensure exam standard, more than 13,000 individuals participated in ADEX dental examinations in 2024.
The complete ADEX Dental examination includes five clinic-based components: endodontic, prosthodontic, and restorative procedures, periodontal scaling, and a 100+ item computer-based OSCE examination with advanced item types and case-based treatment planning. The ADEX Dental Hygiene examination comprises a simulated patient exam for calculus detection, periodontal probing, and scaling, plus a dynamic 100-item computer-based OSCE that includes intra and extra-oral evaluation opportunities.
About ADEX
The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) is a non-profit comprised of representatives appointed by state boards of dentistry dedicated to setting and maintaining standards for initial licensure in the dental and dental hygiene professions. ADEX supports the advancement of dental testing while protecting the public. For further information and updated licensure examination requirements, please contact ADEX at www.adexexams.org.
(1) Neither Delaware nor New York accepts an independent, third-party assessment for dental licensure.