Specialty Certification

(1) Recognized Specialties - The Board recognizes and will issue specialty certification in the following branches of dentistry: (a) Dental Anesthesiology; (b) Dental Public Health; (c) Endodontics; (d) Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology; (e) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; (f) Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology; (g) Oral Medicine; (h) Orofacial Pain; (i) Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics; (j) Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics); (k) Periodontics; (l) Prosthodontics. (2) Certification - To become certified as a specialist in a particular branch of dentistry an applicant must be licensed as a dentist in Tennessee except those persons eligible for licensure pursuant to Rule 0460-02-.02, and comply with the following: (a) An applicant shall obtain a specialty application form from the Board Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form or this rule to the Board Administrative Office. (b) An applicant shall submit the specialty certification application fee as provided in Rule 0460-01-.02(1). (c) An applicant shall submit verification of one of the following: 1. Successful completion of the specialty training as provided in the section of this rule for the specific specialty that the applicant is applying for; or 2. Certification as a specialist by the American Board of the particular specialty for which application is made. A letter must be sent directly from the secretary of the American Board of the particular specialty to the Board Administrative Office which indicates that the applicant is certified by the American Board in that specialty and that the applicant is in good standing. All such certificates approved by the Board may be accepted as sufficient for specialty certification in lieu of RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY CHAPTER 0460-02 submitting proof of successful completion of a residency program in a specialty. Acceptance of such certificates is discretionary with the Board. (d) An applicant shall submit any other documentation required by the Board after review of the application. (e) An applicant who is certified as a specialist in another state shall have that state’s licensing board send proof to the Board Administrative Office which indicates that the applicant is certified in that specialty and that the applicant is in good standing. (f) Application review and decisions required by this rule are governed by Rule 0460-01- .04. (3) Examination - All specialty applicants shall submit to an oral examination even if certification from an American Board in a specialty is accepted in lieu of submitting proof of successful completion of a residency program in a specialty. (4) Dental Anesthesiology - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of at least two (2) years of postgraduate training in Dental Anesthesiology at the university level in a program approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association and the Board. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Dental Anesthesiology or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (5) Dental Public Health - The requirements for certification in this specialty shall be those required by the American Dental Association as regards its regulation of this specialty branch of dentistry. (6) Endodontics - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of at least two (2) years of postgraduate training in Endodontics at the university level in a program approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association and the Board. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Endodontics or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (7) Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of two (2) years of postgraduate training in Oral Pathology or Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the university level in a program approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association and the Board. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Oral Pathology or Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (8) Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of graduate study in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology of at least two (2) years in a school approved or provisionally approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (9) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY CHAPTER 0460-02 (a) An applicant must provide to the Board Administrative Office certification of successful completion of advanced study in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of four (4) years or more in a graduate school or hospital accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or the American Dental Association and the Board. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (b) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is the specialty area of the treatment of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area or adjacent or associated structures and their impact on the human body that includes the performance of the following areas of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, as described in the most recent version of the Parameters and Pathways: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: 1. Patient assessment; 2. Anesthesia in outpatient facilities, as provided in T.C.A. §§ 63-5-105(6) and 63-5- 108(g); 3. Dentoalveolar surgery; 4. Oral and craniomaxillofacial implant surgery; 5. Surgical correction of maxillofacial skeletal deformities; 6. Cleft and craniofacial surgery; 7. Trauma surgery; 8. Temporomandibular joint surgery; 9. Diagnosis and management of pathologic conditions; 10. Reconstructive surgery including the harvesting of extra oral/distal tissues for grafting to the oral and maxillofacial region; and 11. Cosmetic maxillofacial surgery. (c) The Tennessee Board of Dentistry determines that the dental practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery includes the following procedures which the Board finds are included in the curricula of dental schools accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, post-graduate training programs or continuing education courses: 1. Rhinoplasty; 2. Blepharoplasty; 3. Rytidectomy; 4. Submental liposuction; 5. Laser resurfacing; RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY CHAPTER 0460-02 6. Browlift, either open or endoscopic technique; 7. Platysmal muscle plication; 8. Dermabrasion; 9. Otoplasty; 10. Lip augmentation; and 11. Botox injections or future FDA approved neurotoxins. (d) Any licensee who lacks the following qualifications and nevertheless performs the procedures and surgery identified in subparagraph (c) shall be subject to discipline by the Board under T.C.A. § 63-5-124, including provisions regarding malpractice, negligence, incompetence or unprofessional conduct: 1. Has successfully completed a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA); and 2. Has successfully completed a clinical fellowship, of at least one (1) continuous year in duration, in esthetic (cosmetic) surgery accredited by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons or by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation; or 3. Holds privileges issued by a credentialing committee of a hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) to perform these procedures. (e) The Board, pursuant to its authority under T.C.A. § 63-5-124, determines that performance of the surgery and procedures identified in subparagraph (c) without the qualifications set out above shall be considered unprofessional conduct and subject to discipline by the Board as such. (10) Oral Medicine - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of graduate study in Oral Medicine of at least two (2) years in a school approved or provisionally approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Oral Medicine or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (11) Orofacial Pain - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of graduate study in Orofacial Pain of at least two (2) years in a school approved or provisionally approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Orofacial Pain or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (12) Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics - An applicant must submit, with the application form, documentation of successful completion of one (1) of the following: (a) Certification of successful completion of two (2) academic years of training in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in an approved Postgraduate Department of RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY CHAPTER 0460-02 an accredited dental school, college or university. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (b) Certification of successful completion of an organized preceptorship training program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association and the Board. Such evidence shall include, but not be dispositive of this requirement, a notarized certificate of completion furnished by the Board and issued by the director of the preceptorship training program, to be submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (13) Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics) - An applicant must submit to the Board Administrative Office certification of successful completion of at least two (2) years of graduate or post graduate study in Pediatric Dentistry according to the following: (a) If such study is completed in whole or in part at a dental school, college or university, the graduate or postgraduate program must be approved by the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association. (b) The graduate or postgraduate program need not lead to an advanced degree. (c) The program of study may be pursued in hospitals or clinics or other similar institutions. (d) One (1) academic year of graduate or postgraduate study will be considered as equivalent to one (1) calendar year. (e) Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics) or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (14) Periodontics - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of at least two (2) years of postgraduate training in Periodontics at the university level in a program approved by the Commission on Dental Education of the American Dental Association and by the Board. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in Periodontics or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (15) Prosthodontics - An applicant must submit certification of successful completion of at least two (2) years of a postdoctoral education in prosthodontics in a program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and the Board. Such evidence shall include either a transcript which indicates completion of the postgraduate training in prosthodontics or a certificate of completion letter from the director of the program on letterhead submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. (16) General Rules Governing Specialty Practice (a) Scope of Practice - Dentists certified in a specialty branch of dentistry must devote and confine a majority of their practice to the certified specialty only. Any specialty certified dentists who do not so confine their practice or who return to general practice must retire specialty certification on forms obtained from and submitted to the Board Administrative Office. RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY CHAPTER 0460-02 (b) A current and active dental license issued by the Board is a prerequisite to the continued practice under any specialty certification.