The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine
Certification Information

Background

The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) is an independent board of examiners that was established in 2004 for duly licensed dentists who treat sleep related breathing disorders. The ABDSM evolved from and replaced the Certification Program of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) (formerly called the Sleep Disorders Dental Society [SDDS]), which had been established in 1998.

The purpose of the ABDSM is to help set standards for the scope of dental sleep medicine, which includes oral appliances and upper airway surgery to treat sleep related breathing disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to assure professional dental and medical colleagues, patients, and the public of an acceptable level of education, training and experience by those who become Diplomates of the ABDSM by examination. It does not represent a new specialty of dentistry or medicine, nor does it grant or imply any legal qualification, privilege or license to practice. Rather, it simply recognizes those dentists duly licensed by law who have successfully completed the board-certification requirements established by the ABDSM. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recognizes Diplomate status granted by the ABDSM.

Board certification by the ABDSM is open to qualified applicants who are permanent residents of the United States (contiguous states and territories) and Canada. International applicants who are not permanent residents of these countries are NOT eligible to attain ABDSM Diplomate status. For those individuals, International Certificant status is available.

Each year the ABDSM will offer a certification examination in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the AADSM. Prerequisite qualifications to sit for the examination include having worked with sleep physicians at accredited sleep centers, letters of recommendation from sleep physicians, and patient case presentations. Currently, there are more than 110 Diplomates of the ABDSM.