Standardized training system for oral and maxillofacial radiology specialist in the United States

Abstract

Oral and maxillofacial radiology (OMR) in the United States is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA). It has a nearly 100-year history of development and has also established a complete set of specialist training system. Staffing, base facilities, financial status, timing of training courses, contents, plans, and goals to be achieved are all clearly defined. All training centers need to undergo regular assessments every seven years with the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). After graduation, the specialist graduates can be engaged in the clinical teaching and scientific research of radiological diagnosis in universities or general hospitals. They also have the option to open their own business by setting up imaging diagnostic centers or being specialized in tele-radiology to provide imaging diagnosis or consultation report to clinicians in other disciplines, or even assisting in the development of treatment planning for dental implants and orthodontic procedures. Of course, stomatology and OMR education systems are different in China and the United States due to different national conditions. Although the experience in the United States cannot be completely copied, many concepts, standards and goals of OMR specialty training there have been practiced and improved for a long period of time and are worth learning by the Chinese OMR counterparts or relevant agencies.