Back To The American Board of Dental Examiners Press Room

Pioneering Progress: ADEX Sparks Nationwide Change to Simulated Dental Assessments

Industry-wide shift attributed to CompeDont™ simulated fidelity

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (January 29, 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.

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.

What is CompeDont?
CompeDont™ is a simulated tooth developed by ADEX that allows dental candidates to diagnose and treat Class II and Class III variable caries during licensure examinations without using real patients.

When did ADEX introduce CompeDont?
ADEX introduced the CompeDont™ tooth in 2020 after investing over $1 million to create this ground-breaking innovation for dental licensure examinations.

Why did ADEX create simulated teeth?
ADEX created simulated teeth to address ethical concerns with patient-based testing and to improve the testing experience for dental licensure candidates while maintaining high testing standards.

Who administers ADEX exams?
ADEX exams are administered by their test administration partner, CDCA-WREB-CITA, to licensure candidates from every U.S. dental school and most dental hygiene programs.

How many people took ADEX dental exams in 2024?
More than 13,000 individuals participated in ADEX dental examinations in 2024, as it has become the national licensure exam standard.

What components are in ADEX Dental examination?
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.

What is included in ADEX Dental Hygiene examination?
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.

Are ADEX exams accepted nationwide?
Yes, ADEX simulated patient dental and dental hygiene examinations are accepted in and portable to every US state.

When did patient-based dental exams end?
Patient involvement in licensure examinations dropped to zero in 2024 following just fourteen such assessments in 2023, marking the complete transition to simulated testing.

What ethical concerns did simulated teeth address?
ADEX’s simulated teeth addressed ethical dilemmas associated with using real patients for dental licensure examinations while still providing reliable assessments of candidates’ skills.

How long did ADEX work on alternatives to patient testing?
ADEX began developing alternatives to patient-based testing in 2016, approximately four years before introducing the CompeDont™ tooth in 2020.

What makes CompeDont unique?
CompeDont™ is unique because it allows candidates to diagnose and treat variable caries in a simulated tooth that mimics natural structures while providing a more convenient and consistent examination process.