Successful completion of a two-year postdoctoral general dentistry residency (AEGD or GPR) which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Dentists who are within five (5) months of graduation from a CODA-accredited two-year post graduate program in general dentistry and who provide a letter from the Program Director affirming the resident’s continued enrollment in and expected completion of the program may be granted the status of Conditionally Educationally Qualified and will be allowed to sit for the Written Examination. First year residents are strictly prohibited from applying for or sitting for the Written Examination.
WRITTEN EXAMINATION
This application cannot be processed unless the candidate has been deemed “Educationally Qualified.” Candidates must complete and meet all requirements specified in the “Rules and Procedures” booklet to be eligible to take the Written Examination.
Making Application
In order to sit for the Written Examination, candidates must submit the following:
- Written Exam Application
- Honor Code
- TCO letter, with address to send test (military candidates only)
- Examination Results Release Waiver (military candidates only)
- $450 application fee
Application Deadlines
All forms must be received by the American Board of General Dentistry:
- 60 days prior to test date
Please note that all candidates testing at their assigned military facility must submit a letter to the ABGD office from their Commanding Officer (CO), on Command letterhead, verifying that the CO will accept receipt of the examination and assign a Testing Control Officer (TCO) to administer, maintain security, and return the completed exam to the ABGD according to the rules and procedures included in the examination packet. Upon receipt, the ABGD office will fax an “Exam Administrator Agreement” to be signed by both the CO and TCO and returned to the ABGD. The Commanding Officer and TCO will be the points of contact for any inquiry regarding the status of the written board examination. Commanding Officers must include in the letter their office phone number, fax number, email address of both the CO and TCO, and a shipping address for receipt of the testing materials. Copying of exam books or test questions is strictly prohibited and is a violation of policies established by the ABGD.
CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TEST WITHOUT THE COMMANDING OFFICER’S LETTER AND BOTH THE CO/TCO’S EXAM ADMINISTRATOR AGREEMENT ON FILE
Important Information
We suggest that you make a copy of your application for your files.
MAIL OR EMAIL COMPLETED WRITTEN EXAMINATION APPLICATION AND
$450 PAYMENT (CHECK OR CREDIT CARD) TO:
American Board of General Dentistry
490 N. Indian Rocks Road
Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
Phone: 561-809-5491
Email: assistant@americanboardofgeneraldentistry.org
Website: www.abgd.org
ORAL EXAMINATION
Application
In order to sit for the Oral Examination, candidates must submit the following:
- Oral Exam Application
- Signed Honor Code
- Signed Federal Services Waiver(military candidates only)
$650 application fee
Application Deadlines
The Oral Exam application and fee must be received no later than February 1st of the year in which the examination will be taken.
PLEASE NOTE: A maximum of 48 candidates will be allowed to sit for the ABGD Oral Exam.
COMPLETED Applications will be accepted on a “First Come, First Served Basis” Please make certain you are submitting all required documents when making application. Incomplete applications will not be included in the first come first serve basis.
NOTICE: No specific testing days can be requested by candidates. ABGD will determine dates for candidates by blocks only.
Important Information
We suggest that you make a copy of your application for your files.
MAIL COMPLETED ORAL EXAMINATION APPLICATION AND
$650 PAYMENT (CHECK OR CREDIT CARD) TO:
American Board of General Dentistry
490 N. Indian Rocks Road
Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
Phone: 561-809-5491
Email: assistant@americanboardofgeneraldentistry.org
Website: www.abgd.org
This application cannot be processed unless the candidate has successfully passed the ABGD Written Exam and is Board Eligible. A candidate who is Board Eligible must pass the Oral Examination within five years of achieving the Board Eligible status. Candidates must complete and meet all requirements specified in the “Rules and Procedures” booklet to be eligible to sit for the Oral Examination.
EXAM DATES & LOCATIONS
| EXAM TYPE | LOCATION | EXAM DATE 2025 | APPLICATION DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|---|
Written Exam | Tampa, FL, Military Facility | March 7 | January 16 |
Oral Exam | Tampa, FL, Embassy Suites Downtown | May 15th - 18th | February 1 |
Written Exam | Montreal, Quebec AGD Meeting | July 11 | May 30 |
| BOARD EXAMINER | 2025 DISCIPLINE |
|---|---|
Dr. Toni Bowden | Endodontics |
Dr. Justin Rogers | Fixed Prosthodontics/Removable Prosthodontics |
Dr. Ross Oates | Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology |
Dr. Doris Lam | Periodontics |
Dr. John Safar | Ortho/Pedo/Public Health |
Dr. George Holzer | Implants and Oral Radiology |
Dr. Deidra McLean | Operative Dentistry |
Dr. David MacPherson | Oral Surgery |
Board Preparation Study Aids
The American Board Written Examination Study Guide contains 100 sample questions which reflect the content make-up of the exam. An answer key is included so candidates can simulate testing and score their own results.
The American Board Oral Examination Treatment Planning Study Guide contains information which reflects the Treatment Planning content portion of the exam.
Study Guide
$45.00MILITARY FACILITY TEST SITE INFORMATION
Military candidates may arrange to sit for the ABGD Written Examination at military facility test sites. All candidates testing at at military facility test sites must submit a letter on official letterhead to the ABGD office from the Commanding Officer and Test Control Officer (TCO) at the site that confirms that the CO or TCO will administer and secure the examination until it is returned to the American Board.
The Written Examination application and fee must be received no later than 60 days prior to the test date for all candidates within the continental United States and 90 days prior to the test date for all candidates outside the continental United States.
Application Deadlines: ABGD Testing Information
The letter MUST contain the following information:
- Name of the Test Control Officer (TCO) who will administer the examination
- Shipping address for the examination
- Contact telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses of both the Commanding Officer and TCO
- Commanding Officer Letter
- A statement confirming that the Commanding Officer or TCO will administer the exam and secure it until it is returned to the American Board of General Dentistry
- The letter (written on Official Letterhead) must confirm the name of the candidate who will be sitting for the examination
- The signature of the Commanding Officer and TCO
PLEASE NOTE: An Examination Agreement will be faxed to the CO/TCO to sign and must be returned to the ABGD office in order to sit for the exam.
Each candidate must also submit:
- Written Exam Application and Fee
- Signed Honor Code
- Signed Release of Scores Waiver
