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Dental Specialties guide

Every Dental Specialties program at DentExPrep in one place: who each program is for, what you will learn and how long it takes.

6 programs
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How to use this guide

Start with the program closest to your current role, then add the ones your next role asks for. Each entry below lists who the program is written for and the skills you leave with, so you can compare them side by side.

Endodontics Board Prep Course (Endo)

Who it is for

Endodontics board candidates, including endodontic residents and practicing endodontists preparing for the American Board of Endodontics examination process.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Explain the major competency areas tested in endodontic board preparation and organize study using a transparent domain-to-topic map; where official weighting or blueprint detail is not publicly specified, identify likely high-yield specialist competencies and flag uncertainty rather than assuming u
Master the high-yield concepts, diagnostic terminology, biologic principles, definitions, and decision rules relevant to specialist-level endodontic care, including pulpal and periapical diagnosis, anatomy, microbiology, pathology, pain mechanisms, imaging, biomaterials, pharmacology, anesthesia, he
Apply endodontic principles in realistic, board-style scenarios involving history, clinical testing, radiographic/CBCT interpretation, differential diagnosis, case selection, treatment planning, nonsurgical treatment, retreatment, surgery, trauma, resorption, cracked teeth, complications, and follow
Use a consistent specialist reasoning framework: identify the task → extract key history/test/imaging facts → determine pulpal/periapical diagnosis and restorability context → select the governing biologic/technical principle → choose the most appropriate next step → verify safety, prognosis, and ro
Distinguish common distractors, misconceptions, and boundary cases, especially situations involving nonodontogenic pain, vertical root fracture, periodontal-endodontic overlap, nonrestorable teeth, medically complex patients, inappropriate antibiotic use, out-of-scope treatment choices, and cases re
Perform any applicable interpretation or structured reasoning tasks accurately, including working through imaging findings, test result patterns, prognosis factors, procedural complication decisions, and evidence-informed treatment comparisons without skipping reasoning steps.
Build retrieval-ready memory using concise tables, checklists, diagnostic schemas, prognosis frameworks, treatment algorithms, trauma timelines, and spaced review summaries tailored to endodontic board preparation.

Orthodontics Board Prep Course (Ortho)

Who it is for

Orthodontic residents nearing completion of training, orthodontists preparing for initial ABO board certification, and diplomate candidates seeking structured exam-focused review in orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, biomechanics, case analysis, cephalometric and records interpretation, appliance selection, finishing, retention, and evidence-informed clinical decision-making.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Explain the major competency domains relevant to orthodontic board preparation and use a blueprint-mapping framework for diagnosis/records, growth and development, cephalometrics/imaging, malocclusion classification, treatment planning, biomechanics, appliances/mechanotherapy, interdisciplinary/orth
Master the high-yield concepts, definitions, diagnostic criteria, and governing orthodontic principles for each competency domain.
Apply concepts in realistic, board-style orthodontic scenarios involving records interpretation, cephalometric reasoning, problem-list generation, treatment planning, appliance/mechanics selection, sequencing, and next-best-step judgment.
Solve orthodontic interpretation and logic tasks accurately when applicable, including cephalometric synthesis, mixed-dentition or space-analysis style reasoning, anchorage planning, force-system reasoning, and treatment sequencing; show steps and avoid shortcuts that hide reasoning.
Distinguish common distractors, misconceptions, and boundary cases frequently tested in orthodontic board prep, including skeletal vs dental discrepancy, extraction vs non-extraction reasoning, camouflage vs surgery decisions, correct appliance but wrong growth stage, and attractive mechanics with h
Use a consistent specialty problem-solving framework: identify the task → extract key diagnostic facts → classify the malocclusion/problem → select the governing orthodontic principle → choose the best management/mechanics step → verify against goals, biologic limits, risks, and stability.
Build retrieval-ready memory using concise tables, cephalometric comparison grids, appliance-selection summaries, biomechanics algorithms, finishing checklists, retention frameworks, and spaced-review summaries.

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Periodontics Board Prep Course (Perio)

Who it is for

Periodontics board candidates, including periodontology residents and practicing periodontists preparing for board-style written, image/chart/radiograph interpretation, and case-based clinical judgment assessment.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Explain the broad competency domains used for periodontics board preparation and how major topics map to diagnosis, classification, risk assessment, treatment planning, surgical/non-surgical therapy, implant-related care, maintenance, systemic considerations, pathology, pharmacology, and complicatio
Master high-yield specialist-level concepts, definitions, classifications, biologic principles, and decision rules relevant to periodontics and peri-implant care.
Interpret periodontal charting, radiographs, clinical findings, history, and restorative context to classify conditions and build differential diagnoses.
Apply diagnosis-first, risk-based reasoning in realistic board-style scenarios involving prognosis, sequencing, defect-based therapy selection, peri-implant disease management, and long-term maintenance.
Solve multi-step clinical judgment tasks accurately using a consistent framework: identify the task -> extract key findings -> classify the condition -> apply governing principles -> choose the best management step -> verify against contraindications, patient factors, and long-term goals.
Distinguish common distractors, misconceptions, outdated terminology, and boundary cases frequently tested in specialist-level periodontics questions.
Build retrieval-ready memory using concise tables, checklists, classification summaries, prognosis frameworks, treatment-selection algorithms, and spaced review summaries.

Pediatric Dentistry Board Prep Course (Pedo)

Who it is for

Pediatric dentistry board candidates, pediatric dentistry residents preparing for board certification, and early-career pediatric dentists seeking structured, exam-focused review in pediatric dentistry.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Explain the major pediatric dentistry board-relevant competency areas and organize study by explicit domain/subskill mapping; do not assume official ABPD weighting unless publicly specified.
Master high-yield pediatric dentistry concepts in child development, behavior guidance, diagnosis and treatment planning, prevention, pulp therapy and restorative care, trauma, oral pathology/oral medicine, growth and development, eruption/occlusion, interceptive orthodontics, medically complex and
Apply pediatric dentistry principles in board-style clinical vignettes using a consistent framework: identify the task → extract key facts → select the governing principle/guideline-informed rule → choose the best next step → verify safety, sequencing, and age appropriateness.
Distinguish common distractors in pediatric dentistry questions, including look-alike diagnoses, age-based exceptions, contraindications, partially correct but unsafe options, and errors in sequencing or follow-up.
Perform pediatric dentistry decision-making accurately for risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment selection, preventive planning, follow-up, referral thresholds, and complication recognition when applicable.
Build retrieval-ready memory using concise tables, timelines, checklists, treatment algorithms, and spaced-review summaries tailored to pediatric board preparation.
Demonstrate readiness through self-checks and mini-assessments mapped to every major domain.

Prosthodontics Board Prep Course (Prosth)

Who it is for

Prosthodontics board candidates, advanced prosthodontics residents, and recent graduates preparing for board-style written, oral/viva, and case-based prosthodontic assessment at the specialty-candidate level.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Explain the board-prep competency domains used in this course and how they organize prosthodontic exam content across written, oral, and case-based formats.
Master high-yield concepts, definitions, design rules, indications, contraindications, and decision criteria across diagnosis/treatment planning, fixed, removable, implant, occlusion, biomaterials, esthetics, maintenance, medically complex care, maxillofacial prosthodontics, digital workflows, and i
Apply prosthodontic principles in realistic board-style scenarios requiring procedural judgment, design selection, sequencing, prognosis assessment, complication management, and multi-step reasoning.
Interpret clinical, radiographic, mounted-cast, occlusal, laboratory, and design information to choose the best answer and justify why competing options are less appropriate.
Use a consistent specialist problem-solving framework: identify the task → extract key clinical facts → define the prosthodontic objective → select the governing principle/design rule → compare reasonable alternatives → choose and justify the best option → verify fit with biology, function, esthetic
Distinguish common distractors, misconceptions, overgeneralizations, and boundary cases frequently tested in prosthodontic board preparation.
Build retrieval-ready memory using concise tables, checklists, design algorithms, sequencing frameworks, and spaced review summaries.

Oral Surgery Board Prep Course (OMFS)

Who it is for

Oral and maxillofacial surgery board candidates, senior OMFS residents, and recent graduates preparing for written and/or oral board-style assessment

What you will learn

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Explain the board-relevant competency domains for oral and maxillofacial surgery and organize study using a transparent domain map rather than assumed proprietary weighting.
Master the high-yield concepts, definitions, classifications, indications, contraindications, and management rules across core OMFS domains, including dentoalveolar surgery, anesthesia/sedation, facial trauma, infections, pathology, reconstruction, implants, TMJ, craniofacial conditions, and periope
Apply specialist-level clinical reasoning in realistic board-style scenarios involving diagnosis, imaging/laboratory interpretation, treatment planning, operative sequencing, perioperative risk stratification, complication recognition, and the most appropriate next step.
Solve common calculation and logic tasks accurately when applicable, including local anesthetic dose limits, fluid/bleeding considerations, sedation-related reasoning, and fixation/reconstruction planning logic; show steps and avoid shortcuts that hide reasoning.
Distinguish common distractors, misconceptions, look-alike diagnoses, and boundary cases frequently tested in OMFS board-style assessment, especially where airway risk, orbital injury, hemorrhage, deep space infection, osteonecrosis risk, medication interactions, occlusal instability, or unstable sy
Use a consistent specialist problem-solving framework: identify the task → extract key facts → prioritize red flags → select the governing principle/standard of care → execute the management decision → verify safety, scope, and follow-up.
Build retrieval-ready memory using concise tables, classification summaries, checklists, anatomy-risk maps, fixation/reconstruction algorithms, and spaced review pearls.

See the Dental Specialties programs