Relevance date: These instructions will apply to the National Dental Specialty Examination (NDSE) conducted beginning in 2010. See the RCDC website for instructions for examinations conducted on earlier or later dates.

Orthodontics in Canada

Orthodontics is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction of the growing or mature dentofacial structures and the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of any abnormalities associated with these structures.

Purpose

The RCDC Examination in Orthodontics tests a candidate’s knowledge and clinical competence in Orthodontics as it pertains to the practice of Orthodontics at the speciality level in Canada.
 

The standard examination consists of two (2) written papers of six (6) hours total duration, completed 8–10 weeks before the oral component. The oral component consists of two (2) one-hour oral examinations, each including a case analysis exercise. The candidate will have 45 minutes in advance of each of these oral examinations to prepare his/her case analysis based on orthodontic records provided to the candidate.

The examination dates for Component II will be determined following completion of the written examinations and the publishing of the written component results, and will be based on the number of candidates challenging Component II. These dates may fall anywhere within the indicated window and are fixed once set. The RCDC cannot accommodate requests for exceptions, other than in the case of religious or special needs that have been indicated before the date has been set.

COMPONENT I: Written Examination – 6 hours

The written papers will primarily consist of short-answer questions, but may additionally include multiple choice, true or false, and short essay items. In both papers, topics may include basic sciences, orthodontic theory, orthodontic practice, related dental disciplines, and the orthodontic literature. The duration of each paper is 3 hours.

Successful completion of the written component (six to nine months before the oral) is required to qualify for the oral components.

COMPONENT II: Oral Examination

Case Analysis Exercise - 45 minutes preparation time for each of two cases

A protractor, ruler, pencils and pens must be brought to this exercise. The candidate will be provided with the relevant history, radiographs and models from an RCDC case and will be asked questions requiring formulation of a diagnosis and treatment plan.


Two Oral Examinations - One hour each

Each oral will be a structured examination in which the candidate will be expected to defend the diagnosis and treatment plan produced in the Case Analysis Exercise and/or topics relating to various aspects of orthodontic treatment. The orals will also ask general questions related to the science and practice of Orthodontics based on RCDC cases provided and/or topics relating to various aspects of orthodontic treatment. The sequence of the oral elements will be determined by the office and published on the schedule.

Please note that in 2010 the OSCE Component is available only to Re-Sit NDSE candidates.

COMPONENT III: OSCE: 2 hours

Component III is no longer required for Standard NDSE candidates who began the RCDC process in 2008 or later. The content has been redistributed to the other requirements.

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) will consist of a binder of patient case records which will be the basis for questions directed at the treatment planning and clinical management of actual clinical situations that might be encountered in orthodontic practice. Answers must be recorded in the template provided, and the examination will be of two hours duration. Candidates may take pencils, pens, protractor and erasers as they might be required to assess clinical Orthodontic records.

Written Examination (Short answer) - 35 topics

Anatomy: Dental/head and neck/ developmental/anat landmarks of the skull
Histology
Embryology and genetics
Oral biochemistry/physiology/ neurophysiology
Microbiology/immunology/infection control
Pharmacology/anxiety and pain control
Oral path/genetic disorders/ dev disturbances/speech path/ craniof anomalies
Growth and development
Psychological factors, patient management
Preventive dentistry/hygiene
Dental emergencies
Epidemiology, biostatistics and research design
Ethics, jurisprudence and risk management
Medical emergencies and CPR
History of the orthodontic profession
Biology of tooth movement
Biomechanics
Biomaterials, physical principles, laboratory procedures
Occlusion
Temporomandibular disorders
Etiology of malocclusion
Respiration and airway considerations
Imaging techniques
Cephalometrics: analysis, principles, landmarks
Treatment timing
Dentofacial orthopaedics/Interceptive treatment
Design, fabrication, and manipulation of fixed and removable appliances
Orthodontic management of patients with craniofacial anomalies
Orthodontic management of patients requiring interdisciplinary tx plans
Orthodontic management of medically compromised patients
Orthodontic-restorative treatment
Orthodontic-periodontic treatment
Surgical orthodontics
Complications
Retention and stability
Implantology/Temporary anchorage devices