5 things to know about the National Commission

ADA News kicks off series focusing on specialty groups

The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards is a mouthful and turns into alphabet soup when you try to use its acronym: NCRDSCB.

But they perform an important duty within the dental community. Some ADA members may not be familiar with the work of the National Commission and all of the specialties born out of its work. “Up until 2016, there were nine recognized dental specialties,” said Gayle Glenn, D.D.S., 2024 chair of the National Commission. “Since the establishment of the National Commission by the ADA House of Delegates in 2017, dental anesthesiology, oral medicine and orofacial pain have been added to the list of dental specialties recognized by NCRDSCB.”

This is the first in a 13-part ADA News series profiling the National Commission and each of the 12 recognized specialty sponsoring organizations. Here are five facts you may not know about the National Commission.

1. The National Commission has the sole authority to grant or deny recognition of the dental specialty sponsoring organizations and dental specialty certifying boards.
2. It’s a semi-autonomous agency of the ADA, which means it’s independent in its decision-making process for the recognition of dental specialties and certifying boards, ensuring that bias and confl icts of interest are avoided.
3. There are 25 commissioners who make up the National Commission Board of Commissioners. Twelve are specialist commissioners — one appointed by each recognized specialty sponsoring organization; 12 are general dentists appointed by the ADA Board of Trustees; and one is a public commissioner appointed by the National Commission board.
4. The National Commission looks out for the profession and the public. “The transparent review process used by NCRDSCB for recognition and continued oversight of the dental specialties and certifying boards is grounded in objective standards that protect the public, nurture the art and science of dentistry and improve the quality of dental care,” Dr. Glenn said.
5. Every 10 years, the recognized specialty sponsoring organizations complete the Periodic Review of Dental Specialty Education and Practice as directed by the ADA House of Delegates.
   
   For more information on the National Commission, visit ncrdscb.ada.org.