title: The ABO discrepancy index: a measure of case complexity.
abstract: A criterion for determining the acceptability of a case presented for the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Phase III clinical examination is case difficulty. Case difficulty can often be subjective; however, it is related to case complexity, which can be quantifiable. Over the past 5 years, the ABO has developed and field-tested a discrepancy index, made up of various clinical entities that are measurable and have generally accepted norms. These entities summarize the clinical features of a patient's condition with a quantifiable, objective list of target disorders that represent the common elements of an orthodontic diagnosis: overjet, overbite, anterior open bite, lateral open bite, crowding, occlusion, lingual posterior crossbite, buccal posterior crossbite, ANB angle, IMPA, and SN-GoGn angle. The greater the number of these conditions in a patient, the greater the complexity and the greater the challenge to the orthodontist. The ABO is considering several options for applying the discrepancy index to the Phase III clinical examination.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Dentistry, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. tjc1@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cangialosi
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Riolo
authors.forename: S Ed
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Vance J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Dykhouse
authors.forename: Allen H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Moffitt
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grubb
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Jeryl D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: R Don
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D003792:Dental Records / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D024343:Open Bite / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000592:standards; D013044:Specialty Boards; D014481:United States