ABOMR study guide
ABOMR · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (ABOMR) certification examination is a professional credentialing assessment for dentists who practice, teach, or research oral and maxillofacial radiology and who wish to demonstrate specialty-level competence. Candidates are typically graduates of, or trainees in, advanced oral and maxillofacial radiology programs, but the credential is also relevant to academically oriented radiologists and clinicians whose practice depends heavily on diagnostic imaging interpretation. The ABOMR study guide has 9 sections and about 2,434 words.
01Radiation Physics and Radiation Biology
Understand the X-ray tube as the source: thermionic emission from the tungsten filament, acceleration across the kVp potential, and the two spectra - bremsstrahlung (continuous, dominant at diagnostic energies) and characteristic peaks (K-shell, tungsten ~59–69 keV). Know that mA controls quantity and kVp controls both quality and quantity; exposure time and distance (inverse square law) modify intensity.
318 words, about 2 min02Imaging Equipment and Image Acquisition Techniques
Know the geometry: focal spot, object, and receptor, and how source–object and object–receptor distances affect magnification and sharpness. The paralleling technique minimizes distortion using a long cone and receptor parallel to the tooth; bisecting-angle technique relies on the central ray perpendicular to the bisector and produces more dimensional distortion.
331 words, about 2 min03Image Processing, Quality Assurance, and Radiation Safety
Understand the chain: exposure → receptor signal → digitization → display. Know window/level (contrast/brightness), lookup tables, and the difference between spatial and contrast resolution.
302 words, about 2 min04Normal Anatomy and Developmental Anomalies of the Maxillofacial Region
Know the radiographic appearance of key structures: cortical vs cancellous bone, the mandibular canal and mental foramen, the maxillary sinus and its septa, the nasal cavity and turbinates, the pterygoid plates, and the temporomandibular joint. Recognize normal radiolucencies (e.g., incisive canal, genial tubercles, submandibular fossa) and radiopacities (e.g., torus, stylohyoid ligament ossification).
268 words, about 1 min05Interpretation of Odontogenic and Non-Odontogenic Cysts and Tumors
Classify odontogenic cysts: radicular (periapical), dentigerous, odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), lateral periodontal, and calcifying odontogenic cyst. Non-odontogenic: nasopalatine duct cyst, nasolabial cyst.
273 words, about 1 min06Imaging of Inflammatory, Traumatic, and Metabolic Bone Disease
Recognize periapical inflammatory lesions: widened periodontal ligament space, periapical radiolucency, and loss of lamina dura. Understand osteomyelitis: ill-defined radiolucency, sequestra, and periosteal reaction; chronic osteomyelitis may show sclerosis.
247 words, about 1 min07Temporomandibular Joint, Salivary Gland, and Soft Tissue Imaging
Know modalities: panoramic (screening), transcranial, CBCT/CT (bony detail), MRI (gold standard for disc and soft tissue), and arthrography (largely historical). Understand normal anatomy: condyle, glenoid fossa, articular eminence, disc, and bilaminar zone.
253 words, about 1 min08Advanced Imaging Modalities (CBCT, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine)
Understand the principles: cone-shaped beam, flat-panel detector, single rotation, isotropic voxels. Know advantages (high spatial resolution, low dose vs CT, 3D bone detail) and limitations (scatter, beam hardening, metal artifact, limited soft-tissue contrast, and field-of-view trade-offs).
232 words, about 1 min09Professional, Ethical, and Practice Standards in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Understand the radiologist's responsibilities: justification (appropriate referral), optimization (ALARA), and quality assurance. Know informed consent for imaging, especially for higher-dose or contrast studies.
210 words, about 1 min