I feel compelled to add my perspective regarding licensing examinations. I agree with the June JADA letter writer’s (Frederic S. Mackler, "Licensing Exams") assessment of the quality of certain dental school graduates. However, I feel that the examination remains flawed.
On June 3, 2001, I graduated among the top 15 of my class. I never failed a single exam nor had any trouble completing the requirements. Hence, I was not too worried about the upcoming licensing exam.
I had six individual dentists at the school confirm the presence of a Class III lesion. I flew my patient out of state and prepared to take the exam. Once there, the examiner rejected my patient because the lesion was "not present." This restoration was worth 22 points in an exam where one can lose only 25.
I completed all other requirements, scoring perfect scores on the Class II lesion and the gold crown restoration. I lost 0.75 points in the endodontic exercise, and I lost a few points in periodontics, failing the exam.
I will be retaking the exam in a few months. I probably will not do too much dentistry between now and then. It will cost me several thousand dollars for the exam alone, not counting the lost employment time.
The letter writer ends with a question regarding the number of mannequins we treat. I have two questions for him. First, how many dentists get a second opinion from six different dentists, only to let a seventh say there is no lesion? Second, if dental schools cannot detect incompetence in four years, how can it be done with limited exercises in three days?
