100+ Free ABOP Diplomate Practice Questions
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Key Facts: ABOP Diplomate Exam
ABOP is the NCRDSCB-recognized certifying board for the ADA Orofacial Pain specialty. Candidates must be enrolled in or have graduated from a CODA-accredited OFP residency. The 200-item written exam (4 hours, Prometric) must be passed before the virtually proctored oral exam. Recertification requires 100 hours of orofacial pain CE every 5 years plus annual maintenance fees.
Sample ABOP Diplomate Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your ABOP Diplomate exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 38-year-old reports right preauricular pain for 6 months, worse with chewing, with audible reciprocal clicking on opening and closing. Maximum unassisted opening is 44 mm without deviation. Per DC/TMD Axis I criteria, which diagnosis is most likely?
2A 26-year-old woman reports 4 lifetime severe headaches lasting 12-36 hours, unilateral pulsating, aggravated by stairs, with nausea and photophobia. Neurologic exam is normal. Which ICHD-3 diagnosis applies?
3A 62-year-old reports paroxysms of severe right cheek pain triggered by light touch and tooth brushing, each lasting seconds, with refractory periods between. Exam and MRI with FIESTA sequence are pending. What is the first-line pharmacotherapy per AAN/EFNS guidelines?
4A 55-year-old postmenopausal woman reports daily bilateral burning of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, present on waking and worsening through the day, with no visible mucosal lesions. Labs (CBC, ferritin, B12, folate, glucose, TSH) are normal. Which diagnosis is most consistent?
5Per the AASM 2015 clinical practice guideline (reaffirmed), which patient is the BEST candidate for mandibular advancement device therapy rather than CPAP as first-line?
6A 35-year-old reports waking with bilateral masseter soreness, headache in the temples, and a partner-reported grinding noise. Tooth wear shows flat occlusal facets and shiny enamel. What is the best initial diagnostic step before splint therapy?
7Which feature is REQUIRED by ICHD-3 criteria for cluster headache?
8Indomethacin produces complete resolution of headache within 24-48 hours. Which trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia is this absolute response diagnostic of?
9Which structure on a closed-mouth proton-density-weighted sagittal oblique MRI of the TMJ provides the best assessment of disc position?
10A patient with chronic TMD pain (>6 months) scores 8/10 on the GCPS-revised. According to DC/TMD Axis II framework, what is the next most appropriate step?
About the ABOP Diplomate Exam
The ABOP Diplomate credential certifies dentists with advanced expertise in orofacial pain, the 12th ADA-recognized dental specialty (recognized March 31, 2020). Candidates complete a CODA-accredited Orofacial Pain residency and pass a 200-question written exam at Prometric (4 hours) plus a virtually proctored oral exam. Content spans DC/TMD diagnosis, ICHD-3 headache, ICOP neuropathic orofacial pain, burning mouth syndrome, sleep-related breathing disorders with oral appliance therapy, bruxism, pharmacology, imaging, and biopsychosocial co-management.
Questions
200 scored questions
Time Limit
Written: 4 hours; Oral: scheduled separately
Passing Score
Criterion-referenced (set by ABOP)
Exam Fee
Written $1,300 + Oral $1,300 per current ABOP schedule (American Board of Orofacial Pain (ABOP) - NCRDSCB-recognized national certifying board for the ADA Orofacial Pain specialty (recognized March 28, 2022))
ABOP Diplomate Exam Content Outline
TMD diagnosis (DC/TMD Axis I + Axis II)
Myalgia subtypes (local, with spreading, with referral), arthralgia, disc displacement with/without reduction, DJD, headache attributed to TMD, subluxation; Axis II GCPS, JFLS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PHQ-15, OBC; biopsychosocial co-management.
Headache (ICHD-3)
Migraine with/without aura, tension-type, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (cluster, paroxysmal hemicrania, SUNCT/SUNA, hemicrania continua), medication-overuse headache, secondary headaches and SNOOP red flags.
Neuropathic orofacial pain (ICOP)
Classical and secondary TN, painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PPTTN), PIFP/PIDAP (atypical odontalgia), postherpetic neuralgia; QST, treatment with carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin, TCAs, SNRIs.
Burning mouth syndrome
ICOP definition, primary vs secondary diagnosis, workup (CBC, iron, B12, folate, glucose, TSH, candidiasis, salivary flow, medications); topical/systemic clonazepam, alpha-lipoic acid, CBT.
Sleep-related breathing disorders
OSA and UARS evaluation, PSG/HSAT, AASM/AADSM oral appliance therapy guidelines, MAD titration, follow-up sleep testing, side-effect monitoring, co-management with sleep physicians.
Bruxism
Sleep and awake bruxism (2018 international consensus), possible/probable/definite grading, stabilization splint design, anterior repositioning vs anterior bite plane considerations, behavioral strategies.
Pharmacology and pain science
TCAs (amitriptyline, nortriptyline), SNRIs (duloxetine, venlafaxine), gabapentinoids, carbamazepine/oxcarbazepine, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, triptans, gepants, lasmiditan, PREEMPT onabotulinumtoxinA, capsaicin patch; nociceptive vs neuropathic vs nociplastic mechanisms.
Imaging, ethics, evidence-based practice
MRI (disc position, effusion, synovitis), CBCT (osseous DJD, ankylosis, neoplasm), SNOOP red flags, AAOP guidelines, opioid stewardship, inter-professional referral, evidence hierarchy.
How to Pass the ABOP Diplomate Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Criterion-referenced (set by ABOP)
- Exam length: 200 questions
- Time limit: Written: 4 hours; Oral: scheduled separately
- Exam fee: Written $1,300 + Oral $1,300 per current ABOP schedule
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
ABOP Diplomate Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABOP Diplomate exam format?
Two parts: a 200-question written multiple-choice exam (4 hours, at Prometric testing centers) and a virtually proctored oral exam delivered live online. Candidates must pass the written exam before challenging the oral exam.
How is the ABOP exam scored?
Criterion-referenced. ABOP sets the passing standard based on the difficulty of each form; there is no fixed published percentage.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Candidate must be a dentist actively enrolled in (or graduated from) a CODA-accredited Orofacial Pain residency. The written exam is a prerequisite for the oral exam.
How much does the ABOP exam cost?
Per the current ABOP fee schedule, the written exam fee is approximately $1,300 and the oral exam fee is approximately $1,300, in addition to annual board fees and maintenance fees once certified.
How long is ABOP certification valid?
Five years. Recertification requires documentation of 100 hours of orofacial pain continuing education completed during the prior 5-year cycle and payment of annual board fees plus the recertification fee.
Is Orofacial Pain an ADA-recognized dental specialty?
Yes. On March 31, 2020 the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) recognized Orofacial Pain as the 12th ADA-recognized dental specialty. On March 28, 2022 NCRDSCB further recognized ABOP as the national certifying board for the specialty.
When are the 2026 ABOP exams scheduled?
The 2026 written exam window is April 17-27, 2026 at Prometric centers worldwide. The oral exam is scheduled for April 25, 2026 on a virtual platform. Registration opens October 1, 2025 with an application deadline of January 31, 2026.