The F.A.C.E. Award (Fellowship in the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics)
For Dental Laboratory Technicians/Ceramists
Step 1: Written Exam for Dental Laboratory Technicians/Ceramists
The Written Exam tests the candidate’s knowledge of comprehensive esthetic dentistry. The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions from several different categories. Question categories are geared toward the type of candidate taking the examination; for example, a dental candidate may have questions on dental materials whereas an administrative candidate may have questions on communication skills. The examination questions are written by international leaders in the individual fields.
The exam is written to fairly test your knowledge on current concepts in comprehensive esthetic dentistry. You are expected to pass the test. If you receive a failing grade there is a 1-year waiting period before a new application can be submitted.
Eligibility for the exam
In order to take the Written Exam, the candidate must fulfill the following requirements:
Must be a dental laboratory technician/ceramist for a minimum of 4 years prior to applying for the exam
Must be a current Premier Member in good standing of ACE.
Must have attended 1 ACE Annual Meeting in the last 2 years prior to taking the exam.
Must have attained the appropriate hours of approved continuing education.
Must complete the online application and pay the $495 examination fee.
Application and fees
An application for the Written Exam will be available from the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics website or from the ACE website. The fee is US $495 and is non-refundable. (ADDRESS WILL BE GIVEN FOR CHECKS TO BE MAILED)
Exam Dates
The Written Exam is administered twice a year at ACE events. Test format will be multiple choice and candidates will have 1 minute to answer each question. The exam will be graded and candidates will be notified as soon as possible of the exam result.
The Dental Laboratory Fellowship Exam will include 100 multiple choice questions on any or all of the following topics: Chaired by Juan Olivier, CDT, MDT, FACE.
Pressable ceramics
Impression Materials
Casting Fabrications
Articulation
Waxes
Metal Alloys
Composites
Porcelains
Tooth Morphology
Materials
Smile Design
Occlusion
Implants
Color/shade
Laboratory Communication
Photography
Step 2: Clinical Cases for Dental Laboratory Technicians/Ceramists
In order to evaluate clinical excellence in comprehensive esthetic dentistry a candidate is required to submit 3 cases for examination. The guidelines for Dental Fellowship are listed below.
Requirements for submitting DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN/CERAMIST Clinical Cases
Before submitting a clinical case the following requirements must be met:
a) Must have passed the Written Exam.
b) Must be proficient in Digital Photography and submitting images online.
c) Must be a ACE Premier Member in good standing during the entire process.
d) Must have attended 1 of the last 2 ACE Annual Meetings since taking the Written Exam.
e) Must submit the 3 required Clinical Cases within 12 weeks of passing the Written Exam.
Application
Each Clinical Case must be submitted online with a completed submission form.
Clinical Case submission dates
Clinical Cases can be submitted immediately after passing the Written Exam. Clinical Cases will be accepted by the Fellowship Chairperson and distributed anonymously to five Fellowship Examiners. For a candidate to pass the Clinical Case Exam their cases must be approved by 4 out of 5 examiners.
The candidate will receive the Clinical Case results 4-6 weeks after submitting the cases for review.
The 3 required case types for DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN/CERAMIST FELLOWSHIP
A total of 3 Clinical Cases must be evaluated and passed to complete the second part of Fellowship. The required Clinical Cases are in specific categories of treatment and cover a range of skills that will demonstrate excellence in comprehensive esthetic dentistry.
A MAXILLARY CASE that restores a minimum of 8 teeth and includes all of the maxillary anterior teeth (Premolar to premolar). Include indirect porcelain veneers, indirect crowns and/or fixed bridgework on natural teeth or implants. (Note: This case may not include a removable complete or partial denture.)
A POSTERIOR CASE that restores a minimum of 4 teeth in a single quadrant. This case must have all indirect restorations in the quadrant. (inlay, onlay or crowns.)
A single central or lateral of the maxillary arch matching the adjacent teeth that are unrestored teeth.
Each case may be part of a full mouth rehabilitation; however you may not use the same Clinical Case for the 3 case requirements.
Submission procedure
After completing the requirements listed above, a candidate may submit their Clinical Cases.
Clinical Cases must be submitted online to the FELLOWSHIP CHAIRMAN with all of the following information:
All required Digital Photographs to properly document the case. These will include pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment views.
Complete case description of the process in the laboratory & history.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY! CHECK THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED ALL ITEMS LISTED BELOW!
Note: All materials submitted become property of the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics.
Clinical Case Report submission form
The candidate will be E-mailed Clinical Case Submission forms after passing the Written Examination. All information must be complete and E-mailed back.
Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics photographic release form
This form is to be submitted with each Clinical Case and signed by the patient giving permission to the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics to use his or her image.
Photographic documentation
Photographic documentation is to be submitted in the form of digital JPEG images of approximately 1mb in file size per image. Twenty-eight (fourteen pre-operative steps of fabrication, fourteen post-operative) photographs are taken for each case type and sequenced exactly as shown in the ACE Digital Photography Guide.
Each file should be marked with the candidate's ACE membership number, case type “MAX” ARCH or “POST” QUADRANT, and photographic view # (as shown below).
For example: ACE Premier Member #10001234, Case #2, View #3, the digital image file would be named 10001234POST3.jpg where the first 8 numbers are the ACE Member number, the word “POST” is the case type and the last number is the View number.
The view number is taken from the ACE Digital Photography Guide. For example, View #3 would be the full smile right lateral view.
Photos must be taken as specified below.
F.A.C.E. Digital Photography Required Views
View #
Description
1
Full face 1:4
2
Frontal Smile 1:2
3
Right Smile 1:2
4
Left Smile 1:2
5
Frontal Retracted – in occlusion 1:2
6
Right Retracted – in occlusion 1:2
7
Left Retracted – in occlusion 1:2
8
Frontal Retracted – slightly open 1:2
9
Right Retracted – lateral excursive 1:2
10
Left Retracted – lateral excursive 1:2
11
Maxillary occlusal 1:2
12
Mandibular occlusal 1:2
13
Retracted Right Profile 1:2
14
Retracted Left Profile 1:2
15
Fabrication of Cases in Dental Laboratory Frontal view of models on the articulator 1:2
16
Occlusal view of model
17
Lingual view of model
18
Frontal view of lab manipulated tissue site
19
Frontal view of framework design
20
Frontal view of build-up
21
View of bisque bake showing tissue adaptation
22
View of finished case on model
It is acceptable to submit additional views to demonstrate other steps but keep a maximum of 12 pictures of the documentation of the case in the dental laboratory.
*This doe not include the additional pictures that are required for the post pre-op and post-op of the patient. (See pictures #1-14.)
(Once the file has been downloaded you will be able to click on the picture icon on each slide in the template to import photos of your case from your computer into the slide. By using the picture icon the photos will automatically be resized to fit the template.)
Additional photographic documentation for Clinical Cases
Additional documentation is required to demonstrate the technique utilized. The following photos must be and are to be documented in the written report.
Verification of authenticity for each case
Due to the recent changes in technology, which allow photographic images to be altered, create a potential for fraud, we have taken precautions to insure that all submitted work is original. We expect candidates to be honorable in submitting their own work.
Specialized computer software will be used to evaluate the digital photos submitted for Clinical Cases. If alterations or tampering of the digital images has occurred the candidate will be immediately disqualified from Fellowship and will be banned from ever applying for the credential again.
The Candidate’s name will also be given to all other organizations which offer advanced credentials in esthetic & restorative dentistry.
Written report
The written report is to be typed, double spaced in Microsoft Word using 12 point Times New Roman font and submitted electronically online through the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics website and the candidate’s examination home page. Reports are expected to be well organized, original, accurate, and complete. The report does not have to be elaborate.
Include the following information in the written report:
Description of preparation design
Introduction and chief complaint
Copy of the lab prescription with color mapping of shade
Description of framework or porcelain coping
Application of opaquers
Application, condensing, and sculpting of porcelain and modifiers
Bisque bake
Application of stains
Final glaze
History-medical and dental
Diagnosis and treatment plan
Description of treatment
Process and description of materials and technique
Minimum of 3 references to literature pertaining to the treatment prescribed
Grading/Evaluation
Each case is judged anonymously by a panel of five FELLOWED examiners. None of the examiners will know who has submitted the case AND none of them will know which other examiner is looking at the same case; therefore there will be NO chance for collusion or nepotism. A majority of "pass" votes 4 out of 5 are required to pass a case. The candidate may resubmit Clinical Case Reports a maximum of two (2) times. If not successful the candidate must redo the failing case or cases again, with an entirely new case or cases.
When both Clinical Case Reports have received a passing grade, the candidate is eligible to continue to Phase 3, the Oral Presentation.
Step 3: The Oral Presentation
Once a candidate has successfully completed Steps 1 & 2 they must complete the Fellowship Exam process by delivering a twenty minute (20) Oral Presentation, on one of their cases, to their colleagues at the ACE Annual Meeting the same year that they pass the Clinical Cases.
Format for the Oral Examination
The candidate will present one of their Clinical Cases to their colleagues from pre-treatment, fabrication of the case in the dental laboratory, and to post-treatment. The candidate will describe in detail the thought processes and techniques involved in successfully completing the case. This presentation will be 20 minutes in length.
The F.A.C.E. Award
Upon completion of all 3 Steps the candidate will be welcomed as a Fellow in the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics and will receive the Fellowship award and be entitled to all of the benefits that go along with Fellowship.
Maintaining Your Fellowship
To maintain your Fellowship you must remain up-to-date on advances in dentistry. Fellows will be required to maintain the following requirements. Failure to do so will result in your Fellowship being revoked.
Attend 1 ACE Annual Event every 2 years.
Maintain a minimum of 50 hours of continuing education per year (documentation required).
Be a member in good standing and maintain Premier Membership in ACE.
Payment of the $495 annual marketing fee (for US Dental Fellows only – see below).
Submit 5 questions for the exam.
Fellowship Awareness & Marketing Campaign – US DENTAL FELLOWS ONLY
For DENTAL FELLOWS in the United States, there will be a mandatory yearly marketing fee of US $TBD which will be solely used for the purpose of creating an awareness campaign for the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics, esthetic dentistry and marketing participating Fellows to the general public.
We invite all of you to F.A.C.E. the Challenge and express your commitment to clinical & professional excellence. Contactinfo@facethechallenge.comfor additional information on F.A.C.E.
Call 866.888.4369 to register to take the F.A.C.E. exam at an upcoming ACE event. Isn't it time that you "F.A.C.E. the Challenge?"