Practice Test GeeksNBDE - National Board Dental Examination Practice Test
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General Practice Flashcards

7 cards from real NBDE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 General Practice flashcards as text

  1. A patient presents with a 2-week-old, non-healing ulcer on the lateral border of the tongue. What is the most important next step?

    Answer: Perform an incisional biopsy

    Any non-healing oral ulcer persisting more than 2 weeks requires an incisional biopsy to rule out squamous cell carcinoma.

  2. Which of the following is the MOST common cause of postoperative hemorrhage after a tooth extraction?

    Answer: Local factors such as trauma and infection

    Most postoperative bleeding after extraction is due to local factors including excessive trauma, infection, or failure to form a stable clot rather than systemic coagulopathies.

  3. A dentist places a composite restoration and the patient returns 1 week later with sensitivity to cold. The most likely cause is:

    Answer: Inadequate polymerization of the composite

    Inadequate curing of composite leaves unpolymerized resin monomers that cause pulpal irritation and sensitivity to cold stimuli.

  4. When taking a panoramic radiograph, a patient's chin is not sufficiently elevated. What artifact results?

    Answer: Reverse smile curve of the occlusal plane

    If the chin is too low (patient tipping head down), the Frankfort plane is below horizontal and the occlusal plane curves upward, producing a reverse (frowning) smile curve.

  5. A patient presents with xerostomia, bilateral parotid enlargement, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Which condition should be suspected?

    Answer: Sjögren's syndrome

    The classic triad of dry mouth, dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), and salivary gland enlargement is characteristic of Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune exocrinopathy.

  6. Which radiographic sign on a periapical film is MOST indicative of a periapical abscess rather than a granuloma?

    Answer: Ill-defined radiolucency with loss of lamina dura

    An abscess typically presents as an ill-defined radiolucency with loss of lamina dura, while a granuloma or cyst tends to have a well-defined, corticated border.

  7. A patient has a fully impacted mandibular third molar with a follicular space greater than 5 mm on panoramic radiograph. What is the most likely diagnosis?

    Answer: Dentigerous cyst

    A pericoronal radiolucency greater than 3–5 mm surrounding an impacted tooth crown is the hallmark of a dentigerous (follicular) cyst.