The National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) is the two-part licensing exam required for dental licensure in most US states. Administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), the NBDE tests candidates on both foundational biomedical sciences (Part I) and applied clinical dental sciences (Part II). Our free printable PDF covers high-yield questions from both parts so you can study away from your screen.
Part I draws 400 questions over 8 hours and covers basic sciences, while Part II presents 500 questions over 10 hours with a heavy focus on case-based clinical decision-making. Download the PDF below, then supplement with our full online question bank for timed practice.
Part I tests foundational knowledge across anatomy (head and neck structures, dental anatomy, tooth morphology), biochemistry and physiology (enzyme kinetics, nutrition, cell biology, organ system physiology), and microbiology and pathology (bacterial virulence, sterilization, host defense mechanisms, systemic and oral pathology). Questions are integrated rather than siloed by discipline, so expect cross-cutting scenarios that combine anatomy with physiology or microbiology with pathology.
Part II is organized into eight major subject areas. Endodontics covers access preparation, instrumentation, obturation, and diagnosis of pulpal pathology. Operative dentistry tests cavity classification, preparation design, restorative material selection, and occlusal principles. Oral medicine, oral diagnosis, and radiology includes lesion identification, radiographic interpretation, and differential diagnosis of common oral conditions.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery covers extraction techniques, surgical anatomy, and management of complications. Orthodontics and pediatric dentistry tests Angle classification, mixed dentition analysis, and pulp therapy in primary teeth. Patient management, pharmacology, and anesthesia covers drug interactions, local anesthetic selection, and medically compromised patient protocols. Periodontics tests probing, classification of periodontal disease (2017 AAP/EFP classification), and non-surgical and surgical treatment planning. Prosthodontics covers complete and partial denture principles, implant prosthetics, and occlusal schemes.
The PDF gives you a portable question set for offline review, but Part II of the NBDE relies heavily on clinical vignettes and case exhibits that benefit from the interactive online format. Complement your PDF sessions with our full NBDE practice test online, where each question includes a detailed explanation referencing clinical guidelines and board-relevant reasoning. Practicing in a timed environment also prepares you for the sustained concentration required across Part I and Part II testing days.
Focus your PDF review on weak subject areas identified during online practice, then use the answer key to build a targeted study list before test day.