NBDHE Test Dental Hygiene Trivia 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who was the first person trained by Alfred Fones as a dental hygienist, becoming the inaugural practitioner of the profession?
- Grace Rogers Spalding
- Gillette Hayden
- Irene Newman (Correct answer)
- Esther Wilkins
Correct answer: Irene Newman
Irene Newman was Alfred Fones's dental assistant whom he trained around 1906, making her the first person to practice dental hygiene as a defined clinical role.
Question 2: Which U.S. state was the first to legally license dental hygienists, doing so in 1917?
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
- Connecticut (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Connecticut
Connecticut passed the first dental hygiene practice act in 1917, formally recognizing dental hygiene as a licensed profession and setting the precedent for other states.
Question 3: Who served as the first president of the American Dental Hygienists' Association upon its founding?
- Irene Newman
- Esther Wilkins
- Gillette Hayden (Correct answer)
- Grace Rogers Spalding
Correct answer: Gillette Hayden
Gillette Hayden was elected as the first president of the ADHA when it was established, providing early leadership that shaped the organization's professional direction.
Question 4: The Gracey curette, a series of area-specific periodontal instruments still widely used today, is credited to which developer?
- Paul Keyes
- Clayton H. Gracey (Correct answer)
- Alfred Fones
- Charles Bass
Correct answer: Clayton H. Gracey
Dr. Clayton H. Gracey designed the Gracey curettes in the 1930s and 1940s; each instrument in the series is specifically angled for use on particular tooth surfaces.
Question 5: Which organization is responsible for developing and administering the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)?
- American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA)
- Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) (Correct answer)
- American Dental Association (ADA)
- National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR)
Correct answer: Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE)
The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), an independent body sponsored by the ADA, constructs and administers the NBDHE as a standardized credentialing examination.
Question 6: The sulcular toothbrushing method, which directs bristles at a 45-degree angle into the gingival sulcus, is named after which researcher?
- Alfred Fones
- Paul Keyes
- Clayton Gracey
- Charles C. Bass (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Charles C. Bass
Dr. Charles C. Bass, a physician and parasitologist, developed the Bass technique emphasizing removal of plaque at and below the gingival margin, making it a cornerstone of oral hygiene instruction.
NBDHE Test Dental Hygiene Trivia 1
Who was the first person trained by Alfred Fones as a dental hygienist, becoming the inaugural practitioner of the profession?