The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) is a mandatory step toward dental hygiene licensure in the United States. This free printable PDF gives you practice questions across both Component A and Component B — the two sections that make up the full examination. Print it out, study between clinical rotations, or use it as a final review tool in the weeks before your scheduled test date. Practice with the free NBDHE practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Passing the NBDHE demonstrates that you have the biomedical and clinical knowledge required to safely and effectively practice dental hygiene. Whether you are a final-year dental hygiene student or a candidate retaking the exam, this PDF helps you identify knowledge gaps and practice under realistic conditions. Supplement your paper-based study with our interactive NBDHE practice test for immediate feedback and detailed answer explanations.
Interactive NBDHE Test resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), American Dental Association; delivered by Pearson VUE. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Facts verified Oct 20, 2026 against Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), American Dental Association; delivered by Pearson VUE. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
The NBDHE is divided into two distinct components, each testing a different dimension of dental hygiene competency.
This section covers the foundational science knowledge underlying dental hygiene practice. Anatomical sciences questions focus on head and neck anatomy (cranial nerves, muscles of mastication, salivary glands), dental histology, tooth morphology, and embryological development. Physiology questions address systemic processes relevant to oral health, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and endocrine function. Biochemistry and nutrition questions cover metabolic pathways, vitamins essential for oral tissues, and the role of fluoride in enamel remineralization. Microbiology and immunology content includes oral flora, pathogenic bacteria associated with periodontal disease, and the host immune response. Pathology questions test your recognition of oral lesions, systemic diseases with oral manifestations, and wound healing.
This section tests clinical knowledge in patient assessment (medical history, vital signs, extraoral/intraoral examination), radiography (film selection, exposure techniques, image interpretation, radiation safety), and periodontics (classification of periodontal diseases, scaling and root planing principles, maintenance intervals). Pain management questions cover local anesthesia agents, vasoconstrictors, and nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation. Infection and exposure control content focuses on OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, sterilization methods, and instrument reprocessing protocols. Professional responsibility questions address ethics, patient confidentiality, and evidence-based practice principles.
Component B presents a series of patient cases, each with radiographs, a periodontal chart, and a detailed medical and dental history. Questions require you to integrate all available data to formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis, develop a treatment plan, manage patient concerns, select appropriate instruments and techniques, and make evidence-based clinical decisions. This component specifically tests your ability to apply knowledge — not just recall it — making thorough case preparation essential.
Our downloadable PDF is perfect for offline study, but our online platform offers features that paper cannot match. Use our full NBDHE practice test to get instant scoring, read detailed rationales for every answer, and track your performance by subject area across multiple study sessions. Online practice is especially valuable for Component B case-based questions, where seeing radiographic images and periodontal charts on screen closely mirrors your actual test-day experience.
Try these questions from our free NBDHE Test practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
What does the acronym 'ADHA Standards of Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice' include as the five components of the dental hygiene process?
Answer: A. Assessment, Dental Hygiene Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
The ADHA Standards define the five-step dental hygiene process of care: Assessment, Dental Hygiene Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation — the professional framework for all dental hygiene practice.
A dental hygienist with a standard license is working in a state where the administration of local anesthesia is not within the dental hygiene scope of practice. The dentist, who is running behind schedule, directs the hygienist to administer an infiltration to the patient. What is the hygienist's most appropriate and legal course of action?
Answer: C. Inform the dentist that this task is outside the legal scope of practice and respectfully decline.
A dental hygienist is legally and ethically bound to practice only within their state-defined scope of practice. Performing a task outside this scope, even under a dentist's direction, is illegal and can result in disciplinary action against the hygienist's license. The primary responsibility is to adhere to the law, protecting both the patient and one's professional license.
Which organization is responsible for developing and administering the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)?
Answer: B. 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.
A dental hygienist who exceeds the scope of practice defined by their state's Dental Practice Act may face which of the following consequences?
Answer: B. License suspension or revocation, civil liability, and potentially criminal charges
Practicing outside the legally defined scope of practice can result in disciplinary action by the state dental board (including license suspension or revocation), civil liability for patient harm, and in some cases criminal prosecution for unauthorized practice of dentistry.