NBDHE Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the NBDHE exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 NBDHE Exam Format at a Glance
📚 NBDHE Topics to Study (51)
✍️ Sample NBDHE Questions & Answers
1. Which type of cyst is the most common odontogenic cyst of the jaws?
Radicular (periapical) cysts are the most common odontogenic cysts, forming from epithelial cell rests at the apex of a non-vital tooth.
2. A radiolucent lesion associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth is most likely a:
Dentigerous (follicular) cysts form by expansion of the follicular space around the crown of an unerupted tooth.
3. The Bass toothbrushing technique is most effective at removing plaque from:
The Bass technique positions bristles at 45 degrees toward the gingival sulcus, making it highly effective at removing subgingival plaque at the gingival margin.
4. Which artery is the primary blood supply to the mandibular teeth and bone?
The inferior alveolar artery, a branch of the maxillary artery (from the external carotid), enters the mandibular foramen to supply the mandibular teeth, bone, and periodontium.
5. Diagnostic techniques or dental hygiene
Dental hygiene diagnostic statements are comprehensive tools that serve multiple functions in patient care. They classify health problems based on underlying disease processes, address how these problems impact a patient's overall health functioning and behaviors, and specifically describe conditions that dental hygienists are educated and licensed to treat. This holistic approach ensures that the diagnosis effectively guides appropriate and individualized dental hygiene interventions.
6. Which of the following is a primary advantage of using a microfilled composite resin for a Class V restoration on a maxillary canine?
Microfilled composites contain very small filler particles (e.g., 0.04 micrometers), which allows the material to be polished to a very smooth, high-gloss, and enamel-like surface. This makes them an ideal choice for esthetically critical areas like the facial surface of an anterior tooth. Their lower filler content, however, makes them weaker and less fracture-resistant than hybrid composites.