The National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) administers the licensure examinations that dentists must pass before practicing in Canada. Whether you are a Canadian dental graduate or an internationally trained dentist pursuing recognition, passing the NDEB written examination is a non-negotiable step. Our free NDEB practice test PDF lets you print real exam-style questions and study wherever you are — no internet connection required.
The core written component is the Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge (AFK): 200 multiple-choice questions delivered over 5 hours, covering biomedical sciences, oral and clinical sciences, and clinical dentistry. Candidates who pass the AFK then proceed to the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which assesses hands-on clinical skills in a structured station-based format. Download the PDF below and get started today.
Success on the AFK demands deep knowledge across three broad domains. Here is a breakdown of the highest-yield topics you must master.
Anatomy — Head and neck anatomy is heavily tested: cranial nerves relevant to dentistry (V, VII, IX, X, XII), major arteries and veins of the face and neck, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) anatomy and function, muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoids), tongue muscles (intrinsic and extrinsic), and the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, sublingual).
Histology — Tooth histology is foundational: enamel (formed by ameloblasts, hardest tissue in the body), dentin (formed by odontoblasts, contains dentinal tubules), pulp (vascular and nervous supply), cementum (covering root surface), and periodontal ligament fibers (principal fiber groups: alveolar crest, horizontal, oblique, apical, interradicular).
Oral Pathology — Odontogenic cysts: dentigerous cyst (associated with crown of unerupted tooth), radicular cyst (periapical, most common jaw cyst), and odontogenic keratocyst (OKC, high recurrence rate). Odontogenic tumors: ameloblastoma (locally invasive, multilocular radiolucency), calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT/Pindborg tumor). Reactive lesions, developmental anomalies, white lesions (leukoplakia, lichen planus, candidiasis), red lesions (erythroplakia — highest malignant transformation risk), ulcers, and vesiculobullous diseases (pemphigus vulgaris, mucous membrane pemphigoid).
Pharmacology — Local anesthetics: lidocaine (most common), articaine (high tissue penetration), bupivacaine (longest duration). Vasoconstrictors: epinephrine (1:100,000 or 1:200,000), levonordefrin. Analgesics: NSAIDs (ibuprofen, ketorolac) and acetaminophen. Antibiotics: amoxicillin (first-line for odontogenic infections), metronidazole (anaerobes, combination therapy), clindamycin (penicillin-allergic patients). Drug interactions and contraindications are frequently tested.
Microbiology — Dental biofilm and caries pathogenesis: Streptococcus mutans (primary caries pathogen) and Lactobacillus (progression). Periodontal pathogens: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia (red complex). Sterilization and disinfection levels: sterilization (autoclaving), high-level disinfection, intermediate, and low-level disinfection — know which instruments require each level.
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning — Radiographic interpretation: periapical, bitewing, and panoramic radiographs. Caries classification using ICDAS (International Caries Detection and Assessment System). Periodontal classification: 2017 AAP staging and grading system (Stage I–IV, Grade A–C).
Endodontics — Access cavity preparation for all tooth types, working length determination (apex locator and radiographic), and instrumentation techniques (hand and rotary files). Obturation methods and procedural errors.
Prosthodontics — Crown and bridge preparation designs (full-coverage, partial coverage), impression techniques (addition silicone, polyether), and occlusal considerations. Complete and removable partial dentures: impression techniques, jaw relation records, try-in assessment, and delivery.
Pediatric Dentistry — Primary dentition development and chronology, pulpotomy (vital pulp therapy in primary molars) vs. pulpectomy (non-vital treatment), space maintenance, and eruption sequence.
Oral Surgery — Extraction techniques (forceps and elevator mechanics), surgical flap design (envelope, triangular, trapezoidal), and postoperative complications (dry socket, paresthesia, fractures).
Orthodontics — Angle classification (Class I normal occlusion, Class II retrognathic, Class III prognathic), space analysis (Moyers, Tanaka-Johnston), and growth modification appliances.
In addition to the printable PDF, you can sharpen your skills with interactive questions on our full NDEB practice test page. The online tests are organized by topic — biomedical sciences, oral pathology, pharmacology, and clinical dentistry — so you can target your weakest areas first. Each question includes a detailed explanation to reinforce learning, not just the correct answer. Combine the downloadable PDF for offline drilling with the online adaptive tests for the most comprehensive NDEB preparation available for free.