2025 Edition

NBDHE Dental Hygienist Certification Test

This Free NBDHE Certification Practice Test will give you an idea of the types of questions and sections on your actual exam.

The NBDHE assists state boards in qualifying dental hygienists who seek licensure in their jurisdiction. The exam assesses a hygienist’s ability to understand relevant information including basic biomedical, dental and dental hygiene sciences and the ability to apply the information into a problem-solving context.

When you are ready to start studying and get certified, use our NBDHE Practice Exam Kit with 750 questions and fully explained answers, including 20 Patient Case Testlets.

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Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice

1.	The maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve passes through the ______.
		a. foramen spinosum
		b. superior orbital fissure
		c. foramen ovale
		d. foramen rotundum
The foramen rotundum is the opening that conveys the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	Which three of the following are lymphatic organs?
		a. Tonsils
		b. Pituitary gland
		c. Spleen
		d. Thymus
		e. Kidney
		f. Brain
Tonsils, Spleen, Thymus are all lymphatic organs. The 4th and final lymphatic organ not listed is the lymph nodes. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

3.	Which type of epithelia lines the oral cavity?
		a. Stratisfied squamous
		b. Simple squamous
		c. Stratified columnar
		d. Simple columnar
The oral cavity tissues such as the buccal mucosa and gingival mucosa are lined with stratisfied squamous epithelia, the shorter, flatter squamous cells found in multiple layers at the surface of the oral cavity tissues. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice

4.	Which lymph nodes are assessed through palpitation with the patient's head tilted forward?
		a. Deep cervical
		b. Accessory
		c. Auricular
		d. Occipital
Occipital lymph nodes should be palpated with the patient's head tilted forward, allowing the practitioner access to palpate the area around the occipital region of the skull. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

5.	What condition of the mouth is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus?
		a. Hairy leukoplakia
		b. Black hairy tongue
		c. Macroglossia
		d. Median rhomboid glossitis
Hairy leukoplakia is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes hyperkeratosis of the filiform papilla, leaving a corrugated, white area on the lateral borders of the tongue. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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6.	Which two of the following are signs of chronic gingival inflammation?
		a. Tough, fibrous gingiva
		b. Soft, spongy gingiva
		c. Blunted interdental papilla
		d. Swollen interdental papilla
Tough, fibrous gingiva with blunted interdental papilla are signs of chronic gingival inflammation. Other signs include dark colored gingiva and widening of embrasures between the teeth. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Community Dental Health Testlet

7.	A hypothesis that was tested using a statistical test shows a p-value of 0.04. Which statement is correct?
		a. There was a significant statistical result
		b. The statistical result was insignificant
		c. The difference occurred by chance
		d. The statistic is factual
If a p-value is less than 0.05 during an experiment, then there was a significant statistical result. If it was greater than 0.05 then it was insignificant, and if it was equal to 0.05 then the difference occurred by chance. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

8.	What index is used to detect early symptoms of gingivitis?
		a. GI
		b. PDI
		c. SBI
		d. DEFT
The SBI- sulcular bleeding index is used to detect early symptoms of gingivitis. It is a reversible index and scores from 0-5. The GI index determines the prevalence and severity of gingivitis but it does not detect early symptoms. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

9.	Disclosing solution is necessary for use in which indices?
		a. PHP
		b. PI
		c. OHI-S
		d. All of the above
The PHP (Patient Hygiene Performance) index is a reversible index that uses disclosing solution to measure the amount of debris present. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Case Testlets

Case 1 Testlet

Age: 11
Sex: M
Height: 4'11"
Weight: 110 B/P: 115/78

Chief Complaint:
None. This patient is being brought to the office for a routine dental evaluation and cleaning.

Medical History:
This patient suffers from seasonal allergies. He has not ever had an asthma flare-up but his doctor has prescribed asthma medication to manage his cough after outdoor activities during the cooler months.

Current Medications:
Albuterol nebulizer PRN
Claritin 5mg qd

Dental History:
This patient has not seen a dentist in 2 years as his family moved into the area and then underwent a change in dental insurance. His mother reports that now they have found a dental office that they like she will bring him every 6 months for preventive care appointments.

Social History:
This patient enjoys sporting activities and plays soccer regularly. He recently signed up to be on a flag football team at his school. He often drinks sports drinks during games, but drinks mostly water during practice.

10.	In regards to the patient consuming sports drinks, what type of nutritional counseling advice is most appropriate?
		a. Discuss the hydration benefits of sports drinks vs. water
		b. Continue drinking lots of water during practices. Drink only one sports drink during the game and drink only water afterward.
		c. Substitute all water with sport drinks
		d. Discuss types of sports drinks and which one is a more healthy option
Advise the patient to drink lots of water during practices. If he wants to have a sports drink during the game, advise him to have only one and then rinse the mouth and drink only water afterward. Discuss the benefits of water and how frequent long-term exposure of sports drinks may contribute to decay. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Case 2 Testlet

Age: 9
Sex: F
Height: 4'4"
Weight: 68
B/P: 109/72

Chief Complaint:
Patient complains of a broken tooth in her upper right posterior region. Her mother reports that she has complained of it hurting for the past 2 days.

Medical History:
The patient was hospitalized 7 months ago for a broken arm when she fell off of a horse.

Current Medications:
None

Dental History:
Patient has been coming into the office since she was 3 for routine preventive care appointments every 6 months. She has no history of dental decay and had sealants placed on her 6-year molars during the last visit.

Social History:
Patient is in 3^rd grade at a local private school. She enjoys reading and drawing.

11.	The dentist prescribes bitewing radiographs to check the interproximal areas of the primary and permanent molars. How many films would this patient need?
		a. 2 vertical BWX
		b. 2 horizontal BWX
		c. 4 vertical BWX
		d. 4 horizontal BWX
2 horizontal BWX would show the interproximal areas of the primary molars and permanent first molars. Because there are no permanent second molars erupted in the mouth there is no need for an additional view with a 3rd and 4th film. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Case 3 Testlet

Age: 8
Sex: M
Height: 4' 4"
Weight: 70
B/P: 110/78

Chief Complaint:
Patient's mother is concerned with upper anterior crowding and wonders if he needs to have braces.

Medical History:
This patient just completed a round of antibiotics for an inner ear infection. He is also allergic to latex.

Current Medications:
None. Patient just completed a round of amoxicillin.

Dental History:
Patient has not been seen in the office for 20 months. The patient's mother states she had to go back to work full-time and was not able to make an appointment before now.

Social History:
The patient is currently enrolled in 2^nd grade at the local public elementary school. He has a pet dog named "Buddy." He is enrolled in a Boy Scout group and enjoys camping on the weekends with his den.

12.	The patient appears to exhibit good oral hygiene habits, but upon scaling interproximal areas there is some moderate bleeding. What would be the best oral hygiene counseling to address at this visit?
		a. Fones method
		b. Bass method
		c. Antiseptic mouthwash
		d. Flossing
Flossing would be the most appropriate choice of oral hygiene instruction for a patient that exhibits interproximal bleeding, as floss is the only oral hygiene method listed above that would remove plaque biofilm in this area. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Quality starts with who wrote the material.

Our practice exam writer

Sharon Boyd, RDH

, has been a registered dental hygienist for over 10 years. She specializes in creating educational material for dental studies and has been a head continuing education curriculum writer for an American Dental Association CERP provider.

Abby Altergott, RDH

, has been a registered dental hygienist for over 8 years. She has worked in the specialties of oral surgery, periodontics and orthodontics.

Licensing of dental hygienists in the U.S. is regulated by the individual states. Currently, all states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands recognize exam results from the National Board of Dental Hygiene Exam (NBDHE). The exam assesses a hygienist’s ability to understand relevant information including basic biomedical, dental and dental hygiene sciences and the ability to apply the information into a problem-solving context.

The NBDHE consists of 350 questions. There are 2 components to the NBDHE:

Discipline-based questions on the following three areas:

Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice
Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services
Community Health/Research Principles.

Dental Hygiene Patient Cases containing 12-15 patient cases addressing the following knowledge and skill areas:

Assessing patient characteristics
Obtaining and interpreting radiographs
Planning and managing dental hygiene care
Performing periodontal procedures
Using preventive agents
Providing supportive treatment service
Professional responsibility

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