NBDHE Dental Hygienist Practice Test

2025 Edition

Take this FREE NBDHE sample practice test below to see how prepared you are for a dental hygienist certification exam.

The NBDHE Dental Hygienist exam has 350 questions and has two components - Discipline Based and Dental Hygiene Patient Cases. The first component covers these main exam sections: Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice; Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services and Principles of Community Health and Research. The second component of patient cases contains at least one each of geriatric, periodontal, pediatric, special needs and medically compromised patient cases.

For complete practice, check out the NBDHE Practice Exam Kit with 750 questions and fully explained answers, including 20 Patient Case Testlets.



1.	Hypersensitivity of a root lessens as the tooth forms which of the following?
		a. Periodontal Ligament
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		b. Pulp
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		c. Cellular cementum
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		d. Enamel
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2.	What nerve supplies the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?
		a. Trochlear
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		b. Trigeminal
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		c. Glossopharyngeal
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		d. Hypoglossal
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		e. Accessory
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3.	Which of the following is the most radioresistant?
		a. Glands
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		b. Reproductive organs
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		c. Bone Marrow
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		d. Skin
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		e. Nerves
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4.
		a. Axillary
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		b. Mesenteric
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		c. Substernal
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		d. Mediastinal
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		e. Cervical
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5.	Fluoride is typically introduced in all of the following ways except by ____________?
		a. Drinking water
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		b. Vitamins
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		c. Injection
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		d. Toothpaste
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		e. Mouthwash
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6.	Gingivitas is considered controlled when
		a. the gums reach the crown.
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		b. no deep pockets appear in the gums
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		c. the gums appear firm
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		d. the plaque has been removed
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		e. there's no bleeding around the gums
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7.	A flat stone may be used to sharpen a curette by hand. The face of the curette should be at what angle to the stone?
		a. 50-65 degrees
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		b. 75-85 degrees
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		c. 90-100 degrees
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		d. 100-110 degrees
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		e. 125-135 degrees
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8.	Radiographic intensifying screens are used for
		a. magnification
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		b. sharpening the image
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		c. reducing the patient dose
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		d. reflecting harmful rays
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		e. expediting the processing time
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9.	After an outbreak of herpetic gingivostomatitis, the herpes simplex virus may remain dormant in which of the following?
		a. Sensory ganglion
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		b. Salivary Glands
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		c. Blood
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		d. Ligaments
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		e. Lymph nodes
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10.	Which of the following is a characteristic of an overdenture?
		a. No natural teeth remain
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		b. Natural teeth remain
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		c. Used with an overbite
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		d. Used with an underbite
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		e. Covers the denture
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11.	A dental carie is another name for a _____________.
		a. Dental iinstrument
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		b. The gum line
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		c. Cavity
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		d. Plaque build-up
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		e. Gingivitis
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12.	Which of the following is one of the main reasons for a root canal?
		a. tooth is cracked
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		b. . The pulp can't be fixed
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		c. Gums are bleeding
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		d. A cavity is present
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		e. Enamel is worn off
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13.	Vital whitening is performed on which of the following?
		a. Dentures
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		b. Tooth with no live nerve
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		c. Tooth with live nerve
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		d. Cavities
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		e. Tooth roots
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14.	A vasoconductor does which of the following when used in conjunction with Lidocaine?
		a. Helps the drug get into the blood stream
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		b. Helps the numbing drug work
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		c. Helps the drug resist breaking down
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		d. Makes the numbness wear off
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		e. Makes the numbness last longer
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15.	When a periapical abscess forms, it indicates what?
		a. The gums are infected
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		b. Tooth enamel is worn thin
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		c. A cavity
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		d. A dead or dying tooth root
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		e. Plaque build-up
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16.	If a dentist is placing a bonded filling, she will do which of the following to ensure the filling bonds to the tooth?
		a. X-ray the tooth
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		b. Scrape the tooth
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		c. Polish the tooth
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		d. Etch the tooth
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		e. Drill the tooth
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17.	A pedicle graft uses a flap of tissue from which part of the mouth?
		a. From a neighboring tooth
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		b. From the roof of the mouth
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		c. From the inside cheek
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		d. From any location it can be found
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		e. From the bottom of the mouth
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18.	Where does the bone for a bone augmentation typically comes from in an implantation procedure?
		a. Tibia
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		b. Radius
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		c. Chin or Ramus
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		d. Hip
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		e. Humerus
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19.	A veneer will correct all of the following except?
		a. Slightly crooked teeth
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		b. A tooth with a cavity
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		c. Chipped teeth
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		d. Gaps between teeth
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		e. Teeth with different lengths
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20.	Patients should give informed consent to all dental procedures. Which of the following is not a part of informed consent?
		a. Informing patients of the risks of treatment
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		b. Patient's agreement to care
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		c. Having a discussion of the treatment options with the patient
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		d. Getting the patient's or guardian's signature
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		e. Obtaining a dental history of the patient
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