What’s Tested on the INBDE? (2025)
Passing the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) is a crucial step to becoming a licensed dentist in the United States. The INBDE is a comprehensive dental licensing exam that will test your knowledge of biomedical, clinical, and behavioral sciences to assess your dental cognitive skills. By understanding what’s tested on the INBDE exam and preparing effectively, you can increase your chances of passing and achieving your dream of becoming a dentist. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about what’s tested on the INBDE, including the exam format, content, and more.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why is the INBDE exam important?
- What’s tested on the INBDE in 2025?
- INBDE Exam Format
- INBDE Acronyms and Abbreviations
- How to Prepare for the INBDE
- INBDE Practice Questions
Why is the INBDE exam important?
The INBDE is a digital, multiple-choice board examination that determines whether licensure candidates possess the skills needed to practice entry-level dentistry. Passing the INBDE is a requirement to earn dental licensure in the U.S. Please refer to your state’s dental board website to review any additional requirements you may need to become a licensed dentist.
What’s tested on the INBDE in 2025?
On the 2025 INBDE, you’ll face 500 questions or “items” over the course of two days. INBDE questions are designed to assess your ability to apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios and to make sound clinical judgments. The INBDE uses the Domain of Dentistry, which outlines the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of entry-level dentists. The Domain of Dentistry includes 56 Clinical Content areas and 10 Foundation Knowledge areas.
INBDE Clinical Content Areas
The INBDE contains 56 Clinical Content areas that represent tasks performed by entry-level dentists. These Clinical Content areas are grouped into three categories: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning, Oral Health Management, and Practice and Profession. The table below depicts what percentage of the exam assesses each Clinical Content area.
| Clinical Content Area | Exam Percentage |
| Oral Health Management | 42% |
| Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 36.2% |
| Practice and Profession | 21.8% |
INBDE Foundation Knowledge Areas
In addition to the 56 Clinical Content areas, the INBDE also tests ten Foundation Knowledge areas which represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the tasks in the Clinical Content areas. The table below gives an overview of the INBDE’s Foundation Knowledge Areas. More information can be found on the JCNDE site.
| Foundation Knowledge # | Foundation Knowledge Area | Exam Percentage |
| 1 | Molecular, biochemical, cellular, and systems-level development, structure, and function | 12.2% |
| 2 | Physics and chemistry to explain normal biology and pathobiology | 6.8% |
| 3 | Physics and chemistry to explain the characteristics and use of technologies and materials | 8% |
| 4 | Principles of genetic, congenital, and developmental diseases and conditions and their clinical features to understand patient risk | 10.6% |
| 5 | Cellular and molecular bases of immune and non-immune host defense mechanism | 9% |
| 6 | General and disease-specific pathology to assess patient risk | 11.8% |
| 7 | The biology of microorganisms in physiology and pathology | 10.6% |
| 8 | Pharmacology | 10.6% |
| 9 | Behavioral sciences, ethics, and jurisprudence | 10.6% |
| 10 | Research methodology and analysis, and informatics tools | 9.8% |
INBDE Exam Format
The INBDE exam is a computer-based exam administered over two days. The second test day must occur within seven days of the first test day. All items on the INBDE are multiple-choice, each with only one correct answer. The following table breaks down the INBDE exam format so you know what to expect.
| INBDE Test Day 1 | 300 standalone items, 60 case items | 8 hours 15 minutes |
| INBDE Test Day 2 | 140 case items | 4 hours 15 minutes |
| Total items: 500 | Total exam time: 12 hours 30 minutes |
How long is the INBDE exam?
The INBDE is a long exam that covers a lot of material, which is why it is divided into two days. The total time is 12 hours and 30 minutes, which includes all 500 test questions, scheduled breaks, optional tutorials, and the post-exam survey.
INBDE Acronyms and Abbreviations
According to the JCNDE, there are some frequently used acronyms and abbreviations on the INBDE that you should review ahead of test day:
- AED: Automated external defibrillator
- BOP: Bleeding on probing
- ASA: Anterior superior alveolar branch of the infraorbital nerve
- BP: Blood pressure
- CAL: Clinical attachment level
- CBCT: Cone-beam computed tomography
- CEJ: Cementoenamel junction
- CPI: Community periodontal index
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure device
- CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- DEJ: Dentinoenamel junction
- DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid
- dmft: Decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth
- DMFT: Decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth
- dmfs: Decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (for primary teeth)
- DMFS: Decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (for permanent teeth)
- EMS: Emergency medical services
- GBR: Guided bone regeneration
- GTR: Guided tissue regeneration
- HbA1c: Hemoglobin A1c
- HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
- HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
- IAN: Inferior alveolar nerve
- MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging
- MSA: Middle superior alveolar branch of the infraorbital nerve
- OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- PDI: Periodontal disease index
- PDL: Periodontal ligament
- PHP: Patient hygiene performance index
Abbreviations for Tooth Surfaces
Note that these abbreviations may be combined.
- B: Buccal
- D: Distal
- F: Facial
- L: Lingual
- M: Mesial
- O: Occlusal
How to Prepare for the INBDE
Preparing for the INBDE can seem daunting. Set yourself up for success and pass the exam on your first try by taking advantage of Kaplan’s INBDE prep options:
- INBDE Qbank: Get realistic practice with 3,100+ image-based INBDE practice questions on the topics you’ll most likely encounter on the exam. Review in-depth answer explanations and get detailed performance reports to see where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
- INBDE Videos On-Demand: Study for the INBDE on your schedule with on-demand videos taught by top dental faculty. These lessons will cover every topic on the JCNDE blueprint so there are no surprises on test day.
INBDE Practice Questions
How would you do on the INBDE exam? Test your knowledge by answering free INBDE practice questions. Then, review the detailed answer explanations to ensure you understand the correct answer.
INBDE Practice Question #1
This first INBDE practice question includes a patient box, something you’ll frequently see on the exam. Use the provided patient information to answer the question below.
The patient likely ingested a substance that acts by:
- antagonizing NMDA receptors.
- binding to benzodiazepine receptors and enhances the effects of GABA.
- blocking the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
- simulation of mu, kappa, and delta receptors in the CNS.
Answer Explanation
The correct answer is C. The patient is presenting with stimulant toxicity (either cocaine-related toxicity or amphetamine-related toxicity). Cocaine primarily acts by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Conversely, amphetamines primarily act by increasing the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Stimulant toxicity is associated with tachycardia, diaphoresis, mydriasis, hypertension, hyperthermia, and agitation.
The dissociative anesthetic, ketamine, is used for anesthesia, pain management, and treatment-resistant depression. It acts by antagonizing NMDA receptors (choice A). It can cause hallucinations, nystagmus, depressed reflexes, and cognitive deficits.
Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam and alprazolam, act by binding to benzodiazepine receptors and enhancing the effects of GABA (choice B). Benzodiazepine toxicity is associated with respiratory depression, stupor, drowsiness, and incoordination. Opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heroin, act by stimulation of the mu, kappa, and delta receptors in the CNS (choice D). They cause respiratory depression, nausea/vomiting, miosis (not mydriasis), sedation, and incoordination.
INBDE Practice Question #2
Which of the following is NOT considered a bloodborne pathogen of concern within a dental treatment environment?
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
- HIV
- SARS-CoV-2
Answer Explanation
The correct answer is E. The worldwide acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic of 2020 affected virtually every aspect of daily life for all Americans, including dentists. Direct person-to-person transmission is believed to be the main transmission route for this virus. It is believed to occur through close-range contact, primarily through respiratory droplets, since the virus is released in respiratory secretions. Thus, a person positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection who coughs, sneezes, or even speaks can infect other persons nearby (approximately 6 feet). The virus is also believed to be transmitted when a person touches an infected surface and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets typically do not travel more than six feet (about two meters). Since SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus, the likelihood of bloodborne transmission leading to COVID-19 disease is believed to be very low. Generally, respiratory viruses are not commonly transmitted through the bloodborne route.
Hepatitis B (choice A), hepatitis C (choice B), hepatitis D (choice C), and HIV (choice D) are all spread similarly through blood and bodily fluid contact, sexual contact, intravenous drug use, and healthcare accidents.
Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by John Bloodworth, M.D., Senior Director, Content Development, Kaplan Medical. John earned his M.D. from Ross University School of Medicine in 2010, joining Kaplan full-time soon after.
