NBDHE Exam Information and Outline
National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
Syllabus Update Checked on: November 6, 2026
NBDHE Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the
official NBDHE exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap.
The information below reflects the 2026 syllabus defined by
ADA.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
- Exam Format
- 350 multiple-choice items over one day
- Component A: 200 discipline-based items
- Component B: 150 case-based items (approx. 15 patient cases)
- Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice
- Anatomic sciences: head and neck anatomy, dental anatomy, histology and embryology
- Physiology, biochemistry and nutrition
- Microbiology and immunology
- General and oral pathology
- Pharmacology
- Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services
- Assessing patient characteristics: medical/dental history, vital signs, head and neck exam
- Periodontal and dental charting
- Radiographs: techniques, safety and interpretation
- Dental hygiene diagnosis and treatment planning
- Preventive agents: fluorides, sealants, antimicrobials
- Instrumentation, scaling and root debridement
- Pain management and local anesthesia
- Supportive treatment and periodontal maintenance
- Infection control and medical emergencies
- Patient education and behaviour modification
- Special needs patients
- Community Health / Research Principles
- Promoting health and preventing disease in communities
- Epidemiology and dental indices
- Research methods and statistics
- Ethics, jurisprudence and professional responsibility