NBDHE exam | Actual Questions and Answers Latest Updated
2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
a cyst is
i. - ✔✔an abnormal pathologic sac
ii. a cavity lined by epithelial tissue
iii. enclosed by connective tissue
iv. diagnosed on the basis of histologic appearance and location
•
in which layer of the epidermis are cells undergoing mitosis most likely to be seen?
- ✔✔stratum basal
•
hypersensitivity of the dentinal surface to external stimuli is caused by...
- ✔✔fluid movement within the tubules that transmit signals to the nerves in the pulp
chamber
•
which tissues have nerve innervations?
i. - ✔✔pulp
ii. periodontal ligament
•
because of the proximity of odontoblastic cell bodies to the nerve terminal endings in the tooth, clinical
exposure of dentin may result in sensitivity. what is the location of odontoblastic bodies?
- ✔✔pulp
•
tooth structure loss that occurs from pathologic wear of teeth by foreign substance is called
- ✔✔abrasion
•
the cres of the alveolar bone is usually apical to the cemento-enamel junction by..
- ✔✔0.75 to 1.49 mm
•
how do cysts show up radiographically
- ✔✔with a well defined border
•
how do soft tissues cysts show up radiographically
- ✔✔they do not show up on radiographs
,•
the tissue lining of an unhealthy gingival sulcus consists of
- ✔✔nonkeratinized epithelium with rete pegs
•
the bottom of the gingival sulcus is marked by the..
- ✔✔junctional epithelium
•
which tissues have little or no keratinization?
- ✔✔sulcular epithelium
•
what does bleeding caused by probing indicate?
- ✔✔ulceration of crevicular epithelium
•
which tissue changes result in erythematous gingiva
- ✔✔increased vascularization of the underlying vascular connective tissue
•
what type of connective tissue underlies the epithelium of the gingival?
- ✔✔fibrous which gives it its firm consistency
•
in gingivitis, poor tissue tone is caused by
- ✔✔destruction of collagen fibers
•
definitive diagnosis of furcation involvement is made by
- ✔✔clinical probing because it cant always be seen in radiographs
•
enamel projections of the root surface are attributed to the differentiation of
- ✔✔hertwig's epithelial root sheath
•
hertwig's epithelial root sheath is derived from the
- ✔✔reduced enamel epithelium
•
hertwing's epithelial root sheath is entirely composed of
- ✔✔inner and outer enamel epithelium
•
when is root formation completed?
- ✔✔1-4 years after eruption
,•
remnants of hertwig's epithelial root sheath found in the periodontal ligament of a functioning tooth are
called
- ✔✔rests of malassez
•
the stippled texture of gingiva may be attributed to
- ✔✔connective tissue projections
•
the color of gingiva may be attributed to
i. - ✔✔keratinization
ii. thickness of the epithelium
iii. blood supply
iv. pigmentation
•
a specialized periosteum which forms and resorbs bone and cementum is called
- ✔✔periodontal ligament
•
what is the outer less calcified layer of cementum that results in cementum resorbing less readily than
bone ?
- ✔✔cementoid
•
cementum is a product of
- ✔✔periodontal ligament
•
which cells does the periodontal ligament contain?
i. - ✔✔osteoblasts
ii. osteoclasts
iii. cementoblasts
iv. cementoclasts
•
a cleft-like absence of the alveolar cortical plate resulting in a denuded root surface is called
- ✔✔dehiscence
•
characteristics of bundle bone (alveolar bone proper)
- ✔✔adjacent to the periodontal ligament and containing sharpey's fibers
, •
which tissues of the normal periodontium is the alveolar bone directly adjacent to?
- ✔✔periodontal ligament and gingival connective tissue
•
the cells that are important in the formation of the principal fibers of the periodontal ligament are
- ✔✔fibroblasts
•
the types of epithelia found lining the oral cavity include
- ✔✔keratinized and nonkeratinized stratified squamous
•
epithelial tissues are characterized by
- ✔✔little intercellular substance and many cells
•
embryonically, the mandible is derived from the
- ✔✔first branchial arch
•
the anterior portion, or body, of the tongue develops from the
- ✔✔mandibular process
•
a cleft lip occurs when the maxillary process fails to fuse with the
- ✔✔globular process
•
one of the first structures of the face to develop in the primitive embryo is the
- ✔✔stomodeum
•
the lateral palatine processes initially grow downward toward the future floor of the mouth. this is
caused by the presence of the
- ✔✔tongue
•
when a cleft of the alveolar process is present, it occurs between the
- ✔✔lateral incisor and canine
•
the cementum is derived from the
- ✔✔dental sac
•
during embryonic development, neural crest cells migrate to the branchial arches and surround the
2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
a cyst is
i. - ✔✔an abnormal pathologic sac
ii. a cavity lined by epithelial tissue
iii. enclosed by connective tissue
iv. diagnosed on the basis of histologic appearance and location
•
in which layer of the epidermis are cells undergoing mitosis most likely to be seen?
- ✔✔stratum basal
•
hypersensitivity of the dentinal surface to external stimuli is caused by...
- ✔✔fluid movement within the tubules that transmit signals to the nerves in the pulp
chamber
•
which tissues have nerve innervations?
i. - ✔✔pulp
ii. periodontal ligament
•
because of the proximity of odontoblastic cell bodies to the nerve terminal endings in the tooth, clinical
exposure of dentin may result in sensitivity. what is the location of odontoblastic bodies?
- ✔✔pulp
•
tooth structure loss that occurs from pathologic wear of teeth by foreign substance is called
- ✔✔abrasion
•
the cres of the alveolar bone is usually apical to the cemento-enamel junction by..
- ✔✔0.75 to 1.49 mm
•
how do cysts show up radiographically
- ✔✔with a well defined border
•
how do soft tissues cysts show up radiographically
- ✔✔they do not show up on radiographs
,•
the tissue lining of an unhealthy gingival sulcus consists of
- ✔✔nonkeratinized epithelium with rete pegs
•
the bottom of the gingival sulcus is marked by the..
- ✔✔junctional epithelium
•
which tissues have little or no keratinization?
- ✔✔sulcular epithelium
•
what does bleeding caused by probing indicate?
- ✔✔ulceration of crevicular epithelium
•
which tissue changes result in erythematous gingiva
- ✔✔increased vascularization of the underlying vascular connective tissue
•
what type of connective tissue underlies the epithelium of the gingival?
- ✔✔fibrous which gives it its firm consistency
•
in gingivitis, poor tissue tone is caused by
- ✔✔destruction of collagen fibers
•
definitive diagnosis of furcation involvement is made by
- ✔✔clinical probing because it cant always be seen in radiographs
•
enamel projections of the root surface are attributed to the differentiation of
- ✔✔hertwig's epithelial root sheath
•
hertwig's epithelial root sheath is derived from the
- ✔✔reduced enamel epithelium
•
hertwing's epithelial root sheath is entirely composed of
- ✔✔inner and outer enamel epithelium
•
when is root formation completed?
- ✔✔1-4 years after eruption
,•
remnants of hertwig's epithelial root sheath found in the periodontal ligament of a functioning tooth are
called
- ✔✔rests of malassez
•
the stippled texture of gingiva may be attributed to
- ✔✔connective tissue projections
•
the color of gingiva may be attributed to
i. - ✔✔keratinization
ii. thickness of the epithelium
iii. blood supply
iv. pigmentation
•
a specialized periosteum which forms and resorbs bone and cementum is called
- ✔✔periodontal ligament
•
what is the outer less calcified layer of cementum that results in cementum resorbing less readily than
bone ?
- ✔✔cementoid
•
cementum is a product of
- ✔✔periodontal ligament
•
which cells does the periodontal ligament contain?
i. - ✔✔osteoblasts
ii. osteoclasts
iii. cementoblasts
iv. cementoclasts
•
a cleft-like absence of the alveolar cortical plate resulting in a denuded root surface is called
- ✔✔dehiscence
•
characteristics of bundle bone (alveolar bone proper)
- ✔✔adjacent to the periodontal ligament and containing sharpey's fibers
, •
which tissues of the normal periodontium is the alveolar bone directly adjacent to?
- ✔✔periodontal ligament and gingival connective tissue
•
the cells that are important in the formation of the principal fibers of the periodontal ligament are
- ✔✔fibroblasts
•
the types of epithelia found lining the oral cavity include
- ✔✔keratinized and nonkeratinized stratified squamous
•
epithelial tissues are characterized by
- ✔✔little intercellular substance and many cells
•
embryonically, the mandible is derived from the
- ✔✔first branchial arch
•
the anterior portion, or body, of the tongue develops from the
- ✔✔mandibular process
•
a cleft lip occurs when the maxillary process fails to fuse with the
- ✔✔globular process
•
one of the first structures of the face to develop in the primitive embryo is the
- ✔✔stomodeum
•
the lateral palatine processes initially grow downward toward the future floor of the mouth. this is
caused by the presence of the
- ✔✔tongue
•
when a cleft of the alveolar process is present, it occurs between the
- ✔✔lateral incisor and canine
•
the cementum is derived from the
- ✔✔dental sac
•
during embryonic development, neural crest cells migrate to the branchial arches and surround the
