NBDHE Actual Exam – Joint Commission
on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE)
– 2026/2027 Academic Year – Verified
Questions and Answers for Dental Hygiene
Candidates
Biomedical Sciences
Q1. The type of epithelial tissue lining the oral cavity is:
A. Stratified squamous epithelium
B. Simple columnar epithelium
C. Simple cuboidal epithelium
D. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Correct Answer: A. Stratified squamous epithelium
Rationale: The oral mucosa is lined by stratified squamous epithelium, which provides
protection against mechanical stress. Other epithelial types are found elsewhere: simple
columnar lines the intestines, simple cuboidal lines the ovaries, and pseudostratified
columnar lines the trachea.
Q2. The cheekbone (zygomatic arch) is composed of:
A. Temporal process of zygomatic bone and zygomatic process of temporal bone
B. Zygomatic bone only
C. Palatine processes
D. Frontal process and frontal bone
Correct Answer: A. Temporal process of zygomatic bone and zygomatic process of
temporal bone
,Rationale: The zygomatic arch is formed by the union of the temporal process of the
zygomatic bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. These two bony
projections create the prominence of the cheek.
Q3. Bones forming the lateral walls of the skull:
A. Cranial bones
B. Occipital bone
C. Temporal bones
D. Parietal bones
Correct Answer: C. Temporal bones
Rationale: The paired temporal bones form the lateral walls and base of the skull. The
occipital bone forms the posterior portion, while the parietal bones form the superior
and lateral aspects of the cranial vault.
Q4. The mandibular condyle articulates with the:
A. External acoustic meatus
B. Styloid process
C. Coronoid notch
D. Temporal bone
Correct Answer: D. Temporal bone
Rationale: The mandibular condyle is the moving part of the temporomandibular joint
(TMJ) and articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone. The external
acoustic meatus is the ear canal, and the styloid and coronoid processes are nearby
structures.
Q5. A cell organelle containing circular DNA and producing ATP is the:
A. Mitochondria
B. Lysosome
C. Endoplasmic reticulum
D. Golgi apparatus
,Correct Answer: A. Mitochondria
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cell, responsible for synthesizing
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through cellular respiration. They are unique for having
their own circular DNA. Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes, the ER is for protein
synthesis, and the Golgi apparatus packages proteins.
Q6. Which permanent tooth most commonly has a bifurcated root?
A. Mandibular second premolar
B. Maxillary second premolar
C. Maxillary first premolar
D. Mandibular first premolar
Correct Answer: C. Maxillary first premolar
Rationale: The maxillary first premolar typically has two roots (buccal and lingual). The
mandibular premolars and the maxillary second premolar usually have a single root.
Q7. Which permanent tooth occludes with only one tooth in the opposite arch?
A. Maxillary canine
B. Maxillary first molar
C. Mandibular central incisor
D. Mandibular first premolar
Correct Answer: C. Mandibular central incisor
Rationale: In ideal occlusion, each mandibular central incisor contacts only the
corresponding maxillary central incisor. All other permanent teeth contact at least two
teeth in the opposing arch.
Q8. The junction of three surfaces on a tooth crown is called a:
A. Line angle
B. Point angle
C. Occlusal surface
D. Incisal edge
, Correct Answer: B. Point angle
Rationale: A point angle is the junction of three crown surfaces (e.g., the mesio-bucco-
occlusal point angle). A line angle is the junction of two surfaces.
Q9. The primitive oral cavity is called the:
A. Branchial arches
B. Frontal processes
C. Forebrain
D. Stomodeum
Correct Answer: D. Stomodeum
Rationale: The stomodeum is the primordial mouth or the first indication of facial
development, appearing between the first branchial arch and the frontal process during
the fourth week of embryonic development.
Q10. Which nerve supplies the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?
A. Vagus
B. Facial
C. Lingual
D. Hypoglossal
E. Glossopharyngeal
Correct Answer: D. Hypoglossal
Rationale: The hypoglossal nerve (Cranial Nerve XII) provides motor innervation to all
the intrinsic and most of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue.
Q11. Primarily, systemic fluorides protect teeth by which action?
A. Lowering their surface energy
B. Creating bacteriostasis
C. Inhibiting enzyme activity
D. Reducing the fluoroapatite solubility
on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE)
– 2026/2027 Academic Year – Verified
Questions and Answers for Dental Hygiene
Candidates
Biomedical Sciences
Q1. The type of epithelial tissue lining the oral cavity is:
A. Stratified squamous epithelium
B. Simple columnar epithelium
C. Simple cuboidal epithelium
D. Pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Correct Answer: A. Stratified squamous epithelium
Rationale: The oral mucosa is lined by stratified squamous epithelium, which provides
protection against mechanical stress. Other epithelial types are found elsewhere: simple
columnar lines the intestines, simple cuboidal lines the ovaries, and pseudostratified
columnar lines the trachea.
Q2. The cheekbone (zygomatic arch) is composed of:
A. Temporal process of zygomatic bone and zygomatic process of temporal bone
B. Zygomatic bone only
C. Palatine processes
D. Frontal process and frontal bone
Correct Answer: A. Temporal process of zygomatic bone and zygomatic process of
temporal bone
,Rationale: The zygomatic arch is formed by the union of the temporal process of the
zygomatic bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. These two bony
projections create the prominence of the cheek.
Q3. Bones forming the lateral walls of the skull:
A. Cranial bones
B. Occipital bone
C. Temporal bones
D. Parietal bones
Correct Answer: C. Temporal bones
Rationale: The paired temporal bones form the lateral walls and base of the skull. The
occipital bone forms the posterior portion, while the parietal bones form the superior
and lateral aspects of the cranial vault.
Q4. The mandibular condyle articulates with the:
A. External acoustic meatus
B. Styloid process
C. Coronoid notch
D. Temporal bone
Correct Answer: D. Temporal bone
Rationale: The mandibular condyle is the moving part of the temporomandibular joint
(TMJ) and articulates with the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone. The external
acoustic meatus is the ear canal, and the styloid and coronoid processes are nearby
structures.
Q5. A cell organelle containing circular DNA and producing ATP is the:
A. Mitochondria
B. Lysosome
C. Endoplasmic reticulum
D. Golgi apparatus
,Correct Answer: A. Mitochondria
Rationale: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of the cell, responsible for synthesizing
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through cellular respiration. They are unique for having
their own circular DNA. Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes, the ER is for protein
synthesis, and the Golgi apparatus packages proteins.
Q6. Which permanent tooth most commonly has a bifurcated root?
A. Mandibular second premolar
B. Maxillary second premolar
C. Maxillary first premolar
D. Mandibular first premolar
Correct Answer: C. Maxillary first premolar
Rationale: The maxillary first premolar typically has two roots (buccal and lingual). The
mandibular premolars and the maxillary second premolar usually have a single root.
Q7. Which permanent tooth occludes with only one tooth in the opposite arch?
A. Maxillary canine
B. Maxillary first molar
C. Mandibular central incisor
D. Mandibular first premolar
Correct Answer: C. Mandibular central incisor
Rationale: In ideal occlusion, each mandibular central incisor contacts only the
corresponding maxillary central incisor. All other permanent teeth contact at least two
teeth in the opposing arch.
Q8. The junction of three surfaces on a tooth crown is called a:
A. Line angle
B. Point angle
C. Occlusal surface
D. Incisal edge
, Correct Answer: B. Point angle
Rationale: A point angle is the junction of three crown surfaces (e.g., the mesio-bucco-
occlusal point angle). A line angle is the junction of two surfaces.
Q9. The primitive oral cavity is called the:
A. Branchial arches
B. Frontal processes
C. Forebrain
D. Stomodeum
Correct Answer: D. Stomodeum
Rationale: The stomodeum is the primordial mouth or the first indication of facial
development, appearing between the first branchial arch and the frontal process during
the fourth week of embryonic development.
Q10. Which nerve supplies the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?
A. Vagus
B. Facial
C. Lingual
D. Hypoglossal
E. Glossopharyngeal
Correct Answer: D. Hypoglossal
Rationale: The hypoglossal nerve (Cranial Nerve XII) provides motor innervation to all
the intrinsic and most of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue.
Q11. Primarily, systemic fluorides protect teeth by which action?
A. Lowering their surface energy
B. Creating bacteriostasis
C. Inhibiting enzyme activity
D. Reducing the fluoroapatite solubility
