The Ultimate Guide to Passing the INBDE

Introduction

The Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) is a written examination all dental students and graduates must challenge to be considered for state dental licensure in the United States. This board examination is high-stakes, assessing the four years of basic science, dental science, and clinical training we learn during dental school.

This guide serves as a resource for all dental students, recent graduates, and foreign-trained dentists looking to tackle the INBDE. We’ll cover everything you need to know about the INBDE! 

Some topics we’ll discuss:

• What is the INBDE?
• What is tested on the INBDE?
• How should I study for the INBDE?
• What do I need to pass the INBDE?
• When and where do I take the INBDE?
• What is the INBDE exam day like?

What is the INBDE? 

The INBDE is a written board examination that fulfills all or part of the written examination requirements for dental licensure (most states require a clinical examination for licensure, too). The INBDE is accepted by all U.S. states and territories. It is administered by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examination (JCNDE), an agency of the American Dental Association (ADA).

The INBDE integrates the biomedical, clinical, and behavioral sciences in its evaluation of a candidate’s dental cognitive skills. The INBDE is designed to assess the “just qualified dentist”. It tests the minimum requirements needed for the safe and effective practice of dentistry. 

Exam history

The INBDE replaced the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Parts I and II. The INBDE was first introduced in August 2020, while the NBDE Parts I and II were phased out by the end of 2022. The INBDE was designed to integrate the biomedical sciences tested in the NBDE Part I with the clinical sciences tested in the NBDE Part II.

While questions on the NBDE Parts I and II were sometimes described as random or obscure, the INBDE is a more practical examination, focusing on realistic application of dental school coursework and clinical training (though sometimes the INBDE can be random and obscure too).

In the clinical practice of dentistry, a dental provider must be able to integrate a patient’s medical and dental history with the patient’s presenting chief complaint and clinical findings. The INBDE was designed to test the patient-centered approach to care needed for contemporary practice. 

Exam scores

INBDE results are reported as “pass” or “fail”. The threshold to pass is determined by the specific examination a candidate is administered. Each exam has a unique set of questions with varying difficulties, and the JCNDE calculates INBDE scores based on question responses in conjunction with the known characteristics of administered questions (i.e. the question difficulty).

Some questions on the INBDE are experimental and are not scored. Candidates are not told whether a question is scored or experimental, but the data collected on unscored questions is used to determine whether a question is appropriate in future administrations of the INBDE.

INBDE Pro-Tip: Don’t be discouraged if you come across questions that seem extremely challenging, random, or unfair! There is a possibility this question is simply being tested by JCNDE and is not scored. Choose your best guess, recollect yourself, and move forward with confidence! 

Candidate performance is standardized to a “scale score”. A scale score does not represent the number of questions answered correctly – it is a standardized score that allows the JCNDE to meaningfully compare the performance of one applicant with the performance of all applicants. A minimum scale score of 75 represents the passing threshold. Passing candidates are not provided with their scale score. Failing candidates are provided with their scale score and a detailed breakdown of their performance. 

So, how do you pass the INBDE? Let’s talk about what is actually tested on the exam.

What is tested on the INBDE?

The INBDE tests the integration of the biomedical, clinical, and behavioral sciences. This integration occurs through the Domain of Dentistry, which represents the Clinical Content and Foundation Knowledge areas needed for the safe and effective practice for entry-level providers. 

The INBDE maps the percentage of questions that must be linked to each Clinical Content and Foundation Knowledge areas. This means that although each candidate receives a unique set of questions, each candidate is tested on the same breakdown of Clinical Content and Foundation Knowledge areas. 

Clinical Content areas

The INBDE tests fifty-six Clinical Content areas, grouped into three component sections:

• Diagnosis and treatment planning
• Oral health management
• Practice and profession

The Clinical Content areas represent the tasks entry-level providers must be able to perform. A detailed breakdown of the fifty-six Clinical Content areas may be found here.

Foundation Knowledge areas

The INBDE tests ten Foundation Knowledge areas. The Foundation Knowledge areas represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities that underlie performance of the Clinical Content areas. 

Format

The INBDE is a multiple choice exam comprising 500 questions. The exam takes place over two days: the first day is eight hours (360 questions), and the second day is four hours (140 questions). Each day begins with an optional 15-minute tutorial, and the second day ends with an optional 15-minute survey. 

Exam questions may have associated patient boxes or dental charts, and questions either standalone or are part of case sets. 

Schedule

Patient boxes

Most INBDE questions are accompanied by a patient box. The patient box introduces the patient’s chief complaint, medical history, medications, allergies, dental history, and current findings. The patient box often includes extraneous information that isn’t always relevant – you must determine the applicable information needed to correctly answer the question. 

Here’s an example of what this may look like: 

We can now focus in on the most important information:

Recognizing rivaroxaban (Xarelto^®) as a novel oral anticoagulant medication that inhibits factor Xa, we can correctly answer choice D. 

Dental charts

Some INBDE questions are also accompanied by images or charting information. This includes radiographs, clinical photographs, periodontal charts, and odontograms. Sometimes these are needed to answer the question, and sometimes not (don’t assume because it’s there, it’s needed). 

INBDE Pro-Tip: It can be overwhelming to see a question with a detailed patient box and multiple dental charts. Before looking through all of the supplemental information, it’s helpful to first look at the question being posed so it can direct you to the applicable information.  

Here’s an example periodontal chart provided on the INBDE: 

And an example odontogram: 

Standalone questions

Questions either are standalone or are part of case sets. Standalone questions are independent of each other, meaning each question is unrelated to the next. On the INBDE, the first day consists of 360 questions. The first 300 of these are standalone questions. Standalone questions can still contain a patient box.

‍Case set questions 

Case set questions are a series of questions that all focus on the same patient. On the INBDE, the first day has 60 case set questions. The second day of the INBDE is 140 questions, all of which are case set questions. 

Case set questions usually have a number of provided dental charts, such as periodontal charts, odontograms, radiographs, and clinical photographs. With all of this provided information, the INBDE can ask a number of associated questions.

When to take the exam

Most dental schools provide recommendations to their students about the best time to take the INBDE. For some dental schools, this is some time during the spring semester of your third-year. For other dental schools, this is the summer between your third- and fourth-year. Some dental schools may not provide any recommendations, but require students to pass the exam before their graduation. 

When to challenge the exam is determined by your didactic and clinical schedule. You want to be done with most (or all) of your didactic courses, and have enough clinical experience to be able to integrate the basic and dental sciences with clinical knowledge. If you’re unsure, sometime between your third- and fourth-year works for most students. 

INBDE Pro-Tip: To choose the most successful time to take the INBDE, take a look at your dental school calendar. Do you have a summer break that provides time to study without distractions? If you plan to apply to residency programs, when will you be working on your applications, and will this interfere with your study schedule? 

Residency requirements

There are a few residency programs that require a passing INBDE score as part of their application requirements. Keep this in mind when planning your INBDE timeline. 

When thinking about the best time to take the INBDE, take a look at ADEA PASS, the official postdoctoral application service for dental residency programs. ADEA PASS has a search engine of programs that lists program  requirements for any program you may be interested in.

Applying for the exam

Once you know approximately when you want to take the INBDE, it’s time to apply!

The first thing you’ll need to do is find your DENTPIN^®. If you took the Dental Admission Test (DAT) to apply for dental school, this is the same personal identification number you used then. The ADA has a webpage to retrieve your DENTPIN^®. If you do not have a DENTPIN® (you did not take the DAT to apply for dental school), you can create one here. 

Next, you can submit an application to the JCNDE. In the application, you will pay the examination fee.

If you attend a dental school not accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), there’s an additional form you must complete. 

After you submit your application, your dental school administration must approve your eligibility to take the INBDE. This process occurs behind-the-scenes, so there may be a short wait time between now and the next step. 

If you’ve already graduated from dental school, you will need to submit proof of graduation from a CODA-accredited dental school to the ADA before your application can be approved.

INBDE Pro-Tip: Once your application is approved, you have six months to take the INBDE. Don’t apply for the exam until you are certain you know when you want to take it. 

Once you’re able to schedule your exam, you’ll receive an email from JCNDE with your eligibility information. You’ll receive a unique Eligibility ID (the same number as your DENTPIN^®), which is required to schedule your exam. 

Next, you can schedule your exam through Prometric, the official test taking center for the INBDE and DAT. To schedule your exam, visit Prometric’s website and enter the ADA as the Sponsor. Here’s a shortcut to the page. Select “Schedule” from the left hand side of the screen.

You’ll be redirected to select the state you want to take the test in, then enter your Eligibility ID, select a testing center, and choose your exam dates! 

INBDE Pro-Tip: Although the exam is two days long, you do not have to take the two days consecutively. After day one of the exam, you have up to one week to take the second day. Some candidates choose to take the two days consecutively, while others choose to have a few rest days between the two exam dates. 

Once you have your exam dates scheduled, let’s plan a study schedule! 

What is the best way to study? 

So, what is the best way to tackle the INBDE? How do you master the basic, dental, and social sciences of dental school and apply them in the context of clinical practice?

Studying for the INBDE isn’t like studying for any other dental school exam, or even for the DAT. It’s a lot of material, and you have to give yourself enough time to study for it to all be manageable. 

Start early

It isn’t easy to balance studying for the INBDE while also being a full-time dental student. There will be days you won’t be able to study as much as you hope to. You’ll have homework assignments, lab work, and dental school exams to keep on top of while also preparing for the INBDE.

Fortunately, each day of dental school is also helping prepare you for the INBDE. Each day in the classroom and clinic gets you one step closer to mastering your INBDE material. But when your study days don’t go as planned, you’ll need to have built-in makeup time to your study schedule.

Stick to a study schedule

Ari from INBDE Bootcamp has a 45-day study schedule to pass the INBDE on your first attempt. Ari helped us tackle the DAT and get into dental school, and now we can count on him again to help us pass the INBDE.    

Ari’s recommendations: 

1. Follow a study schedule that goes over what you need to do day-by-day and stick to it. Feel free to adjust and change it based on what you think you need to study most.

2. Take regular breaks. Try to study for 45 minutes and then take a break for 5-10 minutes. Take one day off a week to relax so you don’t burn out.

3. Give yourself enough time. It’s tempting to try to just get the test done when you have other things on your plate (like dental school denture  credits to finish). When in doubt, it’s better to start early and give yourself more time then less. 

Ari’s schedule recommends completing each INBDE Bootcamp question bank and supplementing topics you’re less confident with using Dr. Ryan’s Mental Dental videos. INBDE Bootcamp integrates Dr. Ryan’s most high-yield Mental Dental videos into each subject area, with additional Mental Dental “bites” to help test and master Dr. Ryan’s content. 

Create good habits

Now that you have a study plan and schedule, sticking to good habits will lead to success. Ari’s schedule builds in one rest day per week, but if you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, take time to refresh and evaluate your situation.

Ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Am I taking enough breaks?
• Am I getting enough sleep? 
• Do I have a support system?
• Am I eating and drinking what I need to fuel my brain? 
• Am I getting in daily movement? 

INBDE Pro-Tip: If you feel like you need more time to study, that is okay! The ADA allows you to reschedule your exam for an associated fee. If you feel like this is the best choice for your mental and physical health, take advantage of the opportunity. 

Resources

With INBDE Bootcamp, you’ll have access to Bootcamp’s comprehensive, high-yield question bank and practice exam. 

INBDE Bootcamp has thousands of high-yield questions to practice and learn from. The team at Bootcamp updates their content daily, cycling in the most high-yield questions currently being tested. INBDE Bootcamp has everything you need and nothing you don’t to help you pass the INBDE. 

INBDE Bootcamp emulates the same format as the INBDE, such as patient boxes, dental charts and photographs, and includes test-taking features like the strike out and highlight tools. 

Highlight important information and strike-out distractor answer choices: 

INBDE Bootcamp explanations are concise, yet thorough, utilizing visual aids to help with material comprehension. 

Here’s a look at a graphic outlining the different classifications of removable partial denture clasps:

And like stated above, INBDE Bootcamp integrates Dr. Ryan’s most high-yield Mental Dental videos into each subject area, with video updates listed, and additional Mental Dental “bites” that directly test your understanding and recall of information from his videos. 

Take a look at how Mental Dental videos, updates, and “bites” are included in INBDE Bootcamp:

Track your progress by tagging questions as “learning”, “reviewing” or “mastered”, and bookmark questions you want to easily access again before exam day. You can come back and easily review these questions from the classroom page, based on your tagging (spaced repetition).  

And best of all? INBDE Bootcamp guarantees that you’ll pass the INBDE on your first attempt. 

Exam day

You’ve worked hard the weeks leading up to the INBDE, and exam day has finally come! Be sure to arrive at the Prometric center thirty minutes early with your registration confirmation and two forms of identification for entry.

Pack a small bag with any food, water, or personal items you may need throughout the day. Although you cannot bring any personal items into the exam room (besides earplugs), you can access your locker during the scheduled breaks.

Although most breaks during the INBDE are fifteen minutes, there is one thirty minute break for lunch. Be sure to eat! 

INBDE Pro-Tip: You can bring earplugs (without any wires) into the exam room. Some Prometric centers have these available for candidates, but others require you bring your own. 

Similar to the DAT, Prometric will provide you with any scratch paper you may need, so you can leave any paper or pens at home. 

If you require any testing accommodations, the JCNDE outlines the application process here. 

Test-taking strategies

You have made it this far in your educational journey, so you are more than prepared with test-taking strategies that work for you. Don’t doubt the work you’ve put in leading up to exam day! 

Some tips to keep in mind: 

• Utilize the built-in exam features, like the highlight and strike-out tools, and flag any questions you wish to return to. 
• Use your scheduled breaks! Refuel and rehydrate, stretch your legs, and focus on what’s ahead. 
• When you are stuck on a challenging question, remind yourself that some questions on the INBDE are experimental and are not scored. 

You have more than enough time during each section of the INBDE, so be thoughtful with your responses and double check your work! That being said, read each question carefully, don’t let red herrings distract you, and trust your instincts. 

After the exam

Congratulations! You made it through the INBDE. There is a wait of about two to three weeks to receive your exam score. The waiting game can be the most stressful part! 

Most likely, you will not walk out of the exam day feeling like you aced the INBDE. The exam is designed to be challenging. Fortunately, not every question is weighted equally and not every question is graded. Trust that you studied your hardest and put in your best effort! Hard work always pays off.

Use this time to relax and recharge – you’ve earned it!   

What happens after the exam?

Once your result is posted, you can check your grade on the ADA website. From here, your result will be shared with your dental school administration and any state licensing boards you may have selected during your initial INBDE registration.  

Let Ari and the INBDE Bootcamp team know how it went on our After the INBDE page! 

Licensure requirement

After the INBDE, one of the final hurdles in your professional training is applying for licensure. The INBDE is accepted by all U.S. states and territories and fulfills all or part of the written examination requirements for dental licensure. 

Licensure is determined on a state-by-state basis, although most states require a clinical performance examination for licensure, too. 

Be sure to look at your state’s official website for any dental licensure requirements and where you can submit your official INBDE score.