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National Board Part I Sample Test Items
National Board Part I Sample Test Items
The following 40 test items are representative of the four disciplines in the National Board Part I Dental Examinations:
Anatomic Sciences, Biochemistry-Physiology, Microbiology-Pathology and Dental Anatomy and Occlusion. There is only
one correct or best response for a test item. During testing, it is best to guess than leave an answer blank; there is no penalty
for guessing wrong.
ANATOMIC SCIENCES
A. Pericyte A. arterioles.
B. Macrophage B. capillaries.
C. Osteoblast C. vasa vasorum.
D. Endothelial cell D. metarterioles.
E. Lymphocyte E. glomus.
3. Which of the following is the prime muscle 7. The one calcified structure of a tooth
in retracting and elevating the mandible? incapable of continued growth after eruption
is the
A. Masseter
B. Digastric A. enamel.
C. Mylohyoid B. dentin.
D. Temporalis C. cementum.
E. Lateral pterygoid D. true denticle.
4. A patient has a profound disturbance in 8. Which of the following is the first formed
equilibrium, alterations of gait (ataxia), and portion of the dentin?
intention tremor. This patient MOST likely
has a massive lesion that involves which of A. Circumpulpal
the following? B. Intertubular
C. Transparent
A. Amygdala D. Reparative
B. Cerebellum E. Mantle
C. Cerebral cortex
D. Caudate nucleus
E. Lenticular nucleus
9. Which of the following represents the 10. Each of the following PDL fiber groups is
posterior boundary of the oral cavity and found in association with a central incisor
the anterior boundary of the fauces? EXCEPT one. Which one is this
EXCEPTION?
A. Tonsil
B. Soft palate A. Apical
C. Dorsum of the tongue B. Oblique
D. Palatopharyngeal arch C. Horizontal
E. Palatoglossal arch D. Alveolar crest
E. Interradicular
BIOCHEMISTRY-PHYSIOLOGY
1. Hypoglycemia results from the excessive 4. Which of the following vitamins is MOST
secretion of likely to be involved with bone loss in the
elderly?
A. glucose.
B. insulin. A. Vitamin A
C. glucagon. B. Niacin
D. cyclic-AMP. C. Thiamine
E. epinephrine. D. Vitamin D
E. Vitamin E
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BIOCHEMISTRY-PHYSIOLOGY (continued)
MICROBIOLOGY-PATHOLOGY
1. What are the "sulfur granules" found in 3. The aerosol produced during operative
actinomycotic lesions? dental procedures is likely to contain a
predominance of which of the following?
A. Uric acid crystals
B. Coagulated pus cells A. Yeasts and spirochetes
C. Calcified necrotic tissue B. Spirochetes and rod forms
D. Colonies of the infecting organism C. Spirochetes and rickettsiae
E. Agglutinated platelets and D. Gram-positive rods and cocci
lymphocytes E. Gram-negative rod forms and spirochetes
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MICROBIOLOGY-PATHOLOGY (continued)
5. Which of the following conditions represents 8. Fluoride affects the metabolism of oral bacteria
an intoxication rather than an infection? by inhibiting an enzyme in which of the
following pathways?
A. Anthrax
B. Botulism A. Glycolytic
C. Chancroid B. Folic acid
D. Bacteroidosis C. Citric acid
E. Salmonellosis septicemia D. Aspartate biosynthetic
D. Extracellular polysaccharide
1. Which of the following newly erupted teeth is 2. Which of the following maxillary anterior
MOST likely to exhibit only one pulp horn? teeth has a mesiodistal crown width that is
greater than the incisocervical height?
A. #31
B. #28 A. Primary central incisor
C. #19 B. Primary lateral incisor
D. #15 C. Central incisor
E. #5 D. Lateral incisor
E. Canine
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DENTAL ANATOMY AND OCCLUSION (continued)
3. How many pulp horns are usually present in a 7. The anatomy of the mesial surface of which
typical primary mandibular first molar? of the following teeth is MOST likely to cause
difficulty in restorative dentistry?
A. 1
B. 2 A. Maxillary central incisor
C. 3 B. Maxillary first premolar
D. 4 C. Maxillary second premolar
E. 5 D. Mandibular first molar
4. Considering root morphology, which of the 8. Which of the following describes the
following teeth MOST readily lend themselves anatomic progression from mandibular first to
to rotation during extraction? third molars?
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National Board Dental Examination Part I
Sample Test Items
Answer Key
1. A 1. D
2. C 2. A
3. D 3. D
4. B 4. E
5. D 5. B
6. C 6. B
7. A 7. C
8. E 8. A
9. E 9. E
10. E 10. B
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