Guide to NBDE part-1

Part I Examination Specifications, 2007

The National Board Dental Examinations are administered in two parts. The comprehensive Part I examination consists of 400 items. For each discipline, approximately 80% of the items are discipline-based and approximately 20% are interdisciplinary testlet-based items. A testlet consists of the patient scenario and a set of items from the various disciplines that are associated with the scenario. The test items for the comprehensive Part I are drawn from the following disciplines:
1. Anatomic Sciences
2. Biochemistry-Physiology
3. Microbiology-Pathology
4. Dental Anatomy and Occlusion
Items addressing the various disciplines are intermingled throughout the examination. One item from each of the disciplines listed above will be designated for the testlets under the topic, Professional Ethics/ Patient Management. These items will require a basic understanding of professional ethical principles in patient management.

ANATOMIC SCIENCES [100]
1.0. Gross Anatomy* [49]
1.1. Head
1.1.1. Oral cavity
1.1.2. Extraoral structures
1.1.3. Osteology
1.1.4. TMJ and muscles of mastication
1.2. Neck
1.3. Axilla, shoulders, and upper extremities
1.4. Thoracic cavity
1.5. Abdominopelvic cavity
1.6. Central nervous system & neuroanatomy
2.0. Histology [23]
2.1. Ultrastructure
2.2. Basic tissues
2.3. Bone, cartilage, and joints
2.4. Lymphatic and circulatory systems
2.5. Endocrine system
2.6. Respiratory system
2.7. Gastrointestinal system
2.8. Genitourinary system
2.9. Integument
3.0. Oral Histology [16]
3.1. Tooth and supporting tissues
3.2. Soft oral tissues
3.3. Temporomandibular joint
4.0. Developmental Biology [11]
4.1. Osteogenesis
4.2. Tooth development, eruption, and movement
4.3. Facial and branchial arch development
4.4. General embryology
5.0. Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1]
* The following topics will be considered under each category of gross anatomy.
Bone
Muscles
Fascia
Nerves (peripheral and autonomic)
Arteries, veins, and lymphatics
Spaces and cavities
Joints and ligaments
Endocrines and exocrines

BIOCHEMISTRY-PHYSIOLOGY [100]
1.0. Biological Compounds [10]
1.1. Sugars and carbohydrates
1.2. Amino acids and proteins
1.3. Lipids
1.4. Nucleic acids and metabolism
1.5. Nutrients and minerals
1.6. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
2.0. Metabolism [17]
2.1. Bioenergetics
2.2. Enzymology
2.3. Catabolism
2.4. Anabolism
2.5. Urea cycle
2.6. Regulation
2.7. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
3.0. Molecular and Cellular Biology [9]
3.1. DNA/RNA and protein synthesis
3.2. Genetic engineering
3.3. Cell cycle
3.4. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
4.0. Connective Tissues [8]
4.1. Soft tissue
4.2. Hard tissue/calcification
4.3. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
5.0. Membranes [4]
5.1. Structure
5.2. Function
5.3. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
6.0. Nervous System [6]
6.1. General properties
6.2. Central nervous system
6.3. Autonomic nervous system
6.4. Somatic nervous system
6.5. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross Correlation
7.0. Muscle [6]
7.1. Skeletal
7.2. Smooth
7.3. Cardiac
7.4. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
8.0. Circulation [9]
8.1. Fluid content and dynamics
8.2. Coagulation
8.3. Cardiodynamics and electrophysiology
8.4. Regulatory mechanisms
8.5. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
9.0. Respiration [6]
9.1. Mechanical aspects
9.2. Gas exchange and transport
9.3. Regulation
9.4. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
10.0. Renal [8]
10.1. Functional anatomy
10.2. Blood flow and filtration
10.3. Reabsorption and secretion
10.4. Regulation
10.5. Acid-base balance
10.6. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
11.0. Oral Physiology [3]
11.1. Taste
11.2. Mastication (with reflexes)
11.3. Swallowing
12.0 Digestion [5]
12.1. Neuromuscular
12.2. Secretions
12.3. Absorption
12.4. Regulation
12.5. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
13.0 Endocrines [8]
13.1. Pituitary/hypothalamus
13.2. Reproduction
13.3. Signaling systems
13.4. Pancreas/parathyroid
13.5. Adrenal/thyroid
13.6. Intradisciplinary and clinical/cross correlation
14.0. Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1]

MICROBIOLOGY-PATHOLOGY [100]
1.0. General Microbiology [20]
1.1. Microbial biochemistry and physiology
1.2. Microbial cytology
1.3. Microbial variations and genetics
1.4. Sterilization and disinfection
1.5. Biology of microorganisms
1.5.1. Bacteria
1.5.2. Viruses
1.5.3. Fungi
1.6. Antibiotics and chemotherapy
1.7. Oral ecology and epidemiology
2.0. Reactions of Tissue to Injury [10]
2.1. Inflammation and repair
2.2. Physical and chemical injury
2.3. Hemodynamic disorders
3.0. Immunology and Immunopathology (at least 3 on oral immunology) [13]
3.1. Host defense mechanisms
3.2. Hypersensitivity
3.3. Immune system
4.0. Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology Specific Infectious Diseases (at least 8 on oral diseases) (22)
4.1. Bacterial
4.2. Viral
4.3. Fungal
4.4. Chlamydial and rickettsial
5.0. Systemic Pathology [22]
5.1. Cardiovascular
5.2. Respiratory
5.3. Gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary
5.4. Genitourinary
5.5. Blood-lymphatic
5.6. Endocrine
5.7. Musculoskeletal
5.8. Genetic diseases
5.9. Nervous system
6.0. Growth Disturbances [12]
6.1. Non-neoplastic
6.2. Neoplasms--etiology, epidemiology, & biology
6.3. Specific neoplasms
7.0. Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1]

DENTAL ANATOMY AND OCCLUSION [100]
1.0. Tooth Morphology [43]
1.1. Primary
1.2. Permanent
1.2.1. Incisors
1.2.2. Canines
1.2.3. Premolars
1.2.4. Molars
2.0. Pulp Cavity Morphology [5]
3.0. Calcification and Eruption [6]
4.0. Principles of Occlusion and Function [37]
4.1. Functional anatomy
4.1.1. Interarch (static and movement)
4.1.1.1. Anterior teeth
4.1.1.2. Posterior teeth
4.1.2. Intra-arch
4.2. Masticatory physiology and biomechanics
4.2.1. Temporomandibular joint
4.2.2. Muscles and ligaments
4.2.3. Determinants of occlusion
5.0. Clinical Considerations—Tooth Morphology
and Anomalies [8]
6.0. Professional Ethics/Patient Management [1]

Source: http://ada.org/prof/ed/testing/technical_report_complete.pdf