Guide to NBDE part-2

Part II Examination Specifications, 2007

The comprehensive Part II examination consists of 500 items. The discipline-based component (Component A) includes 400 items and the case-based component (Component B) includes 100 items based on 8-10 case problems. The Part II examination will include items (approximately 30 percent) that have references pertinent to the basic sciences.
Discipline-Based Component (400 items)
The test items that comprise the discipline-based component are derived from the following disciplines:
1. Endodontics
2. Operative Dentistry
3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Pain Control
4. Oral Diagnosis
5. Orthodontics / Pediatric Dentistry
6. Patient Management
7. Periodontics
8. Pharmacology
9. Prosthodontics

Case-Based Component (100 items)
The case-based component of the Part II examination presents events dealing with actual patients. The patient cases are developed to include the following approximate distribution: Adults--70 percent, Children--30 percent. A minimum of 15 percent of Component B test questions will address the medical management of compromised adults and children. A compromised patient is defined as a person whose health status requires modification of standard treatment.
Each case presentation in the examination contains two sections: the first section appears in a Booklet of Cases and consists of:
1. a synopsis of a patient's health and social histories,
2. the patient's dental charting,
3. radiographs, and
4. clinical photographs of the patient (when necessary).
The second section appears in a Test Booklet and contains from 10 to 15 questions about various aspects of this patient's dental care. These questions, totaling 100 for all of the cases, might derive from any of the basic sciences and clinical disciplines, including Patient Management. The proportion stemming from any particular discipline depends upon the nature of the case itself. For example, the case of an elderly adult might be based upon Maxillofacial Surgery / Pain Control, Prosthodontics, and Operative Dentistry; whereas, a child's case might derive from Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, and Patient Management.
In responding to these questions, the test taker must:
1. interpret the findings and information provided.
2. identify the problems and make diagnoses.
3. select materials, technique, and armamentarium.
4. apply treatment.
5. evaluate progress and complications.
6. establish procedures for prevention and maintenance.
ENDODONTICS [30]
1.0. Clinical Diagnosis, Case Selection, Treatment
Planning, and Patient Management [14]
1.1. Pulpal
1.2. Periradicular
1.3. Periodontal
1.4. Differential diagnosis of orofacial pain
1.5. Therapeutics
1.6. Clinical examination
1.7. Testing procedures
1.8. Radiographic interpretation
1.9. Medical emergencies
2.0. Basic Endodontic Treatment Procedures [8]
2.1. Non-surgical
2.2. Surgical
2.3. Emergency
2.4. Sterilization and asepsis
2.5. Radiographic techniques
2.6. Endodontic instruments and material
2.7. Resorptions
3.0. Procedural Complications [3]
3.1. Ledging
3.2. Perforations
3.3. Separated instruments
3.4. Root fractures
4.0. Traumatic Injuries [2]
4.1. Crown fractures
4.2. Root fractures
4.3. Displacements
4.4. Avulsions
5.0. Adjunctive Endodontic Therapy [1]
5.1. Vital pulp therapy
5.2. Treatment of developing teeth
5.3. Bleaching
5.2.1. Dental amalgam
5.4. Restoration
5.2.2. Indirect restoration
5.5. Endodontic instruments and materials
6.0. Post-Treatment Evaluation [2]
6.1. Outcomes
5.2.5. Occlusion
6.2. Management of endodontic failures
OPERATIVE DENTISTRY [45]
1.0. Dental Caries [8]
1.1. Etiology
1.2. Pathogenesis
1.3. Prevention
1.4. Remineralization
2.0. Examination, Diagnosis, and Treatment Planning [25]
2.1. Examination and diagnosis
2.1.1. Caries
2.1.2. Abrasion, cracked tooth, others
2.2. Treatment sequencing, placement, and replacement
2.3. Selection of restorative materials
2.4. Restorative failure
2.5. Postoperative problems
3.0.General Operative Procedures [3]
3.1.Instruments and equipment
3.2.Control of the operating field
3.3.Soft tissue management
3.4. Esthetic considerations--bleaching, color
4.0. Preparation of Cavities [3]
4.1 Basic principles, instrumentation, andnomenclature
4.2. Preparation
4.2.1. Dental amalgams
4.2.2. Cast gold
4.2.3. Tooth colored restorative materials
5.0. Restoration of Prepared Cavities [6]
5.1.Biomaterials science – principles, properties, composition, color science
5.2. Manipulation and finishing of restorative materials
5.2.3. Direct esthetic materials
5.2.4.Cements, bases and liners, and interim restorations
5.2.5. Occlusion
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY/PAIN CONTROL [43]
1.0. Surgery [18]
1.1. Dentoalveolar
1.2. Reconstructive (including preprosthetic implants, transplants, bone grafting)
1.3. Trauma
1.4. Orthognathic
1.5. Facial Pain -- temporomandibular joint
1.6. Lesions
1.7. Infections
2.0. Anxiety and Pain Control [6]
2.1. Local anesthesia
2.1.1. Anatomy and technique
2.1.2. Clinical pharmacology
2.1.3. Complications
2.2. Conscious sedation
2.2.1. Oral
2.2.2. Inhalation
2.2.3. Intravenous
2.2.4. Complications
3.0. Medical Assessment and Emergency Care [15]
4.0. Treatment Plan [2]
5.0. Diagnosis [2]
ORAL DIAGNOSIS [44]
1.0. Oral Pathology [37]
1.1. Developmental defects of the oral and maxillofacial region
1.1.1. Defects
1.1.2. Developmental cysts
1.1.3. Other rare developmental anomalies
1.2. Abnormalities of the teeth
1.2.1. Environmental alterations of teeth
1.2.2. Developmental alterations of teeth
1.3. Pulpal and periapical disease
1.4. Bacterial infections
1.5. Fungal and protozoal diseases
1.6. Viral infections
1.7. Physical and chemical injuries
1.8. Allergies and immunologic diseases
1.9. Epithelial pathology
1.10. Salivary gland pathology
1.11. Soft tissue growths
1.12. Hematologic disorders
1.13. Bone pathology
1.14. Odontogenic cysts and tumors
1.14.1. Cysts
1.14.2. Tumors
1.15. Dermatologic Diseases
1.16. Oral Manifestations of Systemic Disease
1.17. Facial Pain and Neuromuscular Diseases
2.0. Oral Radiology [7]
2.1. Physical principles of x-radiation (radiation physics)
2.2. Radiobiological concepts (radiobiology)
2.3. Radiographic technique
2.4. Normal radiographic anatomy
ORTHODONTICS / PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY [58]
1.0. Individual Tooth Pathology [15]
1.1. Basic background and epidemiology
1.1.1. Tooth development
1.1.2. Etiology
1.1.3. Prevention
1.2. Database, diagnosis, and treatment planning
1.2.1. Clinical Findings
1.2.2. Radiographic
1.2.3. Laboratory studies
1.3. Clinical procedures
1.3.1. Restorative
1.3.2. Surgery
1.3.3. Local anesthesia
2.3.4. Sealants
2.0. Supporting Tissue Pathology [9]
2.1. Basic background and epidemiology
2.1.1. Etiology
2.1.2. Incidence
2.2. Database, diagnosis, and treatment planning
2.2.1. Clinical findings
2.2.2. Radiographic
2.2.3. Laboratory
2.3. Clinical Procedures
2.3.1. Medication
2.3.2. Hygiene
3.0. Dentofacial Variations [7]
3.1. Basic background and epidemiology
3.1.1. Growth patterns
3.1.2. Occlusal development
3.1.3. TMJ dysfunction
3.1.4. Etiology
3.2. Database, diagnosis, and treatment planning
3.2.1. Casts
3.2.2. Clinical findings
3.2.3. Cephalometric
3.2.4. Facial appearance
3.3. Clinical procedures
3.3.1. Diagnosis and space management
3.3.2. Removable appliances
3.3.3. Fixed appliances
3.3.4. Tooth movement principles
3.3.5. Surgery
3.3.6. TMJ dysfunction
4.0. Behavior [12]
4.1. Basic background and epidemiology
4.1.1. Developmental psychology
4.1.2. Cultural variation
4.2. Database, diagnosis, and treatment planning
4.2.1. History and interview
4.3. Clinical management procedures
4.4. Pharmacologic anxiety management
5.0. Systemic Pathology [15]
5.1. Basic background and epidemiology
5.1.1. Congenital
5.1.2. Endocrine
5.1.3. Nutrition
5.2. Database, diagnosis, and treatment planning
5.2.1. History and review
5.2.2. Handicapped
5.3. Clinical procedures
5.3.1. Treatment modifications
5.3.2. Special care
5.3.3. Emergencies
PATIENT MANAGEMENT [56]
1.0. Communication and Interpersonal Skills [11]
1.1. Nonverbal communication
1.2. Verbal communication
1.2.1. Listening skills
1.2.2. Responding skills
1.3. Interviewing skills
1.4. Management and problem behavior
1.5. General principles of dentist/patient relationship
1.6. Case presentation or treatment planning
1.6.1. Giving information
1.6.2. Minimizing resistance
1.6.3. Patient education
2.0. Anxiety and Pain Control [6]
2.1. Anxiety
2.1.1. Etiology
2.1.2. Recognition
2.1.3. Management
2.2. Pain
2.2.1. Psychophysiology
2.2.2. Management
2.3. Stress
3.0. Health Behavior Change [3]
3.1. Factors influencing health behavior
3.1.1. Motivational factors
3.1.2. Social & physical environmental factors
3.1.3. Cultural factors
3.2. Behavior change techniques
3.2.1. Assessment
3.2.2. Behavioral strategies
3.2.3. Cognitive strategies
3.2.4. Information transfer
3.3. Risk factors
4.0. Disabled and Medically Compromised [8]
5.0. Epidemiology [7]
5.1. Epidemiology of oral diseases
5.1.1. Caries
5.1.2. Periodontal disease
5.1.3. Oral cancer
5.2. Epidemiological measures
6.0. Prevention of oral diseases [1]
6.1. Community and school-based methods
6.2. Office-based methods
6.3. Home-based methods
7.0. Evaluation of Dental Literature [4]
7.1. Types of studies
7.1.1. Descriptive
7.1.2. Analytical
7.1.3. Experimental
7.2. Components of a scientific article
7.3. Basic statistics
7.3.1. Descriptive
7.3.1.1. Central tendency
7.3.1.2. Dispersion
7.3.2. Inferential
8.0. Infection Control [2]
8.1. Diseases and routes of transmission
8.2. Barrier techniques
8.3. Sterilization and disinfection
8.4. Disposal of contaminated waste
9.0. Materials and Equipment Safety [2]
9.1. Mercury hygiene
9.2. Environmental contaminants
9.3. Operatory equipment
9.4. Chemicals
10.0. Professional Responsibility/Liability [12]
10.1. Ethical principles
10.2. Jurisprudence
10.3. Informed consent
10.4. Risk prevention/management
10.5. Dental care delivery systems
PERIODONTICS [45]
1.0. Diagnosis [6]
2.0. Etiology [6]
2.1. Periodontal microbiology
2.2. Contributing factors
2.2.1. Local factors
2.2.2. Systemic factors
3.0. Pathogenesis [1]
4.0. Treatment Planning [6]
5.0. Prognosis [1]
6.0. Therapy [19]
6.1. Rationale
6.2. Scaling and root planing
6.3. Surgery
6.3.1. Gingival
6.3.2. Mucogingival
6.3.3. Osseous surgery
6.3.4. Periodontal regeneration
6.3.5. Implants
6.4. Pharmacologic therapy
6.5. Wound healing, repair, and regeneration
6.6. Splinting and occlusal correction
6.7. Special therapeutic problems
6.7.1. Acute problems
6.7.2. Other
7.0. Prevention and Maintenance [6]
PHARMACOLOGY [34]
1.0. General Principles [5]
1.1. Prescription writing, drug laws, and drug abuse
1.2. Toxicity and drug interaction
1.3. Dose response
1.4. Mechanism of action
1.5. Biotransformation
1.6. Absorption, distribution, excretion
1.7. Alternative (herbal) medications
2.0. Central Nervous System [4]
2.1. Sedatives -- hypnotics and alcohols
2.2. Antianxiety and conscious sedation agents
2.3. Anticonvulsants -- anti-Parkinson
2.4. Psychotropics (antipsychotic, antidepressant)
3.0. Autonomic [3]
3.1. Adrenergics
3.2. Cholinergics
3.3. Blocking agents (adrenergic, cholinergic, etc)
4.0. Cardiovascular [4]
4.1. Cardiac glycosides
4.2. Antiarrhythmics
4.3. Antihypertensives -- diuretics
4.4. Anti-anginal agents
4.5. Anticoagulants, coagulants,antihyperlipidemics
5.0. Local anesthetics [4]
5.1. Basic pharmacology
5.2. Vasoconstrictors
6.0. Chemotherapy [5]
6.1. Antibacterials
6.2. Antifungals
6.3. Antivirals
6.4. Antineoplastics
7.0. Endocrines/Immunosuppressants [2]
8.0. Analgesics [5]
8.1. Opioids
8.2. Non-opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents
9.0. Antihistamines and Autocoids [2]
PROSTHODONTICS [45]
1.0. General Considerations [21]
1.1. Diagnosis and treatment planning
1.2. Preprosthodontic treatment
1.3. Maxillomandibular relations
1.4. Impressions and casts
1.5. Esthetics and phonetics
1.6. Restorative implantology
2.0. Complete and Removable Partial Denture Pros. [8]
2.1. Design of prosthesis and mouth preparation
2.2. Occlusion
2.3. Dental materials
2.4. Insertion and postinsertion
3.0. Fixed Partial Prosthodontics [16]
3.1. Design of prosthesis and mouth preparation
3.2. Occlusion
3.3. Ceramic techniques
3.4. Dental materials
3.5. Insertion and postinsertion

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