INBDE vs NBDE: What Changed and How to Prepare in 2025
The Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) replaced the two-part National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) in 2020. If you graduated from a dental school outside the United States, understanding this change is critical for your US licensing journey.
What Changed: NBDE vs INBDE
NBDE Part I & II (retired 2020): The old system had two separate exams — Part I covered basic sciences, Part II covered clinical sciences. They were taken at different stages of training.
INBDE (current): A single integrated examination that combines biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, and clinical judgment in one 2-day exam with 400 items. The integration means questions often require applying basic science knowledge to solve a clinical problem — not recalling facts in isolation.
What the INBDE Tests
The INBDE is organized into three content areas:
- Biomedical Sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology)
- Clinical Sciences (diagnosis, treatment planning, restorative, periodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry)
- Clinical Judgment (integrated questions requiring application across domains)
How International Dentists Should Prepare
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Enroll in a structured 12-week program. The INBDE is designed for US dental students who have spent 2 years in didactic training. International dentists must cover the full content systematically.
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Focus on clinical integration. The biggest difference from the old NBDE is the integrated format. Practice questions that combine basic science with clinical reasoning.
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Use official INBDE resources. The American Dental Association (ADA) publishes official guide materials and sample questions. These are the gold standard.
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Take timed practice exams. Timing is critical — 400 questions in 2 days requires strong pacing skills.
TutorHealth's INBDE preparation program is built specifically for internationally-trained dentists.