NBE Sciences study guide
NBE Sciences · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The NBE Sciences exam is a discipline-based written assessment used in dental education and licensure pathways. It tests foundational biomedical science rather than clinical technique: general biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, and a smaller dental materials component. The NBE Sciences study guide has 9 sections and about 2,611 words.
01General Biology
General Biology in NBE Sciences tests cell structure and organelles, the cell cycle, the central dogma of molecular biology, and Mendelian versus non-Mendelian inheritance. Most items are one-step applications, so know the rules precisely rather than long descriptive lists.
272 words, about 1 min02General Chemistry
General Chemistry tests atomic structure, periodic trends, bonding and geometry, stoichiometry, equilibrium, acid-base behavior, and basic thermodynamics. The exam rewards quick, quantitative reasoning and clear definitions.
280 words, about 1 min03Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry tests functional-group recognition, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, aromaticity, and the electronic effects that control reactivity. NBE Sciences items commonly ask you to rank acidity, assign configuration, or predict a major product.
286 words, about 1 min04Physics
Physics in NBE Sciences covers mechanics, properties of matter, heat, optics, electricity, and sound, with emphasis on applied pressure, flow, and optical systems relevant to clinical equipment. Expect formula-based numericals with straightforward arithmetic.
301 words, about 2 min05General Anatomy
General Anatomy tests regional and systemic structure with a strong head-and-neck emphasis: skull and jaw bones, the temporomandibular joint, muscles of mastication, cranial nerves, and the blood supply of the face and teeth. Items often ask about the consequence of a nerve lesion.
325 words, about 2 min06General Physiology
General Physiology tests membrane potentials, nerve and muscle excitation, cardiovascular and respiratory function, renal clearance, gastrointestinal secretion, and endocrine control, including oral and salivary physiology. Expect calculations from simple formulas and interpretation of direction of change.
268 words, about 1 min07General Pathology
General Pathology tests cell injury and adaptation, inflammation and repair, hemodynamics, neoplasia, and immunopathology. Questions ask you to classify a process, distinguish reversible from irreversible change, or identify the most likely mechanism.
289 words, about 1 min08Microbiology
Microbiology tests bacterial structure and staining, culture and identification, sterilization and disinfection, antimicrobial principles, virology, mycology, immunology, and oral microbiology. Dental items often focus on caries and periodontal pathogens and on correct sterilization practice.
279 words, about 1 min09Dental Materials
Dental Materials tests the physical and mechanical properties of restorative and impression materials, their handling, and their clinical failure modes. Expect calculations of stress and strain, comparisons of elastic modulus and thermal expansion, and questions on setting reactions and polymerization shrinkage.
311 words, about 2 min