Once students are admitted to dental school, their thoughts soon turn toward passing their courses. Soon after that their thoughts turn to getting a good score on the National Dental Board Exam. These scores may make or break a specialty school application.
However, beginning January 1, 2010, this may not be as much a problem. Performance on Part I and Part II of the NDBE will be reported only as pass/fail. This is also true of the exam for Dental Hygiene candidates. The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations is the agency responsible for the development and administration of the National Board Dental Examinations. The 15-member Commission that includes representatives from dental schools, dental practices, state dental examining boards, hygiene and dental students, as well as the public, made the decision during their meeting in March of 2008.
Dental School 