American Dental Licensure Examination in

Dentistry

Administered by North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners (NERB)

Manual• Includes all information needed for the

test, including registration, content, evaluation criteria and score reporting

• http://www.nerb.org/b/documents/DENTAL_MANUAL_2010_TRADITIONAL%20_with%20index_.pdf.

Your Exam

• Patient/Manikin Examinations– At Boston University, December 4-5, 2010

• Exams rotate between three MA dental schools: BU, Tufts & Harvard

Registration• You must apply through the state to take the clinical exam. Secure a

letter from your CHC to apply to the Board of Registration in Dentistry (http://www.massdental.org/practice.aspx?id=210).

• Once approval is granted, you must register for the NERB exam at: http://www.nerb.org/apply/

• You must complete a “profile” to log in and register

• DEADLINE: Monday, November 1, 2010

• Complete applications, fees and requests for deferral of feeds must be received on or before these dates in order to be processed by the NERB.

Required Documents for Registration

• Certification of Dean or designee of Dental Program/School

• Professional Liability Insurance• Social Security Number• Signature• Change of Name or Address• Identification Card

Required Identification

• Bring with you to clinical exams:– An ID card with your NERB ID number and

your exam schedule will be mailed to you 2 weeks prior to the exam date

– One ID with candidate signature– One ID with candidate signature and recent

photo• Examples: Driver’s License, Credit Card, Passport,

Military ID, and Employee ID

The Clinical Exams

Patient Recruitment• Be organized; read the booklet with the instructions (more than twice!)

• Choose patients that you know well and trust

• If you are fond of a particular instrument, bring it! • Choose the smallest qualifying lesions, too many modifications will be

stressful and will reflect poor case selection

• If possible, have someone you know pick up your patients and have them in the clinic at least 30 before the floor is open for patients

• Be honest with your patients: make sure to explain the time commitment you need from them. Tell them also that there may be a possibility you cannot do the treatment if it does not get approved

• Have a “Plan B!” and at least one “backup” set of patients.

Orientation & Admission

• Attendance is mandatory to take exam

• Takes place the afternoon before the exam at BU

• Addresses specific instructions & distributes necessary materials

What do I bring to Orientation?

• Photo Identification Card

• Two (2) other forms of ID– Two (2) must have candidate’s signature– One (1) must have recent photograph

The Day of the Exam

Simulated Patient Treatment Exams

• Endodontic

• Fixed Prosthodontic

The Day of the Exam:Endodontic & Prosthodontic

• Candidates can set up starting at 7am• Begins at 8:30am on designated day• Bring

– photo ID – 2 forms of ID– White envelope

• You can then receive the typodont box

Prior to the Exam

• Between 7:30 to 8:30 A.M. the Clinic Floor Examiner (CFE) must:

– verify that the tooth for the endodontic instrumentation and obturation has been measured and secured in the typodont

– the manikin head is properly assembled, and

any defective equipment or materials identified and corrected or replaced

Treatment Schedule

• 8:30am: Treatment begins

• Endodontics: 8:30am – 11:30am

• Prosthodontics: 11:30am – 3:30pm

• All treatment stops at 3:30pm, no matter what time you start.

• You must be in the collection line no later than 3:45pm line with: – the typodont– the properly completed evaluation forms – the Progress form

Additional Notes

• Teeth may not be removed or disassembled from the typodont or manikin head without permission from a CFE

Patient Simulation Exam Check Out

What to submit:1. Four completed progress forms

• The Fixed Prosthodontic and Endodontic Clinical Examination Progress forms are submitted with the typodont to the Manikin Clinic Floor Examiner

2. Photo Identification card for candidate and chairside assistant.

3. Medical History4. Color-coded cubicle cards (2)5. Unused Restorative and Periodontal Evaluation

forms6. The candidate will receive a receipt (Dental

Candidate Check-out form) for all materials submitted at final check out

Patient Treatment Clinical Exams

• Restorative • Periodontal

The Day of the Exam: Periodontal

• Begin at 8am or 2pm (assigned by group)

• No restorative procedures may be performed during the Periodontal ClinicalExamination time even if the exam is completed early

The Day of the Exam: Restorative

• 4 sections to be completed over 6 hours

• Begins at either 8am or 11am (assigned by group)

• Each section requires a separate evaluation in the Evaluation Station

Time Management

• Examination time includes:

– Patients’ time at the Evaluation Station for assignment & evaluation

• Minimum time: 30 minutes• Includes Requests for Modifications

Patient ExamCheck Out

What to submit:1. Pre-operative and post-operative radiographs (if

requested during the examination) of teeth restored during the examination• the complete mouth series of radiographs only by request of

examiner2. Photo Identification card for candidate and chairside

assistant.3. Treatment Consent Form(s).4. Medical History5. Color-coded cubicle cards (2)6. Unused Restorative and Periodontal Evaluation forms7. The candidate will receive a receipt (Dental

Candidate Check-out form) for all materials submitted at final check out

Additional Considerations

Assistants• Who may NOT be assistants:

– Dentists and dental hygienists (licensed or unlicensed)– Third or Fourth year dental students– Final year hygiene students– Dental technicians

• If a chairside assistant is employed, the assistant must be cleared by a NERB representative at the Coordinator Desk on the day of the examination and prior to the start of the examination.

• The candidate must have : 1. Completed Candidate Agreement for the Use of Chairside Assistant 2. Completed Authorized Chairside Assistant ID Card3. Two forms of ID

• One with photo graph• Two separate 2x2 photos

– Attach one to Candidate Agreement– Attach other to Assistant ID Card

Interpreters

• Who may NOT be interpreters:– faculty members, – dentists and dental hygienists (licensed or

unlicensed),– third or fourth year dental students, – final year dental hygiene students – Individuals serving as chairside assistants

Interpreters Contd.• The candidate must bring two separate 2”x 2”

photos of the interpreter– one to be attached to the top of the Interpreter

Disclosure Statement – One attached to the bottom of that form which serves

as the interpreter’s ID

• During the clinical examinations, the interpreter must wear a photo identifying badge provided by the NERB at all times when on the clinic floor.

• Candidates are responsible for the registration of the interpreter

Tips from Recent Test-Takers• Read through the manual thoroughly• The clinical exam is a test of your

organizational abilities; prepare, prepare, prepare!

• Choose patients that you know and trust. They will come without financial incentive.

• Have a colleague look over your patient selection

• Spend time getting to know the clinic set-up in the school at which you’ll be taking the exam

Links to Videos

• Dr. McManama discusses specific clinical activities on the NERB: – Photos of clinical procedures provided, with

commentary on quality and discussion of tips for the NERB

http://apreso.bu.edu/acmcontent/f6ff9165-bedc-4e84-8772-95e07dd50ffe/DrMcManamaNerbs_Unspecified_2010-01-22_12-03-PM.htm.

GOOD LUCK!