NATIONAL BOARD DENTAL HYGIENE
EXAMINATION ACTUAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What fibers of the PDL are the most prominent? Answer: Oblique
fibers
◉ Stillman's cleft Answer: v shaped loss of gingiva. Due to bad
flossing habits
◉ McCall's festoon Answer: innertube shaped swelling at the
marginal gingiva
◉ Drug induced gingival hyperplasia Answer: Dilantin (Phenytoin)
Procardia (Nifedipine)
Cyclosporin (immunosuppressant)
◉ dihiscence Answer: loss of alveolar bone
oval shaped root exposure apical to CEJ
,◉ Fenestration Answer: a window-like opening in the bone covering
the root of a tooth bordered by alveolar bone on the coronal aspect
of the tooth.
◉ Bacteria shape present in early plaque formation Answer: cocci
shaped, aerobic
◉ Bacteria shape in periodontal disease Answer: baccilli, anaerobic
◉ Bacteria shape present in NUG/NUP Answer: spirochetes
◉ periodontal bacteria in health Answer: aerobic, cocci, gram +
◉ Periodontal bacteria in diease Answer: anaerobic, baccilli, gram -
◉ Names of the bacteria that cause periodontal disease Answer: P.
Gingivalis
F. Nucletum
T. Forsythia
A. Actinomycetescomatins
◉ Bacteria responsible for NUG Answer: P. Gingivalis
T. Dentacolo
,P. Intermedian
Fusobactrium
◉ Bacteria responsible for caries Answer: S. Mutans
Lactobacillus
S. Sobrinus
◉ What bacteria is most commonly associated with aggressive
periodontitis Answer: A. Actinomycetescomatins
◉ Is plankton plaque adherent or non adherent? Answer: non
adherent
◉ how do endotoxins contribute to tissue destruction? Answer:
Stimulate osteoclast
◉ periodontal disease Answer: apical migration of the junctional
epithelium
◉ CAL Answer: measures attachment loss
CEJ to base of pocket
, ◉ What instrument is best to detect a furcation Answer: Nabers
Probe
◉ Suprabony pocket Answer: The pocket is located above the level
of the bone, NOT visible on a radiograph.
◉ Infrabony pocket Answer: base of pocket is apical to crest of
alveolar bone
◉ Does occlusal trauma cause periodontal disease Answer: No
◉ Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Answer: HSV type 1
usually affects children younger than 6
Inflamed, enlarged marginal gingiva; gingival bleeding
pin point vesicles -> ulcers throughout the mouth and lips w/ sig
pain
Malise
low grade fever
sore throat, lymphadenopathy
doesnt want to drink water
◉ Is a patient with down syndrome at a greater risk for caries
Answer: No, but they are at an increased risk for perio
EXAMINATION ACTUAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ What fibers of the PDL are the most prominent? Answer: Oblique
fibers
◉ Stillman's cleft Answer: v shaped loss of gingiva. Due to bad
flossing habits
◉ McCall's festoon Answer: innertube shaped swelling at the
marginal gingiva
◉ Drug induced gingival hyperplasia Answer: Dilantin (Phenytoin)
Procardia (Nifedipine)
Cyclosporin (immunosuppressant)
◉ dihiscence Answer: loss of alveolar bone
oval shaped root exposure apical to CEJ
,◉ Fenestration Answer: a window-like opening in the bone covering
the root of a tooth bordered by alveolar bone on the coronal aspect
of the tooth.
◉ Bacteria shape present in early plaque formation Answer: cocci
shaped, aerobic
◉ Bacteria shape in periodontal disease Answer: baccilli, anaerobic
◉ Bacteria shape present in NUG/NUP Answer: spirochetes
◉ periodontal bacteria in health Answer: aerobic, cocci, gram +
◉ Periodontal bacteria in diease Answer: anaerobic, baccilli, gram -
◉ Names of the bacteria that cause periodontal disease Answer: P.
Gingivalis
F. Nucletum
T. Forsythia
A. Actinomycetescomatins
◉ Bacteria responsible for NUG Answer: P. Gingivalis
T. Dentacolo
,P. Intermedian
Fusobactrium
◉ Bacteria responsible for caries Answer: S. Mutans
Lactobacillus
S. Sobrinus
◉ What bacteria is most commonly associated with aggressive
periodontitis Answer: A. Actinomycetescomatins
◉ Is plankton plaque adherent or non adherent? Answer: non
adherent
◉ how do endotoxins contribute to tissue destruction? Answer:
Stimulate osteoclast
◉ periodontal disease Answer: apical migration of the junctional
epithelium
◉ CAL Answer: measures attachment loss
CEJ to base of pocket
, ◉ What instrument is best to detect a furcation Answer: Nabers
Probe
◉ Suprabony pocket Answer: The pocket is located above the level
of the bone, NOT visible on a radiograph.
◉ Infrabony pocket Answer: base of pocket is apical to crest of
alveolar bone
◉ Does occlusal trauma cause periodontal disease Answer: No
◉ Primary Herpetic Gingivostomatitis Answer: HSV type 1
usually affects children younger than 6
Inflamed, enlarged marginal gingiva; gingival bleeding
pin point vesicles -> ulcers throughout the mouth and lips w/ sig
pain
Malise
low grade fever
sore throat, lymphadenopathy
doesnt want to drink water
◉ Is a patient with down syndrome at a greater risk for caries
Answer: No, but they are at an increased risk for perio
