The best INBDE study materials are the ones that help you practice thinking like a dentist. In practice that means official ADA resources, one structured source of content review, a question bank and timed mock exams, tied together by a schedule. Most candidates I meet do not lack resources. They have too many and too little structure.
The INBDE launched in August 2020 and replaced NBDE Part I and Part II. According to the ADA, all US licensing jurisdictions require it. It is a case-based exam, so it asks you to apply biomedical, behavioral and clinical knowledge together instead of recalling isolated facts.
That changes what makes a study material useful. A resource that only lists facts will leave you short. Check the INBDE Candidate Guide for the current format and content outline.
Before buying anything, read the Candidate Guide and the ADA’s exam pages. They explain eligibility, the DENTPIN you need to apply, and how testing works. The guide also notes that a new application and fee are required before each testing attempt, so it pays to prepare properly the first time. If you are based in Canada, our post on INBDE in Canada explains how the exam fits your plans.
| Material | Use it for | Watch out for |
| Textbooks and notes | Building foundations in weak areas | Reading passively and covering too much |
| Video lectures | Understanding difficult topics quickly | Watching without testing yourself |
| Question banks | Learning how questions are asked and finding gaps | Memorizing answers instead of reasoning |
| Timed mock exams | Building stamina and pacing | Taking them too late, or skipping the review |
| One-on-one review | Fixing recurring errors and staying accountable | Choosing without checking who teaches |
No single resource is enough. Our INBDE mock exams and self-study programs are designed to sit alongside your content review, and our post on how mock exams build confidence explains how to use them.
Pick one resource per category and commit to it. Test each with a sample before you pay, check who wrote or teaches it, and look at when it was last updated. Switching between three question banks feels productive, but it spreads your review thin and hides your weak areas.
| Weeks | Focus |
| 1–4 | Content review and gap finding. Take a short diagnostic in week one. |
| 5–8 | Question bank by discipline. Review every wrong answer. |
| 9–11 | Mixed timed blocks and full mock exams. |
| 12 | Final review, weak-area patching and rest. |
Treat this as a starting point. If you work full time, stretch it. If you are applying to advanced-standing programs through ADEA CAAPID, many programs require a passing INBDE result, so work backwards from your deadline and leave room for a retake. To build clinical reasoning specifically, read our post on building clinical reasoning for the INBDE.
Keep an error log from day one. For each wrong answer, note the topic and why you missed it: a knowledge gap, a reasoning slip or a misread question. Each type needs a different fix. Knowledge gaps need content review, reasoning slips need more case practice, and misreads need slower, more careful reading under time pressure. Revisit the log every week and watch which category shrinks. Ten minutes reviewing each block is worth more than another hour of new questions, because review is where the learning happens.
The INBDE is a US licensure exam, while Canadian licensure runs through the NDEB. Some candidates based in Canada still take the INBDE because they plan to apply to US advanced-standing programs or to practice in the United States. If that is you, the same materials and plan apply. If you are unsure which exam belongs to your route, start with our comparison of AFK and ADAT.
There is no single best resource. Combine the official guide, one structured content source, a question bank and timed mock exams, then review every wrong answer.
It depends on your starting point and schedule, so fixed numbers are unreliable. Build a weekly routine you can sustain and adjust it after your first mock exam.
Free resources, especially the official guide, are a useful start. Most candidates still need structured question practice and feedback.
Take a short diagnostic early, then begin full timed mock exams around the midpoint of your plan so you have time to act on the results.
| Want a study plan built around your exam date? Book a free 30-minute orientation and ask about our personalized INBDE online course. |
Dr. Sehar (Dr. Sahreen Alam) is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and the founder of DentaBest, with 14 years of experience tutoring INBDE, ADAT and AFK candidates.
