Objective Structured Clinical

Examination (OSCE)
Protocol
March

Approved December 2020

Contents

Schedule ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Check-in ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Format ............................................................................................................................................. 4

Sample Questions ......................................................................................................................................5

Case history .................................................................................................................................... 5
Single correct answer .................................................................................................................... 6
One or more correct answers ...................................................................................................... 6
Constructed response questions ................................................................................................. 7

Content ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Blueprint ........................................................................................................................................................9

Reference Materials ...................................................................................................................... 9

OSCE Frameworks ......................................................................................................................................9

Periodontal Charts ...................................................................................................................................10

Reference Texts ........................................................................................................................................11

Released Questions .................................................................................................................................11

Tooth Numbering System .......................................................................................................................12

Regulations ................................................................................................................................... 13

General .......................................................................................................................................................13

Conduct on Examination Day .................................................................................................... 14

Misconduct ................................................................................................................................... 15

Test Accommodations ................................................................................................................ 15

Compassionate Appeals ............................................................................................................ 15

Results ............................................................................................................................................ 15

Passing Standard ......................................................................................................................... 15

Manual Rescore ........................................................................................................................... 16

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Repeats ......................................................................................................................................... 16

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Schedule

8:00 a.m. Check-in

8:30 a.m. Orientation

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Morning session

12:00 p.m. Afternoon check-in

12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Afternoon session

Check-in

During check-in, you will be issued an NDEB ID card. To receive the NDEB ID card, you must show
current government issued photo identification. Acceptable forms of government issued photo
identification are:
• driver’s licence,
• passport, or
• provincial photo identification.

The identification must be in English or French.

Photo identification must show your name exactly as it appears in your online profile and must
not be expired. If the photo identification does not have an expiry date, it must have been
issued within the last 10 years.

If you do not provide government photo identification you will not be admitted.

Format

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) consists of single answer and multi-answer
multiple-choice questions (MCQs), as well as constructed response questions. The OSCE includes
two sessions administered on the same day. Each session will include 50 MCQs and one
constructed response question. OSCE questions will require that you review the information
provided (e.g. case history, dental charts, photographs, radiographs) and answer multiple
response type questions. Each multiple response type question will have up to 15 answer options
and one or more correct answers. For constructed response questions, you will be required to
review the information provided and write an acceptable prescription for a medication
commonly prescribed by general dentists in Canada.

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Sample Questions

The following are examples of the formats generally used in the OSCE.

Case history

Many questions include a patient case history in the following format.

Using the case history and image, answer the following question on the answer sheet.

Patient Information:

Age: 58 Blood Pressure: 120/80 mmHg

Gender: Male Pulse Rate: 72 bpm
Height: 180 cm Respiration Rate: 14/min
Weight: 70 kg Temperature: 37C

Chief Complaint: “My dentures are loose.”

History of Chief Complaint: Increasing looseness over past 2 years.
Dental History: Present dentures 20 years old.
Medical History:
Significant Findings: None.
Current Medication: None.
Allergies: None.
Social/Family History:
Significant Findings: Smoker: ½ package/day for 20 years.
Alcohol consumption: 7 drinks/week.
Clinical Examination:
Significant Findings:
Extraoral: None.
Intraoral: See chart.

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Single correct answer

Questions with a single correct answer are identified by the direction “Select ONE correct
answer”. For these questions, you should select the most likely or most appropriate answer.

Sample Question: 1
(Select ONE correct answer.)
Orthodontic treatment (dental and/or skeletal) for this patient

A. is not required at this time.

B. should be initiated during the primary dentition.
C. should be initiated during the early mixed dentition (after eruption of the first permanent
molars and incisors).
D. should be initiated during the late mixed dentition prior to the pubertal growth spurt.
E. should be initiated immediately following the eruption of the permanent second molars.
F. should be initiated after the completion of growth.

Answer:

One or more correct answers

For questions that have one or more correct answers, indicated by the direction “Select ONE OR
MORE correct answers”, select all answers that are correct. The minimum score for any question
is zero (“0”). The maximum score for any question is one (“1”). Answers may have different
weights. Part marks will be awarded if some, but not all correct answers are selected, provided
that no incorrect answer is selected. If an incorrect answer is selected, the candidate will
receive a zero (“0”) score for the entire question.

Sample Question: 2
(Select ONE OR MORE correct answers.)
There is radiographic evidence of caries on the

Value Value
-1 A. distal of tooth 2.3. 0 G. distal of tooth 2.6.
-1 B. mesial of tooth 2.4. 0 H. mesial of tooth 2.7.
-1 C. distal of tooth 2.4. -1 I. distal of tooth 2.7.
.3 D. mesial of tooth 2.5. -1 J. mesial of tooth 2.8.
.3 E. distal of tooth 2.5. 0 K. distal of tooth 2.8.
.4 F. mesial of tooth 2.6.

Answer: for full mark.

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Constructed response questions

• Questions requiring a written prescription will be scored from a minimum value of zero to
a maximum value of four marks.
• A blank prescription form, illustrated below, is provided.
• You must:
o enter your NDEB ID number where indicated on the prescription form.
o write an appropriate prescription for the patient, as described in the case history.
o NOT sign the prescription.

THE NATIONAL DENTAL EXAMINING BOARD OF CANADA

Question: NDEB ID# _______________

DOCTOR XXX XXXXX Enter NDEB ID

100 ANYWHERE STREET
ANYWHERE CITY, CANADA number ONLY

DATE: ________________
NAME: _________________________

ADDRESS: _________________________

_________________________

Rx

□ NO REPEAT
□ REPEAT ____ TIME(S)
SIGNATURE XXXXXXXXX

(DO NOT SIGN PRESCRIPTION)

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Grading criteria for prescriptions

A prescription submitted with no errors will receive a maximum value of four marks. You will
receive a zero score if:
• your NDEB ID number is incorrect or missing.
• the prescription is signed or written in ink.

A deduction of four marks will be made for critical errors, including prescribing a drug which is
not available in Canada.

A deduction of one mark will be made for each error pertaining to:
• date/patient name/structure of prescription
• drug
• dosage
• instructions

Content

Examination items are developed based on the Competencies for a Beginning Dental
Practitioner in Canada available in the Reference Materials and Resources section of the NDEB
website.

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Blueprint

The blueprint below shows the content areas and approximate percentage of questions in each
area.

Approximate % of
OSCE Blueprint
Questions

Local Anesthesia 5

Endodontics 7

Medical Emergencies 5

Oral Medicine 10

Oral Surgery 4

Orthodontics 7

Pain 5

Pediatric Dentistry 6

Periodontics 6

Pharmacology/Therapeutics 7

Oral Radiology 18

Removable Partial Dentures 4

Single Crowns/Operative Dentistry 16

Total 100%

Reference Materials

OSCE Frameworks

The Question and Answer Frameworks for all questions used in the OSCE are available in the
Reference Materials and Resources section of the NDEB website. You are strongly encouraged
to visit the website in preparation for the examination.

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Periodontal Charts

The following represents an example of a periodontal chart that may be used in the OSCE. Each
chart utilizes the following notation.

• The upper part of the chart denotes the findings on the vestibular (buccal and/or labial)
surfaces of the teeth being discussed for the case.
• Missing teeth are denoted by a large “X.”
• Probing depths, in millimetres, are listed in the next row below the tooth number.
• Recession is listed below the pocketing, in millimetres. If there is no number, there is no
significant recession.
• Bleeding on probing is denoted by “•” and is listed directly below the pocket where
bleeding was found.
• The middle part of the chart denotes the findings for the lingual surfaces, using the same
categories as above.
• Mobility and furcation involvement apply to the entire tooth and can be found on the
bottom part of the chart.
• Mobility for the tooth, if present, is listed as a “1, 2, or 3”, using the Miller classification.
• The Class (I, II, III) of furcation involvement (if present) is listed with the surface indicated
(B,L,M,D).

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The following example is a chart of the maxillary second quadrant with tooth 2.6 missing. The
probing depths, in millimeters, are listed going from mesial on the left to distal on the right. In this
example, there is 3 mm of recession all along the buccal of teeth 2.4 and 2.5. No other recession
is noted. There is bleeding on probing on the mesiobuccal and distobuccal of teeth 2.5 and 2.7,
and all along the lingual of tooth 2.7. No other bleeding is noted. Tooth 2.7 has a buccal
furcation Class III and a Class 2 mobility. There is no other mobility or furcation involvement on
any other teeth/surfaces.

Vestibular
Tooth 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
Probing depth 324 454 446 476
Recession 333 333
Bleeding on probing • • • •

Lingual
Tooth 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
Probing depth 222 344 435 556
Recession
Bleeding on probing •••

Mobility 2
Furcation B-III

Reference Texts

A list of reference materials recommended in Faculties of Dentistry in Canada can be found in

the Reference Materials and Resources section of the NDEB website. The NDEB also references
journal articles, clinical guidelines, and practice standards issued by specialty organizations.

Released Questions

The NDEB publishes a large volume of released questions which are available in the Reference
Materials and Resources section of the NDEB website.

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 Tooth Numbering System

The FDI two-digit tooth numbering system is used in all examinations.

FDI / UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM

PERMANENT DENTITION

FDI 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 FDI
Universal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Universal
Universal 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 Universal
FDI 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 FDI
RIGHT LEFT

PRIMARY DENTITION

FDI 5.5 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 FDI
Universal A B C D E F G H I J Universal
Universal T S R Q P O N M L K Universal
FDI 8.5 8.4 8.3 8.2 8.1 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 FDI
RIGHT LEFT

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Regulations

Failure to comply with any regulation may result in an accusation of misconduct.

General

• You must be punctual for all sessions. If you arrive late you may be denied entry to the
examination.
• Cell phones are prohibited in the examination room.
• All watches are prohibited in the examination room.
• Devices with recording or transmitting and/or receiving abilities are prohibited in the
examination room.
• Outerwear of any kind is not permitted in the examination room.
• You must empty all pockets before entering or leaving the examination room.
• You must read and sign a Confidentiality and Non-disclosure Agreement provided on the
morning of the examination. This agreement must be signed to receive results. A sample
Confidentiality and Non-disclosure Agreement is available in your online profile, under
the “Information” tab. We recommend you review it prior to the examination.
• Only water, in a see-through, plastic bottle, with paper labels removed, is allowed in the
examination room.
• Food is not allowed in the examination room. If you require food, medicine, or medical
equipment in the examination room you must submit a request pursuant to the NDEB test
accommodations policy.
• You can have magnification for examinations that contain images. Magnification with
lights will not be allowed.
• Your NDEB ID card must always be visible.
• You cannot write on anything other than the materials provided by the NDEB.
• You can use the washroom facilities during an examination. If you use the washroom
during the examination, an invigilator will accompany you. No extra time is given for
washroom breaks.
• You are not permitted to bring any items, including a bag or purse into the washroom.
• Once the examination is in progress, if you leave the examination room for any reason,
other than to use the washroom facilities, you will not be allowed to re-enter.
• You will not be allowed to leave the examination room when there are 10 minutes
remaining.
• You must stop writing when directed by the Test Administrator.

Due to public health orders, the NDEB may find it necessary to introduce new regulations
or modify existing regulations for specific examination administrations. Any new or
modified regulations will supersede regulations published in the protocol.

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Conduct on Examination Day

Before entering the examination room:

• Remove all outerwear, including hats, scarves, and jackets.

• Empty all pockets.
• Remove all large jewelry and watches and place in your bag or jacket.
• Turn off your cell phone and place it in your bag or jacket.
• Use the washroom.

When entering the examination room:

• Place all personal items in the area designated by the Test Administrator. The NDEB and
individuals administering the examination are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged
items.
• Locate your seat.
• Place your NDEB ID card on your desk. This must be visible at all times.
• Do not talk to other examinees.

During the examination:

• You must not communicate, or attempt to communicate, with other examinees.

• You must not write on anything except the materials provided by the NDEB.
• If you need to use the washroom, raise your hand, and wait for the invigilator to escort
you.

At the end of the examination:

• You must stop writing when the Test Administrator indicates time is up. The transfer of
answers from books to answer sheets must be completed within the session time.
• Remain in your seat until all your examination material is collected.
• You must not attempt to recreate questions or share specific test items with examinees,
potential examinees, or study groups.

The NDEB may be required to implement new processes for specific examination administrations
to comply with public health and government guidelines.

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Misconduct

NDEB examination content is confidential. All questions are property of the NDEB. Unauthorized
disclosure of examination questions is prohibited under copyright laws. You must maintain the
confidentiality of all NDEB content. You cannot discuss your examination with others or
communicate about questions or answers before, during or after an examination. You cannot
attempt to recreate questions.

If at any time you are suspected of compromising the security of the examination, you will be
subject to the NDEB’s By-laws regarding misconduct. Additional information on misconduct can
be found on the NDEB website.

Test Accommodations

Test accommodations are granted on an individual basis and are dependent on the nature and
extent of the request, documentation provided, and requirements of the examination. Read the
NDEB’s policies and procedures for Test Accommodations on the NDEB website.

Compassionate Appeals

Compassionate appeals must be submitted in writing within seven days of the examination to
[email protected].

Information regarding compassionate appeals can be found on the NDEB website and in the
NDEB By-laws.

Results

Results are normally released within 10 weeks of the date of the examination. You will receive an
email notification when your results are available in your online profile.

Results will be reported as a Pass/Fail. Those who receive less than 75 will also receive their test
equated re-scaled score.

Results will not be released by telephone, email, or fax.

Passing Standard

To assure a consistent level of difficulty, the NDEB uses test equating and re-scaling procedures
to correlate raw scores to scores on a reference examination and to a standardized passing
score of 75.

You must obtain a minimum test equated, re-scaled score of 75 to be successful on an NDEB
examination.

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Manual Rescore

The appeal process for written style examinations is a manual rescore.

If you have received a failing grade on an examination, you have one month from the date
results are released to request a manual rescore of your examination.

A manual rescore involves two NDEB staff members comparing the answers on your answer
sheet with the master answer key. The result of the manual rescore will be the final score. In most
circumstances, this process confirms that no errors occurred during the scanning and electronic
scoring process.

Repeats

The OSCE can be taken a maximum of three times.

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