The structural foundation. Tooth anatomy, the tissues that support teeth, the salivary glands and enough general physiology to make sense of medical histories. Questions often work backwards from a symptom to the structure responsible.
What anatomy covers in the Knowledge Test
- Enamel, dentine, cementum and pulp, and what each does
- The periodontium and how occlusal forces are absorbed
- Tooth notation and surfaces
- Salivary glands and their drainage
- Eruption dates for primary and permanent dentition
- Relevant body systems and how they affect dental care
Where candidates lose marks
Attributing sensitivity to enamel. Enamel has no nerve supply — dentine transmits it.
Confusing cementum with enamel on root surfaces.
Learning notation without being able to apply it to a chart.
The four dental tissues
Nearly every anatomy question resolves to knowing which tissue does what. Enamel is the hardest and has no nerve supply; dentine transmits stimuli through tubules, which is why exposed dentine is sensitive and exposed enamel is not.
| Tissue | Where | Key property |
|---|---|---|
| Enamel | Crown surface | Hardest tissue in the body; non-vital, no sensation |
| Dentine | Beneath enamel and cementum | Tubules transmit stimuli to the pulp — the source of sensitivity |
| Cementum | Root surface | Anchors periodontal ligament fibres |
| Pulp | Central chamber and canals | Blood vessels and nerves; the tooth's vitality |
The periodontium
The supporting structures are the gingivae, periodontal ligament, cementum and alveolar bone. The periodontal ligament is the shock absorber — it takes the occlusal load during chewing. Attributing that role to enamel or bone is a common error.
Notation and surfaces
You are expected to read and write a chart, not just recognise the notation. Surfaces are mesial, distal, buccal or labial, lingual or palatal, occlusal and incisal. FDI two-digit notation is the international standard; Palmer notation still appears in UK practice.
Salivary glands
Three pairs of major glands: parotid, draining near the upper molars; submandibular, draining into the floor of the mouth and producing the largest share of resting saliva; and sublingual. A question describing reduced flow in the floor of the mouth is pointing at the submandibular gland.
Worked examples
Real questions from our bank, with the reasoning. No sign-in needed.
A patient has gingival recession exposing the root surface. Which tissue is now exposed?
- AEnamel
- BDentine
- CCementumCorrect
- DAlveolar bone
Why: Cementum covers the root. Enamel is confined to the crown, and alveolar bone surrounds the socket rather than covering the root.
Both free mocks draw from this topic in the same proportion as the real paper — 65 questions in 90 minutes, with an explanation for every answer and a per-topic breakdown at the end.
Start a free mock examAnatomy questions, answered
Why is exposed dentine sensitive but enamel is not?
Dentine contains microscopic tubules that transmit stimuli towards the pulp. Enamel is non-vital and has no nerve supply, so it cannot transmit sensation.
What covers the root of a tooth?
Cementum. Enamel covers the crown only, which is why gingival recession exposing root surface exposes cementum rather than enamel.
What absorbs the force of chewing?
The periodontal ligament. It suspends the tooth in its socket and acts as a shock absorber; enamel resists wear but does not absorb load.
Which salivary gland drains into the floor of the mouth?
The submandibular gland, which produces a large proportion of resting saliva. The parotid drains near the upper molars.
What are the tooth surfaces called?
Mesial, distal, buccal or labial, lingual or palatal, and occlusal on posterior teeth or incisal on anterior teeth.
The other nine topics
Independent study material, not affiliated with or endorsed by NEBDN. Always check the official NEBDN website for the current syllabus. NEBDN does not publish a pass mark for the Knowledge Test.