Is the Comprehensive Basic Science Examination Still Useful in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Application Process?

Abstract

For any dental student interested in pursuing a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), perhaps the biggest barrier to overcome is passing the Comprehensive Basic Science Examination (CBSE), a 200-question multiple choice test written by the National Board of Medical Examiners designed to prepare medical students for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1.1 Prior to having the CBSE as a requirement for OMS residency applications, board scores from National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) were considered as a benchmark to compare applicants across all dental schools.