100+ Free NZ Dental Hygiene REX Practice Questions
Pass your New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination (Dental Council of New Zealand) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
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Key Facts: NZ Dental Hygiene REX Exam
Two 3-hour papers
The NZDHREX Written Examination consists of two 3-hour papers, Paper A and Paper B
Dental Council - Sit written examination
50 MCQs
Paper B includes one hour of 50 multiple-choice questions
Dental Council - Sit written examination
Pass (C-)
A pass grade of C- is required in each of the two written papers
Dental Council - Sit written examination
3 attempts
Candidates have three years from first sitting and a maximum of three attempts overall
Dental Council - New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination
NZD $7,431.30
Written examination fee (incl. GST) under the 2026/27 Dental Council fee schedule
Dental Council - Registration and other fees for 2026/27
NZD $9,660.00
Clinical examination fee (incl. GST) under the 2026/27 Dental Council fee schedule
Dental Council - Registration and other fees for 2026/27
Written then clinical
The written examination must be passed before sitting the clinical examination
Dental Council - New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination
10-12 weeks
Written examination results are usually issued 10 to 12 weeks after the examination date
Dental Council - Sit written examination
The New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination (NZDHREX) is the Dental Council of New Zealand pathway for overseas-qualified dental hygienists without a prescribed qualification. The Written Examination has two 3-hour papers: Paper A (essay and short answers) and Paper B (one hour of 50 multiple-choice questions plus two hours of visual interpretation of images and radiographs). A pass (C-) is required in each paper before sitting the clinical examination, and candidates have three years and a maximum of three attempts overall. The 2026/27 written examination fee is NZD $7,431.30 incl. GST and the clinical fee is NZD $9,660.00 incl. GST. This 100-question bank provides original multiple-choice practice across the dental hygiene knowledge base tested by the written papers.
Sample NZ Dental Hygiene REX Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your NZ Dental Hygiene REX exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which structure forms the most coronal part of the periodontium and creates the seal between the gingiva and the tooth surface?
2Dental plaque is best described as a:
3In the 2017 World Workshop classification, the diagnosis of periodontitis is based on staging and grading. Stage is primarily determined by:
4Bleeding on probing (BOP) at a periodontal site is most useful clinically as an indicator of:
5Clinical attachment loss (CAL) is measured from a fixed reference point. That reference point is the:
6A patient presents with generalised gingival redness and bleeding but probing depths of 1-3 mm and no clinical attachment loss or radiographic bone loss. The most likely diagnosis is:
7Which of the following is the primary aetiological factor in both gingivitis and periodontitis?
8Subgingival calculus is most commonly attached to the tooth surface by:
9Which systemic condition is most strongly associated with an increased risk and severity of periodontitis?
10Smoking affects the periodontal examination by tending to:
About the NZ Dental Hygiene REX Exam
The New Zealand Dental Hygiene Registration Examination (NZDHREX) is the Dental Council of New Zealand's examination pathway for internationally qualified dental hygienists who do not hold a prescribed qualification and wish to register in the dental hygiene scope of practice. It has a written component and a clinical component, and the written examination must be passed first. The Written Examination consists of two 3-hour papers: Paper A uses essay and short written answers, while Paper B combines one hour of 50 multiple-choice questions with two hours of visual interpretation of clinical images and radiographs answered in short written form. The examination assesses the scientific basis of contemporary dental hygiene, including periodontology, oral health assessment, scaling and root surface debridement, preventive dentistry, oral pathology and radiography, pharmacology, medical emergencies, infection control, dental materials, and the New Zealand regulatory and ethical framework.
Assessment
Written Examination of two 3-hour papers. Paper A: essay and short written answers. Paper B: one hour of 50 multiple-choice questions plus two hours of visual interpretation of clinical images and radiographs with short written answers. A separate clinical examination follows.
Time Limit
Two 3-hour papers (6 hours of written examination). The Paper B MCQ section is one hour for 50 questions.
Passing Score
A pass (C-) is required in each of the two written papers; the clinical examination must also be passed. Candidates have three years from first sitting and a maximum of three attempts in total across the written and clinical components.
Exam Fee
Written examination NZD $7,431.30 (incl. GST); clinical examination NZD $9,660.00 (incl. GST) under the Dental Council 2026/27 fee schedule. Registration and annual practising certificate fees apply separately after passing. (Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ))
NZ Dental Hygiene REX Exam Content Outline
Periodontology and periodontal therapy
Periodontal anatomy and the plaque biofilm, calculus formation, the 2017 classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases, gingivitis versus periodontitis, periodontal assessment including probing depth, clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing, and the outcomes of non-surgical periodontal therapy.
Oral health assessment, scaling and instrumentation
History taking, charting and periodontal recording, instrument design and selection, scaling and root surface debridement technique, the use of hand and ultrasonic instruments, ergonomics, instrument sharpening and the evaluation of treatment outcomes.
Preventive dentistry and oral health promotion
The caries process and caries risk assessment, fluoride mechanisms and therapy, fissure sealants, diet and dietary counselling, tobacco cessation, oral hygiene instruction, and community oral health including water fluoridation in New Zealand.
Oral pathology, oral medicine and radiography
Recognition of common oral mucosal lesions and conditions, oral cancer awareness and referral, normal and pathological radiographic appearances, bitewing and periapical interpretation, image faults and radiation protection principles.
Pharmacology, medical emergencies and infection control
Local anaesthetic agents and their limits, drugs relevant to dental hygiene and their interactions, antibiotic prophylaxis principles, recognition and first-line management of medical emergencies, and infection prevention through standard precautions and instrument reprocessing.
Dental materials, NZ regulatory framework and ethics
Dental materials encountered in hygiene practice, the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, the Dental Council dental hygiene scope of practice and standards, professional ethics, informed consent, the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights, and cultural safety in New Zealand.
How to Pass the NZ Dental Hygiene REX Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: A pass (C-) is required in each of the two written papers; the clinical examination must also be passed. Candidates have three years from first sitting and a maximum of three attempts in total across the written and clinical components.
- Assessment: Written Examination of two 3-hour papers. Paper A: essay and short written answers. Paper B: one hour of 50 multiple-choice questions plus two hours of visual interpretation of clinical images and radiographs with short written answers. A separate clinical examination follows.
- Time limit: Two 3-hour papers (6 hours of written examination). The Paper B MCQ section is one hour for 50 questions.
- Exam fee: Written examination NZD $7,431.30 (incl. GST); clinical examination NZD $9,660.00 (incl. GST) under the Dental Council 2026/27 fee schedule. Registration and annual practising certificate fees apply separately after passing.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
NZ Dental Hygiene REX Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of the NZ Dental Hygiene Registration Examination written component?
The Written Examination has two 3-hour papers. Paper A uses essay and short written answers. Paper B combines one hour of 50 multiple-choice questions with two hours of visual interpretation of clinical images and radiographs answered in short written form.
How many multiple-choice questions are on the written examination?
Paper B includes 50 multiple-choice questions to be completed in one hour, alongside a separate two-hour visual interpretation section using images and radiographs.
What passing standard is required?
Candidates must achieve a pass (C-) in each of the two written papers, and then pass the clinical examination. You have three years from first sitting and a maximum of three attempts in total across the written and clinical components.
How much does the examination cost?
Under the Dental Council 2026/27 fee schedule the written examination is NZD $7,431.30 (incl. GST) and the clinical examination is NZD $9,660.00 (incl. GST). Registration and practising certificate fees apply separately after passing.
Who needs to sit the NZDHREX?
Internationally qualified dental hygienists who do not hold a Dental Council prescribed qualification and want to register in the dental hygiene scope of practice. Those who hold a prescribed qualification, or who are registered in Australia, may use other pathways.
Are these official Dental Council practice questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the knowledge areas of the written papers. They are study practice only and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Dental Council of New Zealand.