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A molar crown preparation on a typodont, occlusal view

ADEX Prosthodontic exam · criteria v26.8 · Free with an account

ADEX crown prep, the way examiners score it.

A visual study guide to all three crown preparations of the ADEX Prosthodontic exam: the #9 all-ceramic crown prep and the #5 and #3 zirconia preps for the bridge abutments. It covers what the examiners score on each preparation under ADEX criteria v26.8, with real graded preparations.

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On the exams: Up to four hours for three crown preparations: an all-ceramic crown on a central incisor, and zirconia crowns on a premolar and a molar as the abutments of a 3-unit bridge. Sources

The checks examiners score

Every check on the ADEX criteria sheet the guide covers (criteria v26.8), explained one by one with real graded work.

Crown prep · 12 checks per preparation

  1. Where the margin sits
  2. The shape of the margin
  3. How wide the margin is
  4. Line of draw
  5. How much you took off the sides
  6. Undercuts
  7. Taper
  8. Reduction off the top
  9. Line angles
  10. The one that changes with the tooth
  11. The neighbouring teeth
  12. The gum and the typodont

The ADEX Dental Examination at a glance

Official exam details as published by ADEX. Our guide is a study aid, not the examination document.

The exam series
The ADEX Dental Examination combines the computer-based DLOSCE with five clinical exams: Periodontal, Endodontic, Prosthodontic, Anterior Restorative and Posterior Restorative. All parts must be passed within 18 months of the first attempt of any part.
Source: ADEX Dental Examination page (opens in a new tab) · Examination Fees: the five clinical exams and the DLOSCE; ADEX Candidate Guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · The ADEX Examination Series & 18-Month Rule: the 18-month rule
Where you work
The clinical exams are performed on simulated patient manikins and proprietary typodont models, in a clinic or simulation laboratory.
Source: ADEX Dental Candidate Manual, Clinical (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · Examination Overview
Prosthodontic exam
Up to four hours for three crown preparations: an all-ceramic crown on a central incisor, and zirconia crowns on a premolar and a molar as the abutments of a 3-unit bridge.
Source: ADEX Dental Candidate Manual, Clinical (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · Examination Overview; Endodontic & Prosthodontic Performance Expectations
Passing score
Examiners rate each criterion Clinically Acceptable, Marginally Substandard or Critically Deficient. A score of 75 or greater is required to pass each part, and results are reported as pass or fail.
Source: ADEX Dental Candidate Manual, Clinical (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · Scoring Overview — Endodontic and Prosthodontic Exams
Retakes
Failing one crown preparation means retaking the whole Prosthodontic exam. A 10-day waiting period applies before any retake, and three failed attempts of the same part fail the entire exam series.
Source: ADEX Candidate Guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · 10-Day Retake Waiting Period; ADEX 3-Time Fail Policy; ADEX Dental Candidate Manual, Clinical (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Exam fee
$2,995 for the full ADEX Dental series, plus a facility fee that varies by location and a $150 typodont fee per procedure. It includes one complimentary retake per clinical procedure.
Source: ADEX Dental Examination page (opens in a new tab) · Examination Fees – ADEX Dental Series

Source: ADEX Dental Candidate Manual and Candidate Guide, 2026–2027 season. Confirm current details at adextesting.org. Last verified .

What learners say

Dr. Bianca R.

Dr. Bianca R.

New York UniversityPassed
“Dental Board Tutor helped me so much while preparing for both the INBDE and ADEX, and I’m so happy to say that I passed both exams! The practice questions are excellent and really helped me understand what to expect and feel more confident going into my exams. I especially loved how clearly the ADEX requirements are explained. Everything is broken down in such a simple and easy-to-understand way, which helped me a lot during my preparation and made the whole process feel much less overwhelming. I’m truly grateful I found Dental Board Tutor and would definitely recommend it to anyone preparing for the INBDE or ADEX!”
Dr. Surendar S

Dr. Surendar S

New York UniversityPassed
“DB Tutor helped me prepare for the INBDE in a way I could actually trust, and I passed on my next attempt after relying on it as my main study resource. The subject wise, high-yield question bank is built like a boot camp. Instead of wading through material that won’t show up on the exam, I could focus on the concepts that matter most, and the questions felt representative of the real test. What set it apart for me was the reasoning. When I chose an answer, the AI asked me to explain why I thought it was right, and it then showed me where my logic held up and where it didn’t. That habit removed a lot of the self-deception I had when studying alone. I was no longer reassured by simply getting an answer right; I had to justify it. The adaptive scheduling was equally valuable. DB Tutor tracked my strong and weak areas and adjusted my study plan around the time I had available, so I always knew what to work on next. It kept me moving toward the exam date without the anxiety of wondering whether I was spending time on the right topics. If you’re preparing for the INBDE and want a structured, honest, and efficient way to study, I’d recommend DB Tutor.”

Guides for the ADEX exam

Frequently Asked Questions

The ADEX Dental Examination combines the computer-based DLOSCE with five clinical exams: Periodontal, Endodontic, Prosthodontic, Anterior Restorative and Posterior Restorative. All parts must be passed within 18 months of the first attempt of any part.
Up to four hours for three crown preparations: an all-ceramic crown on a central incisor, and zirconia crowns on a premolar and a molar as the abutments of a 3-unit bridge.
Examiners rate each criterion Clinically Acceptable, Marginally Substandard or Critically Deficient. A score of 75 or greater is required to pass each part, and results are reported as pass or fail.
Failing one crown preparation means retaking the whole Prosthodontic exam. A 10-day waiting period applies before any retake, and three failed attempts of the same part fail the entire exam series.
Each check examiners score on a crown preparation, explained one by one for the ADEX exam season August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027, with real graded preparations showing what each score looks like.
Yes. Create a free account and verify your email: both guides open right away. No credit card, no trial and no subscription. The INBDE question bank and the Florida courses are separate products you can add later with the same login.
No. The guides are study aids, not the examination documents: read the official ADEX criteria before you sit. Dental Board Tutor is not affiliated with ADEX (the American Board of Dental Examiners).

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