NBDE – “Non-Recognized Bored Dentist on eBay?”
Traveling across the globe from Mysore to Manhattan changed my life forever. Friends compared Manhattan to Bombay and Bangalore, but who knew those places? I had spent my entire life in a small town. This new world was exciting to my eyes. Passing by Chinatown dental offices on my way to a new destination, I skeptically wondered, “Am I really going to be a dentist here?”
My husband printed out the manual “Ultimate Foreign-Trained Dentists Guide” from the internet and gifted it to me. That book certainly looked foreign to me! The only thing I understood was that I had to take an exam before applying to schools—the NBDE. eBay, Dental Decks, and Kaplan quickly became my new best friends online as I geared up for the exam.
Writing essay answers was comforting, though my hands needed a spa massage after the exam season. I was sure I could get an A grade! Boasting about my answers at the end of the exam probably annoyed my friends. But here in the US, their wishes came true—I was tormented with multiple-choice questions. Spinning multiple answers in a single question was a challenge I never relished. But on the bright side, I never blanked out! At least I could say I answered every question. Since flipping coins wasn’t allowed, I resorted to “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” throughout the exam.
My score turned out fine, thanks to all the concept-builders back home. NBDE Part 1 didn’t just stand for Non-Recognized Dentist Bored on eBay! It led me to NBDE Part 2, but by then, I was already in school. My Part 1 scores had landed me in a great institution with excellent teachers. This time, I was grounded and focused—no more “miny mohs” in the exam. Flipping coins? I considered sneaking one in but decided I could do better. And I did.
Thanks to NBDE, I am now a practicing dentist in the US.
Dr. Meenakshi Umapathy, a dedicated General Dentist, began her journey in India before advancing her expertise in the United States. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the prestigious New York University College of Dentistry and now practices pediatric dentistry in Indiana. Through her compelling narratives, she reflects on her experiences practicing in both India and the U.S., offering unique insights into the profession. Her blog, originally published on DentistryUnited.com in 2012, has been thoughtfully republished to continue inspiring and informing readers every Saturday.