The WREB exam, also known as the Western Regional Exam Board is one of the final steps to becoming a licensed dental practitioner. The WREB exam is required for all dentists and hygienists practicing in most parts of America.
This exam tests your skills in treatment planning, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, and operative practices. It is the chance to use what you’ve learned and practiced in dental school over the course of several years. There are many different ways to prepare for the WREB exam: let’s explore the options available for students.
1) Utilize School Resources
You have come a long way in dental school and this is the final step to becoming a practicing dentist. Your school will release a guide for the test day. Every school is different, however, it is common practice for schools to include details such as the test location, parking guidelines, and materials that will be available during test day.
Use these resources and study your notes from class. The exam tests your core abilities in both your knowledge of the field as well as your ability to put that into practice. Use your schools’ study guide or resources available. For example, UCLA has a dedicated site page devoted to WREB Exam test preparation. Review the Candidate Guide available on wreb.org well so you can understand the requirements for each procedure.
2) Get Hands-on Experience
The key to performing well on the WREB exam is practice. Try to get all of the hands-on experience you can before the test day. It is best to work with someone who has experience teaching. Having a teacher or an outside course instructor to provide feedback can prove to be very important. Have them look at your preps and ask that they properly critique your work.
During the endodontics portion of the exam, you will want to know the details regarding where your access outlines are. Practice placing a rubber dam, and isolating a tooth. Practice obturating your anterior endo teeth as well. In the periodontics portion, practice accurate periodontal measurements. Use the deepest measurement you find for each area. Know the order of instruments to use when scaling and get all of the hands-on experience you can before the exam.
Be sure you feel confident in your abilities for all hands-on sections of the exam including Treatment Planning, Operative, Endodontics, Periodontics, and Prosthodontics. If you are interested in learning more about how to pass the WREB exam, here is a helpful video that explains the process.
3) Take a Prep Course
Many students take a WREB Exam prep course to get the hands-on practice they need to feel confident on test day. At WREB Success, we have created a 3-day, full-service preparatory course. This intensive program provides hands-on training, in-class preparation, and review. The program is designed to enhance your skills and your confidence. We give you all of the right information and guidance that you need in order to pass the WREB exam. Learn more about WREB Success in this brief video that describes what is involved in our program.
We created this course because we saw a need for a program like this. As dentists, when we came to work in California, we noticed that there was very little training information given regarding the WREB exam. It’s hard to know what you have to do to pass this test, that is why we aim to give you help and guidance. We want to get you through your exam and make it as stress-free as possible.
Our instructors provide in-class demonstrations and we go over all portions of the exam, so you can go into the test knowing exactly what to expect. We guide you on what tools are required and what materials you should bring on exam day. At the course, you will have the opportunity to practice all the procedures on typodont teeth mounted on a dental chair, with one-on-one guidance from your instructors. On the last day of the course, you will do a mock board and be graded on your work, so that you will know what areas to practice more if needed. Take the course early so you have the chance to continue practicing before your exam date. If you do not have the correct instruments required for the WREB exam, we also provide instrument rentals.
At WREB Success we can screen and provide you with patients. All of our patients are local to Los Angeles. We handpick patients from our dental clinic that are easy-going, relaxed, and well-informed about the exam and the procedures involved.
4) Reference the WREB Exam Guide
The WREB official website is an excellent place to find helpful resources. WREB also provides a complete guide to the exam. It’s best to familiarize yourself with the WREB guide, so you know what is expected of you, and what you need to bring on the day of the exam. You can also utilize online resources such as this video which describes the top 10 things you need to know before the WREB test day.
5) Get a WREB-Experienced Assistant
Having an assistant who is familiar with the WREB exam procedures can make the difference between passing and failing. The WREB assistants have many years of experience assisting candidates at the exam. They will help you fill out forms, manage your time, place your rubber dam, set up your operatories, bring your patients to you, and assist you. They will help you stay calm and focused on the dentistry while they take care of everything else.
Get Organized for Test Day
The most important part of preparing for any exam is going in with a clear mind. A week before the exam, it’s important to be sure everything is organized, so that you feel mentally and physically prepared for test day. Be sure to get plenty of sleep beforehand and avoid last-minute studying.
In the WREB Success program, we walk you through every step of the exam. This hands-on, in-person practice is incredibly important and helps you understand the testing process thoroughly. Lastly, don’t forget your piece of ID, your badge, and stickers for the exam.
Learn More About WREB Success Today
WREB Success aims to help you go into the WREB exam feeling calm and focused. We began WREB Success with the hope that we could help new dentists entering the field. We want all of our students to feel enabled, with the tools they need to pass the exam. Our program is based in Los Angeles, CA, and lasts for 3 days. Students will get hands-on experience and the support they need. If you are interested in learning more about WREB Success, contact us today.