2026 Volume 42 Issue 2 Pages 61-66
Abstract This study analyzed the distribution and educational implications of medical-related questions in the Japanese National Dental Examination from the 115th (2022) to 119th (2026) examinations. All questions were reviewed, and medical-related items were extracted and classified into 16 domains, comprising 13 internal medicine subspecialties plus pediatrics/development, emergency medicine, and dermatology. Classification was initially performed using generative AI, with final decisions made by the author.
A total of 379 medical-related questions were identified over five years, accounting for 21.1％ of all questions and 32.3％ of compulsory questions. By domain, infectious diseases were most frequent (approximately 13.2％), followed by neurology, pediatrics/development, and cardiovascular medicine (each around 10％). Endocrinology/metabolism, geriatrics, and respiratory medicine were also represented, whereas gastrointestinal topics were notably scarce (only four questions in five years). In terms of dental disciplines, many questions were associated with oral surgery and dental anesthesiology : hematology and rheumatology were commonly linked to oral surgery, while cardiovascular, respiratory, and emergency medicine were frequently associated with dental anesthesiology.
These findings suggest that medical-related questions reflect the importance of systemic management in dental practice, while their distribution is skewed toward fields closely related to clinical dentistry. Moreover, the question format emphasizes practical clinical competencies, such as the management of medical emergencies, rather than the organ- and disease-centered framework typical of medical education. This is likely attributable to the fact that dentistry is a cross-disciplinary field that encompasses surgical procedures.
In conclusion, medical-related questions in the National Dental Examination reflect the unique structure of dental education. Greater emphasis on systematic, trend-informed teaching may further enhance educational outcomes.
