Have you ever subscribed to a service or bought a product, been unable to figure out how to use it…then eventually just gave up? Don’t feel bad! You aren’t alone.

This is particularly common when it comes to using new technology platforms or apps. How frustrating is that?! No one wants to feel like they’ve wasted their money or aren’t getting the full value from something they’ve paid for.

When it comes to an INBDE study aid, there’s more on the line than just a financial investment. Knowing how to best use your study aid can literally make the difference between passing or retaking your exam.

Here at Dental Decks, we want to make sure you know exactly how to use the online platform so you get its full value and feel confident in your INBDE prep. Here are some best practices and helpful tips for getting the most out of your subscription.

Navigating the Online Platform

We think our convenient online platform is pretty easy to navigate, but understand it may be helpful to have a step-by-step how-to guide.

After logging in, you’ll first need to click on “Dental Decks INBDE.” This will take you to a screen with two options:

• Dental Decks INBDE Q&A Cards
• Dental Decks Case Studies Booklet

Choose to either download the PDF Case Studies Booklet, or, click on Dental Decks INBDE to go directly to the interactive Q&A cards.

When you choose the Q&A cards, you’ll see a lot of content. Here’s how it breaks down:

Why You Should Know How You Learn

• There’s a column on the left with 16 different study areas.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page, where you’ll see links to three practice tests, as well as downloadable PDFs of the Case Study and Oral Pathology booklets.
• When you click on the study areas on the left-hand column, it will expand into different subtopics on the right.
• Choose a subtopic and click “Study” to start the study mode, or choose “Start Quiz,” depending on how you want to study.

Let’s take a closer look at Study Mode vs Quiz Mode.

Study Mode

To use Study Mode, simply choose a study area, then click “Study” in the subtopic area you need to review. You can either study all the Q&A cards in the section, only the cards you marked for review, or focus on the cards you’ve made notes on.

Let’s say you choose to study all cards. You’ll be given a mix of topical and case-based patient box questions. In study mode, you’ll instantly know if your answer is correct. You can mark the card to return to it later, and you can also add your own notes.

When you click “Flip Card,” you’ll be given the correct answer with a detailed explanation. This helps you learn the “why” behind your answer, whether it was correct or incorrect. Let’s be honest: sometimes, we just guess correctly and don’t know why. The Dental Decks explanations let you know why an answer is correct — regardless of how you got there.

To continue moving through the deck, simply click previous or next. You can also use the search feature at the top left-hand corner to search and find all cards related to a particular topic.

Quiz Mode

In Quiz Mode, you still have the choice to study all the Q&A cards in a subsection, only the cards you’ve marked for review, or only cards with notes.

Quiz Mode takes you through all the cards in a subsection before revealing your results. After submitting your quiz, you’ll be able to scroll down to see how you did with explanations for each question.

It’s a convenient way to test yourself on a particular topic before moving on to the more comprehensive practice tests.

Use a Study Schedule

When you log in to Dental Decks and look at the material, it will seem like a lot. That’s because it’s the most comprehensive INBDE study aid out there! It may be overwhelming at first. That’s why we provide you with a 45- and a 60-day study schedule to help you divide up the material and master it all in time for your INBDE.

Check out our study schedules here:

• Link to 45-Day Study Schedule
• Link to 60-Day Study Schedule

Click here to watch a Dental Decks tutorial video so you can get the most out of your INBDE prep!