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Exam updates for Dentists from Overseas

SpaDental Administrator

Dentists who qualified overseas are a vital source of talent much needed in the British dental sector. At the moment, SpaDental employs a wonderful team including professionals from overseas. We have qualified, experienced dentists working as Dental Therapists, one is a Practice Manager, and others are Trainee Dental Nurses. They are waiting for the opportunity to sit the all important examinations necessary to be recognised by the GDC as dentists – professionals our country is so short of at the moment.

Overseas dentist Sekandar Khan has written this post to share information about upcoming examinations and how to prepare.

Sekandar Khan BDS qualified as a dentist in Lahore in 2018 and subsequently worked in both private and public dentistry. He is currently waiting for an opportunity to take the final assessment for a Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) to apply for GDC registration. He embraces life in England and is looking forward to resuming his career as a dentist.

Hi Everyone,

I was doing some research on the dental exams, checking the upcoming exam dates and what I need to do to prepare. I thought it would be useful  if I shared this information with all overseas dentists who are waiting for a chance to sit the exams in the upcoming year.  Furthermore, I’ve added document checklists and relevant links for each exam.

Like me, I’m sure you’re keen to secure an exam place so you can be GDC registered, so I hope this will be beneficial. I’ve read all the material carefully, but please don’t just rely on my word. Follow the links I’ve included and double-check!

Overseas Registration Examinations

ORE Part 1:

Structure:

Results: 40 working days – marked as a percentage out of 100 for P1 and P2

Document Checklist:

Check: ORE LDS Application Guidance

Resources:

Top tips:

The Pink Book is the core text for this exam. You’ll need to know the book inside out.

The Blue Book is a targeted approach with some units more important than the rest. Guidelines are crucial as the exam tests up-to-date knowledge.

After going through the content twice, you really need to practice those past paper questions. It’s not possible to pass the exam without doing those.

Don’t forget that the law and ethics portion of the exam holds a significant weight in the exam, so its important to have a comprehensive knowledge of that too.

Bookings open online at standard time updated on the website. Booking is on a first come first served basis. Payments must be made on the spot within the E-GDC portal.

ORE Part 2:

Location: there are multiple venues as per the component of the exam:

Structure:

Results: 20 Working Days

IF the Medical Emergencies retakes are possible:  £300 – current / £566 after 1st January 2025

Top tips

The core aspect of Part 2 ORE is the mannequin test and treatment planning. It requires a lot of preparation on the mannequin and to study pay attention to crown preps, fillings, dentures and any other relevant clinical scenarios.

The medical emergency component requires management of any possible medical emergency that could arise within the practice as well as an understanding of all medical emergency drugs, management of cardiac arrest and choking.

Bookings open online at standard time and are updated on the website. Booking is on a first-come-first-served basis. Payments must be made on the spot within the E-GDC portal.

Licence in Dental Surgery

LDS Part 1:

Dates: Upcoming dates are not available yet
Venue: Royal College of Surgeons England

Documents Required:

Booking Process:

Booking is on a first-come-first-served basis with a standard opening time for everyone.
However, in the past with RCS, bookings have been shifted to a ballot system whereby bookings remain open for a week. Applicants are selected at random.

Cost:

When I signed up in 2021 it was £850 – I expect it will have increased since then.

Structure:

You need to pass both Paper A and B to successfully clear the exam.

Resources:

Preparation:

The preparation for LDS 1 remains the same as part 1 ORE. With LDS however, the exam focus is more clinical and questions need to be practiced in a clinically oriented fashion rather than just theory. Questions have longer stems so reading them and understanding the question is paramount.

LDS Part 2:

Documents Required:

Booking: Is by a Ballot System based on application of interest form

Cost: £1575

Structure:

Day 1 – OSCE’s and Medical Emergencies

There are 16 Stations including 4 rest stations. Each of the 12 active stations is 7 minutes long and requires comprehensive analysis of the situation within the station. Just one minute is given to read the question stem displayed on the door. The situation could range from managing any clinical situation or medical emergency to complaint handling ofan angry patient.

Day 2 – Unseen Cases

On this day you are supposed to examine a full clinical case. It is divided into three parts. 10 minutes for history taking and interaction with the patient. 10 minutes after that are spent in the study room where you evaluate the notes you’ve made, examine x-rays (if provided) and reach a diagnosis.

In the study room, often the next task is provided which directs you towards what to do. There is no patient in the study room. The last 10 minutes are spent back with the patient and examiner where diagnosis, proposed treatment and explanation to the patient is delivered.

Top tips:

Both components of the exam need to be passed in order to clear the exam. The exam is very clinically orientated and tests knowledge coupled with communication and deliverance of care to the patient. It also assesses how you will handle medical emergencies and ethical situations as a dentist.

Results are typically released in 1 month.

Resources:

Courses are available but the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) course is minimal. Although it is very effective it does not cover every possible OSCE scenario. That said, it would be worth booking a course for Part 2.

LDS Part 3:

Upcoming Dates: February 2025
Booking: Registered by ballot and by completion of interest form
Cost: £1,575

Structure:

The Part 3 exam of the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) will be held over a one day period and consist of one section:
an 180-minute operative assessment on a dental mannequin, designed to test your practical clinical dental skills. It is possibly 2-3 longer cases and 1 short case.

All clinical assessment is hand skill based so the requirements are the same as ORE 2.  The mannequin component is when cavity preparations, crown preparations, all fillings and all denture based components are tested. Preparation will require practice of all protocols on a mannequin head.

There is a £230 completion fee for those completing an FDS Royal College of Surgeons of England diploma. This fee will be collected once you have passed the exam. Candidates are also required to complete a serology test and a basic life support (BLS) course.

End words

What I’ve written above essentially summarises all things relating to both the dental exams.

In case I’ve missed out something, or if circumstances change, I will be sure to update this.

It would be wise to keep track of the websites both for ORE and LDS and apply to both exams to maximise your chances of getting a seat.

Happy hunting and good luck everyone!

Sek

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