The MFDS (Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery) is a postgraduate dental examination administered by the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh, England, Glasgow, and Ireland. It is a voluntary credential — not required for GDC registration or general dental practice — but is valued for hospital dentistry, oral surgery training, and academic dental careers.
Who should sit it
UK dental graduates who want a postgraduate credential for career advancement. Dental foundation trainees who plan to pursue hospital dentistry or oral and maxillofacial surgery training. Internationally trained dentists who already have GDC registration (via the ORE) and want an additional UK credential.
If you are an internationally trained dentist who does not yet have GDC registration, you need the ORE first — not the MFDS. The MFDS does not grant registration.
MFDS Part 1 format
Part 1 is a written exam containing 150 SBA questions in three hours. It tests dental sciences — anatomy (particularly head and neck), physiology, oral pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, dental materials, and the scientific basis of clinical practice. The emphasis is on mechanisms and science rather than clinical management.
Part 1 sits three times per year — typically January, May, and October. The fee varies by which Royal College you sit through.
MFDS Part 1 vs ORE Part 1
The two exams are frequently confused. ORE Part 1 tests clinical dental knowledge — what to do in practice. MFDS Part 1 tests dental sciences — why things work the way they do. ORE Part 1 is mandatory for GDC registration. MFDS Part 1 is a voluntary career credential. The content overlap is partial, and preparing for one does not fully prepare you for the other.
How to prepare
MFDS Part 1 requires textbook-level revision of dental sciences, particularly head and neck anatomy (the largest domain at approximately 18 per cent), oral pathology, and pharmacology. Three months of structured revision is the typical preparation period.
iatroX offers a dedicated MFDS Part 1 question bank with over 1,500 questions covering all science domains. The adaptive algorithm identifies your weakest areas. All included at £29 per month or £99 per year — the same subscription covers ORE Part 1 and every other exam.