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Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery Part 1 — the internationally recognised dental membership written exam, demonstrating completion of foundation/basic postgraduate dental training. **Major transition in progress**: the three UK Surgical Royal Colleges are unifying MFDS into a single tri-collegiate exam from 2026 (RCSEd, RCPSG, RCS England). The current RCS England MFDS Part 1 has its final sitting in October 2026; the bi-collegiate RCSEd/RCPSG format also transitions. iatroX bank covers the current and the new MFDS curriculum aligned to NICE, SDCEP and dental foundation training.
180 single-best-answer questions over 3 hours. Tests range of knowledge underpinning patient care and clinical application. Papers identical and held simultaneously at both Colleges. UK and international venues (Cairo, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and others).
150 single-best-answer questions over 3 hours, delivered online remotely. The final RCS England MFDS Part 1 sitting will be 20 October 2026; final MFDS Part 2 in March 2027. After these, candidates must use the new tri-collegiate MFDS.
The three UK Surgical Royal Colleges are unifying MFDS into a single tri-collegiate examination starting 2026. The new exam is aimed at Dental Core Trainee level 2-3 (DCT2-3) — slightly more advanced than the previous DFT-focused MFDS. Part 1 remains written; Part 2 (OSCE) will assess broader non-technical skills with some stations involving direct interaction with examiners rather than all stations involving actors. MFDS becomes a requirement to sit the new DSFE (Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations) from 2026.
Both current formats require 12 months full-time postgraduate clinical dentistry experience before applying for MFDS Part 2. Candidates not permitted to apply for Part 2 at the same time as Part 1. Specific transition rules apply for partially completed MFDS journeys across the old-to-new format change.
Primary dental qualification acceptable to the relevant College. Open to internationally trained dentists with verifiable primary qualifications. Maximum 6 attempts at Part 1.
RCSEd/RCPSG: at least twice yearly UK + internationally. RCS England (current format ending): final Part 1 — 20 October 2026; final Part 2 — March 2027. Before booking the October 2026 RCS England Part 1, candidates are warned that a pass in this final sitting cannot be carried over to the new tri-collegiate format. New tri-collegiate MFDS: launching during 2026-2027 — confirm details on the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations website and RCSEd/RCPSG/RCS England MFDS pages.
Approximate distribution across the MFDS Part 1 syllabus. iatroX adaptive sequencing covers content shared across the current RCSEd/RCPSG bi-collegiate format, the RCS England format, and the new tri-collegiate MFDS aligned to Dental Core Trainee level 2-3.
Drawn from the MFDS syllabus, GDC Standards, SDCEP guidance, BSP 2017 periodontal classification, and current UK dental clinical practice. The new tri-collegiate MFDS emphasises non-technical skills more heavily.
GDC Standards for the Dental Team Nine Principles — patient interests first, communicating effectively, valid consent, information governance, complaints, colleagues, knowledge and skills, raising concerns, personal behaviour. Each principle has specific clinical scenario applications routinely tested.
BSP 2017 periodontal classification — staging (severity I-IV) and grading (rate A-C), extent and complexity. Replaces the 1999 classification. UK dental practice charts and treatment plans now use this framework directly. SDCEP guidance on periodontal management uses this classification.
Caries management (modern evidence base) — selective caries removal over complete excavation in deep lesions, Hall technique for primary teeth, ICCMS framework, fluoride prevention pyramid (toothpaste strengths by age, fluoride varnish frequency)
Antibiotic stewardship in dentistry — NICE/SDCEP position on IE prophylaxis (avoided routinely; only specific high-risk groups), antimicrobial stewardship for acute dental infections, when systemic antibiotics are and are not indicated
MRONJ recognition and management — at-risk patient identification, modifications for extractions, SDCEP guidance for managing MRONJ risk in primary care, treatment of established MRONJ
Medical emergencies in the dental chair — current algorithms: anaphylaxis (adrenaline 500 mcg IM, repeat 5 min), MI (300 mg aspirin, 2-puff GTN), syncope (recovery position), hypoglycaemia (oral glucose / glucagon), seizure, asthma exacerbation (4-10 puffs salbutamol via spacer)
Non-technical skills (NTS) — new tri-collegiate MFDS places more emphasis on situational awareness, communication, decision-making and team leadership. Some Part 2 stations will involve direct examiner interaction rather than actors — preparation needs to include structured NTS frameworks.
Mental Capacity Act in dental practice — assessing capacity (2-stage test), best interests framework, IMCA referrals, treating without consent (only where lawful), Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) framework, safeguarding adults at risk
Observations from candidates for the MFDS Part 1 in transition. Verify against current College websites and the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations site.
Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.
A pragmatic phased approach used by recent MFDS Part 1 passers, applicable across the current RCSEd/RCPSG and RCS England formats and the new tri-collegiate MFDS.
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Which structure forms the roof of the infratemporal fossa?
Why iatroX is built differently for MFDS Part 1.
Every iatroX item is tagged to a blueprint topic, so your performance dashboard mirrors the structure of the exam itself.
The engine surfaces your weakest topics first, in real time, instead of marching you through a static syllabus.
Incorrect items return at increasing intervals to interrupt the forgetting curve and lock knowledge into long-term memory.
Timed full-length simulations that mirror the official exam structure under realistic conditions.
One iatroX subscription includes the MFDS Part 1 bank plus every other premium iatroX exam bank.
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The three UK Surgical Royal Colleges (RCSEd, RCPSG, RCS England) are unifying MFDS into a single tri-collegiate examination starting 2026. The current RCS England MFDS Part 1 has its final sitting on 20 October 2026 (final Part 2 in March 2027). The bi-collegiate RCSEd/RCPSG format is also transitioning. The new tri-collegiate MFDS is aimed at Dental Core Trainee level 2-3 (DCT2-3) and places more emphasis on non-technical skills.
It depends. If you have already started MFDS, the RCS England note advises sitting the May 2026 diet — this gives you the opportunity to re-sit on 20 October 2026 if required. Failing the final October 2026 sitting means moving to the new format. If you have not started studying, the new tri-collegiate MFDS may be the more straightforward route. Check the Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations website for current guidance.
Two current formats run in parallel. RCSEd/RCPSG bi-collegiate: 180 single-best-answer questions in 3 hours, at UK and international venues. RCS England: 150 SBAs in 3 hours, delivered online remotely. Both test underpinning knowledge for dental practice.
RCSEd/RCPSG: £587 standard fee (£693 for candidates based in India, reflecting local taxes). RCS England: similar range. From 1 July 2025, an additional 18% tax applies to exam fees for candidates sitting in India. Fees may be subject to change — confirm current fees on the College websites.
Six attempts maximum at MFDS Part 1 across the current formats. Specific transition rules apply for candidates switching to the new tri-collegiate MFDS. Part-completion of the existing MFDS will not provide exemption from any part of the new MFDS since the new exam is set at a different level (DCT2-3 rather than DFT).
The MFDS does not represent a formal criterion for entry to UK dental specialty training. However, possession of the MFDS demonstrates a candidate's suitability for specialist training and is a valuable portfolio asset. From 2026, MFDS becomes a requirement to sit the new DSFE (Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations) — making it more central to the specialty training pathway.
Yes. A single iatroX subscription (£29/month or £99/year for UK users; $29/$99 elsewhere) includes the MFDS Part 1 bank alongside ORE Part 1, NDEB-AFK, and every other premium iatroX exam bank. No add-ons or per-exam fees.
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Reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP · Last reviewed 12 May 2026
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