MFDS Part 1: exam format and revision.

Choose a topic for focused revision and check your plan against the official specification.

• Restorative dentistry — caries, endodontics, fixed and removable prosthodontics, direct restorations
• Periodontology — diagnosis (BSP 2017 classification), non-surgical and surgical periodontics
• Oral surgery — exodontia, surgical extractions, complications, basic implant principles
• Oral medicine and pathology — ulcers, oral cancer (NICE NG12), autoimmune, premalignancy
• Orthodontics — assessment, IOTN, interceptive treatment in DCT setting
• Paediatric dentistry — caries prevention, behavioural management, MIH, child safeguarding
• Dental and maxillofacial radiology — interpretation, justification, IRMER 2017
• Human disease affecting dental care — comorbidities, BBV, bisphosphonates
• Pharmacology and prescribing — product information, dental prescribing guidance, common drugs and interactions
• Medical emergencies in dental practice — anaphylaxis, syncope, MI, hypoglycaemia, status
• Special care dentistry — frailty, dementia, MCA, dental care of adults with complex needs
• Professionalism, law, ethics and patient safety — communication, consent, confidentiality, candour
• Prevention and dental public health — evidence-based dentistry, statistics

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. Practise applying these skills to written clinical scenarios.
• 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.

1. Mixing the two routes — legacy Part 1 formats and eligibility do not describe the new exam. A legacy pass cannot be carried over and confers no exemption from new Part 1.
2. Practising the wrong pace — the new exam is two 90-question, two-hour papers. Train each paper as a separate 120-minute block rather than using the retired 150-question, three-hour RCS England format.
3. Level shift in new MFDS — the new tri-collegiate MFDS is pitched at the end of Dental Core Training year 3 (DCT3), more advanced than the previous DFT-aligned MFDS. Older revision materials may pitch too low for the new exam.
4. BSP 2017 periodontal classification — the new staging and grading system replaced the 1999 classification. Materials based on pre-2018 systems are outdated. Knowing how to stage and grade periodontitis is a high-yield topic in MFDS.
5. GDC Standards application — examined with specific scenarios (raising concerns about a colleague, social media, intimate dental examinations, dental tourism, candour). Memorising the Nine Principles isn't enough — apply them to dilemmas.
6. Non-technical skills — practise decision-making, situational awareness, communication and patient-safety reasoning in written clinical scenarios.
7. Pharmacology variations — different brand names, prescribing conventions and drug availability across UK and international practice. Use current UK dental prescribing guidance and relevant product information, and check the official syllabus for scope.
8. Consent and capacity in dental practice — UK MCA applies; international candidates often under-prepare on MCA-specific frameworks. Best interests, IMCA, advance decisions, Lasting Power of Attorney all examined.

A pragmatic plan for the new tri-collegiate Part 1; candidates on a final legacy diet should use their own college regulations for mock length and timing.

1. Weeks 1–5

   Foundation pass across all 13 iatroX revision areas. 30 questions/day with the iatroX adaptive engine. Read SDCEP guidelines paired to weak topics (caries, periodontal, MRONJ, antibiotic prescribing). Daily GDC Standards principle scenario review.

2. Weeks 6–9

   Targeted weak-area drilling. Map BSP 2017 periodontal classification cover-to-cover. Rehearse medical-emergency algorithms, review the oral-cancer referral pathway, practise current dental prescribing scenarios, and apply non-technical-skills frameworks.

3. Weeks 10–11

   Two timed 90-SBA, two-hour papers per week under new-exam conditions. Review every incorrect answer against current primary dental guidance and the published MFDS syllabus.

4. Week 12

   Bookmark review only. Targeted reading on law, ethics, MCA in dental practice, safeguarding, candour scenarios. Confirm your booking, assessment-centre location and candidate instructions. Sleep, hydrate, do not learn new material.

Dedicated MFDS Part 1 question practice with answer explanations, guided Tutor review and study planning.

• Focused question practice — Choose the relevant bank and use your answers to identify what to study next.
• Guided reasoning — Explore a difficult answer with Tutor, then apply the distinction independently.
• Review and timed practice — Return to important mistakes and choose a timed practice set where available.

Choose the relevant bank and use the official exam guidance to plan your preparation.

The first new tri-collegiate Part 1 sits on 28 October 2026 and contains two separate two-hour papers of 90 SBAs. Legacy Part 1 routes finish in October 2026 and legacy Part 2 finishes in spring 2027. The routes are separate: a legacy Part 1 pass does not carry over or exempt a candidate from new Part 1.

Check which route you can realistically complete. A candidate relying on a final legacy Part 1 must also complete the remaining legacy pathway within its published timetable; that pass cannot transfer to the new route. New entrants should normally prepare against the new Dental Examinations Executive syllabus and regulations.

Two papers of 90 single-best-answer questions, with two hours for each paper (180 questions and four hours of testing in total), delivered in person at an assessment centre. There is no negative marking.

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.

Attempt limits differ between the legacy and new examinations. Check the regulations for the route you are booking. Part-completion of a legacy MFDS does not provide an exemption from new Part 1.

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.

Full MFDS Part 1 bank access is included in all-access. Up to 10 new sample questions per day are shared across exams, with no account required. A verified free account includes one guided Tutor session; continued Tutor use is included in all-access.