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Part 1 of the Overseas Registration Examination — the route for overseas-qualified dentists to demonstrate UK BDS-equivalent competence before joining the GDC register. Two computer-based written papers (Paper A and Paper B) sat on the same day, testing the breadth of clinical dentistry, human disease, law, ethics, and health & safety. From August 2026 the ORE is delivered under a new GDC contract with UCL Consultants Ltd at expanded capacity.
Full ORE Part 1 bank, AI Tutor and timed mocks — $29/month or $99/year. All paid exam banks included.
Computer-based but held in person. Tests theoretical knowledge across clinical science, human disease, clinical dentistry, law, ethics and health & safety as applied to UK dental practice.
Companion computer-based paper sat the same day. Continues the breadth of testing across the syllabus with emphasis on application to clinical decisions in UK practice.
Both Paper A and Paper B must be passed to progress to Part 2. Candidates expected to meet or exceed the standard of a "just passed" UK BDS graduate.
Held at venues in London. From August 2026, exams under new UCL Consultants Ltd contract — venues confirmed to candidates after booking. Previously held primarily at King's College London.
Up to 4 attempts at Part 1 (and 4 at Part 2). All ORE attempts must be completed — both Parts passed — within 5 years of the first Part 1 attempt date.
2026 sittings under new UCL Consultants contract: 25-26 August 2026 (first new-contract sitting) — booking opens 30 June 2026 via MyGDC. Additional 2026 Part 1 sittings to be confirmed (total 4 sittings of 600 places each across the contract year 31 May 2026 to 30 May 2027). Priority access for candidates near 5-year time limit and those with refugee status. Confirm all dates and fees on the GDC ORE pages.
Approximate distribution across the GDC ORE Part 1 syllabus. Used to drive iatroX adaptive sequencing. The ORE Part 1 is broad: clinical dentistry plus regulatory and ethical knowledge required for safe practice in the UK GDC framework.
Source: official General Dental Council (GDC) — delivered by UCL Consultants Ltd from August 2026 blueprint
Drawn from the GDC ORE syllabus, "Preparing for Practice" learning outcomes, and current UK dental clinical and regulatory guidance.
GDC Standards for the Dental Team — "Nine principles" of UK dental ethics: putting patients' interests first, communicating effectively, obtaining valid consent, maintaining and protecting patient information, having a clear and effective complaints procedure, working with colleagues, maintaining and developing professional knowledge and skills, raising concerns, making sure personal behaviour maintains confidence
Medical emergencies in dental practice — anaphylaxis (adrenaline 500 mcg IM, repeat at 5 min), syncope (lay flat, legs up), hypoglycaemia (oral glucose if conscious, glucagon 1 mg IM if not), MI (300 mg aspirin, 2-puff GTN), acute asthma (4-10 puffs salbutamol via spacer), choking (5 back blows + 5 abdominal thrusts), seizure (protect airway, time)
Antibiotic prophylaxis — current SDCEP/NICE position on prophylaxis before dental procedures (NICE generally recommends against routine prophylaxis for IE except in specific high-risk groups). Antimicrobial stewardship principles, common dental antibiotic choices, BNF for Dentistry references.
Bisphosphonate/antiresorptive drugs and MRONJ — recognising at-risk patients, modifications to extraction protocols, SDCEP guidance on managing MRONJ risk in primary care dentistry, low-risk vs high-risk procedures
Caries management — current evidence base for selective vs complete caries removal, stepwise excavation, Hall technique in paediatric dentistry, ICCMS framework, prevention pyramid (fluoride toothpaste strengths by age, fluoride varnish frequency)
IRMER 2017 (Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations) — justification, optimisation, dose reference levels, employer/practitioner/operator/referrer roles, governance in dental radiography
Periodontal classification 2017 — the BSP/EFP grading system replacing the old 1999 classification: staging (severity I-IV), grading (rate of progression A-C), extent, and complexity. UK practice now uses this framework for charting and treatment planning.
Mental Capacity Act in dental practice — assessing capacity (2-stage test), best interests framework, treating without consent in dental practice, recognising safeguarding concerns in adults and children
Observations from overseas-qualified dentists sitting the ORE Part 1. Verify against current GDC, SDCEP, BSP and BNF for Dentistry guidance.
Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.
A pragmatic phased approach used by recent overseas dentists who passed ORE Part 1 first time.
A live item from the iatroX bank. Try it before launching a full session.
A 40-year-old patient presents with intermittent facial pain triggered by light touch to the right ala of the nose. The pain is described as brief (lasting seconds), excruciating, electric shock-like, and shooting from the nose to the upper lip. Between attacks, there is no pain. MRI brain is normal. What is the first-line pharmacological treatment?
Why iatroX is built differently for ORE 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 ORE Part 1 bank, the Socratic Tutor inside supported sessions, and every other premium iatroX exam bank.
Cancel anytime · 7-day money-back guarantee on annual
Overseas-qualified dentists whose qualifications are not recognised for purposes of UK GDC registration. Most applicants whose primary qualification is from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) need the ORE. Once both parts are passed, candidates can apply to join the UK dental register. Approximately 30% of UK-registered dentists qualified outside the UK; of these, around a third entered via the ORE.
A computer-based, in-person written examination consisting of two papers (Paper A and Paper B) sat on the same day. From August 2026, the exam is delivered under a new GDC contract with UCL Consultants Ltd at venues in London with expanded capacity (2,400 Part 1 places per year). Candidates must pass both papers to progress to Part 2.
From August 2026: £485 Part 1 fee (reduced 17% from £584 under the previous contract) plus £115 application processing fee (increased 20% from £96). Fees include VAT. ORE Part 2 fee has risen 65% to £6,967. Fees set under the General Dental Council (Dentists) (Fees) Regulations 2026.
Up to 4 attempts at Part 1 and 4 attempts at Part 2. All attempts must be completed — both Parts passed — within 5 years of your first Part 1 attempt date. The GDC offers priority access to candidates nearing the 5-year limit and those with refugee status.
Minimum 1,600 hours of clinical experience personally treating patients in the dental chair, with documentary evidence required during the application process. A recent Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) — no older than 3 months from the GDC application receipt date — is also required.
The ORE is for overseas-qualified dentists seeking UK GDC registration. The LDS (Licence in Dental Surgery, from RCS England) is primarily a UK dental qualification but can also be taken by overseas graduates. The pathways differ; most overseas dentists take the ORE for the GDC registration route.
Yes. A single iatroX subscription (£29/month or £99/year for UK users; $29/$99 elsewhere) includes the ORE Part 1 bank alongside MFDS 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 MSt MRCGP · Last reviewed 12 May 2026
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