Introduction and Disclaimer

This document is a candidate-derived recall compilation created from the collective memory of dentists who have recently appeared for the LDS Part 1 examination, covering sittings from 2022 up to the most recent exam. The content has been systematically gathered immediately after the examination, when recall is at its freshest, and reflects the initial keywords, topic areas, concepts, and clinical or scientific scenarios remembered by candidates upon exiting the examination hall.

It is important to understand the inherent nature of recall-based examination data. The entries presented here are not verbatim LDS Part 1 questions, nor are they claimed to be exhaustive or perfectly worded. Instead, they represent how questions were perceived, interpreted, and remembered by candidates under real examination conditions. As a result, some topics may appear brief, loosely phrased, overlapping, or repetitive. This has been intentionally preserved, as repetition often reflects topic frequency, emphasis, or recurring themes within the LDS Part 1 exam pattern.

All entries included in this compilation have been:

• Cleaned for readability
• Lightly rephrased only where necessary for clarity, without altering meaning
• Organised into subject-wise sections aligned with the LDS Part 1 syllabus

This resource is intended to serve as a high-yield revision and pattern-recognition tool, helping candidates focus their preparation on commonly tested and repeatedly recalled areas of the LDS Part 1 examination.

General Medicine, Pharmacology and Medical Emergencies (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on systemic disease recognition, pharmacology, medical emergencies, and applied clinical decision-making. Questions were commonly framed as patients attending the dental clinic, with emphasis on identifying medications, drug interactions, side effects, and oral manifestations of systemic disease.

Cardiovascular, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

• Ischaemic cardiac disease: recognition and relevance in dental practice
• Hypertension: basic definition, complications, and pharmacological considerations
• Stroke: general presentation and implications for dental management
• Diabetes mellitus:
  • Comparison of type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  • Systemic and oral manifestations
• Addison’s disease: clinical features and endocrine implications
• Cushing’s syndrome: systemic features and steroid-related considerations
• Thyroid and parathyroid disorders appearing as EMQ options:
  • Thyrotoxicosis
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hyperparathyroidism
• Pheochromocytoma: characteristic features and clinical significance

Gastrointestinal and Renal Conditions

• Crohn’s disease:
  • Systemic presentation and immune basis
  • Oral manifestations
• Renal failure: general features, complications, and relevance to dental care

Neurological and Genetic Conditions

• Epilepsy: recognition and emergency considerations in the dental setting
• Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome): systemic and craniofacial associations
• Horner syndrome: classical clinical features and neurological basis

Syndromes with Oral and Systemic Relevance

• Gorlin–Goltz syndrome (Basal cell nevus syndrome):
  • Repeated recall, suggesting exam emphasis
• Ehlers–Danlos syndrome:
  • Connective tissue disorder
  • Bleeding tendency and oral implications
  • Recall spelling variation preserved as noted by candidates
• Sjögren syndrome:
  • Autoimmune basis
  • Xerostomia and oral features

Immunology, Histology and Serology

• Identification of histological cell types (EMQ-style):
  • Fibroblast
  • Helper T lymphocyte
  • Plasma cell
• Functions of the above immune and connective tissue cells
• Diagnostic tests for autoimmune diseases (general principles)
• Hepatitis B serology interpretation:
  • HBsAg
  • HBsAb

Pharmacology and Drug Interactions

• General drug interactions relevant to dental prescribing
• Morphine antagonists and their indications
• Warfarin-related interaction scenario:
  • Patient previously treated for infection
  • Subsequent presentation with epistaxis
  • Markedly raised INR (INR = 8)
  • Identification of the drug most likely responsible for the interaction

Medical Emergencies in Dental Practice

• Anaphylaxis:
  • Recognition of clinical features
  • Correct adrenaline concentration:
    • 1 mg in 1 ml = 1:1000
• Intravenous drug abuse:
  • Systemic risks and clinical implications
• Management of the unconscious patient:
  • Use of glucagon in hypoglycaemia
• Sudden onset sharp chest pain:
  • Emergency management principles
  • Use of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)

Applied Clinical Interpretation

• Low BMI scenario:
  • 51-year-old patient with BMI of 17
  • Identification of the most likely underlying diagnosis
• Hypokalaemia associated with dysplasia:
  • Interpretation and systemic significance

Recalled Exam Pattern Notes

• Questions frequently presented as patients attending the clinic
• Focus on identifying:
  • The medication used
  • Side effects of medications
  • Drug–disease interactions
• Oral manifestations commonly integrated into systemic disease questions
• Pharmacology tested at a clinical awareness level rather than specialist cardiology depth
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology (e.g. tachycardia) required

Dental Trauma and Scope of Practice (LDS Part 1)

This section reflects recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on dental trauma assessment and management, with particular emphasis on injuries affecting the primary dentition. Additional questions tested professional scope of practice and regulatory awareness within the dental team.

Dental Trauma: General Principles

• Principles of dental trauma assessment and immediate management
• Classification of dental injuries involving hard tissues, pulp, and periodontal structures
• Decision-making between urgent and definitive management in traumatic dental injuries

Trauma in the Primary Dentition

• Management of dental trauma in primary teeth (main area of focus)
• Key differences between trauma management in primary and permanent teeth
• Considerations related to the developing permanent successor

Avulsion Injuries

• Avulsion injuries:
  • Definition and mechanism of injury
  • Emergency management principles
  • Prognostic considerations
• Repeated recall of avulsion-related questions, indicating exam emphasis

Crown Fractures

• Uncomplicated crown fractures:
  • Definition and classification
  • Initial assessment
  • Basic management principles

Scope of Practice and Dental Team Roles

• Additional training and scope of practice of a dental therapist
• Identification of procedures that may be performed by a dental therapist
• Options-based questions assessing:
  • Permitted procedures
  • Non-permitted procedures
  • Role delineation within the dental team

Professional and Regulatory Awareness

• Discretionary insurance or similar professional indemnity arrangements:
  • General awareness of professional cover
  • Concept-based questioning rather than precise definitions
  • Exact wording not recalled, preserved as noted by candidates

Paediatric Dentistry (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on child dental development, preventive dentistry, restorative decision-making, safeguarding, and applied basic science. Questions were frequently framed around age-specific clinical scenarios and preventive guidance.

Dental Development and Eruption

• Early loss of primary teeth at 4 years of age and its clinical implications for space maintenance and occlusal development
• Unilateral canine eruption during the mixed dentition phase and its clinical interpretation
• Last tooth to erupt in the oral cavity
• Clarification that the last tooth to erupt is a succedaneous tooth
• Recognition that second molars do not have succedaneous predecessors
• Recall uncertainty regarding whether the maxillary or mandibular canine was specifically referenced, preserved as noted by candidates

Dental Caries, Prevention, and Indices

• Most cariogenic dietary sugar
• Xylitol:
  • Mechanism of action in caries prevention
  • Reported side effects
• Recommended fluoride concentration in water supply (ppm)
• DMFT index:
  • Meaning and components
• DMFS index:
  • Meaning and components
• Delivering Better Oral Health (DBOH):
  • Preventive management of a 2-year-old child at high caries risk

Restorative Considerations in Paediatric Dentistry

• Stainless steel crowns in deciduous teeth:
  • Contraindications (recalled repeatedly, suggesting exam emphasis)
• Management of a child presenting with dry mouth and early cervical caries:
  • Most appropriate initial preventive or therapeutic approach

Tooth Development and Oral Biology

• Late bell stage of tooth development:
  • Mineral deposited during this stage
  • Organic matrix components (including proline-rich proteins, as recalled)

Child Safeguarding

• Non-accidental injury (NAI) in children:
  • Recognition of safeguarding concerns
  • Appropriate first and immediate response

General Knowledge and Clinical Awareness

• Bacterium associated with peptic ulcer disease
• Colour coding of a CO₂ fire extinguisher

Aesthetic and Preventive Dentistry

• Home bleaching:
  • Percentage concentration explicitly recalled as tested

Orthodontics (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on orthodontic diagnosis, growth assessment, occlusion, appliance therapy, and treatment planning. Questions commonly tested core concepts and clinical interpretation rather than detailed biomechanical calculations.

Skeletal Relationships and Malocclusion

• Crossbite assessment:
  • Retrognathic maxilla
  • Retrognathic mandible
• Anterior open bite associated with buccal crossbite:
  • Identification of the underlying skeletal or functional pattern
• Severe skeletal Class III malocclusion:
  • Role of surgical orthodontics

Orthodontic Diagnosis and Records

• Orthodontic patient assessment:
  • Use of orthopantomogram (OPG)
  • Use of lateral cephalogram
• SNA angle:
  • What it describes in cephalometric analysis

Space Management and Crowding

• Moderate to severe crowding:
  • Indications for extraction-based treatment (statement incomplete as recalled)
• Extraction patterns for moderate to severe crowding:
  • Class I occlusion
• Leeway space:
  • Definition and clinical significance
• Distal movement of the upper buccal segment:
  • Indications and principles

Orthodontic Appliances and Mechanics

• Facebow:
  • Purpose and clinical use
• Adams clasp:
  • Diameter of stainless steel wire used (0.7 mm)
• Functional appliances:
  • Timing of use in Class II malocclusion during growth

Occlusion

• Types of occlusal schemes:
  • Group function
  • Canine guidance
  • Long centric

Child Safeguarding (Orthodontic Context)

• Child suspected to be a victim of non-accidental injury (NAI):
  • First and immediate response

Periodontology (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on periodontal diagnosis, basic periodontal anatomy, disease progression, and interpretation of clinical indices. Questions were commonly framed around clinical scenarios requiring identification of periodontal conditions and appropriate diagnostic interpretation.

Periodontal Diagnosis and Clinical Assessment

• Periodontal diagnosis based on clinical presentation and examination findings
• Use of periodontal indices in routine assessment
• Dental charting:
  • Interpretation of charting data in a clinical scenario

Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE)

• Interpretation of BPE scores
• Indications for using the “–” sign in BPE recording
• Question-based assessment of appropriate BPE scoring in clinical cases

Periodontal Ligament and Supporting Structures

• Periodontal ligament fibre groups involved in functional loading:
  • Horizontal fibres
  • Oblique fibres
  • Related fibre types as recalled by candidates
• Changes observed when approaching cancellous bone during periodontal probing or bone loss

Gingival and Periodontal Lesions

• Firm, non-bleeding gingival growth:
  • Identification and differential consideration
• Pyogenic granuloma:
  • Clinical features and recognition

Tooth Mobility

• Grading of tooth mobility:
  • Clinical interpretation and significance

Pathogenesis of Gingivitis

• Early lesion of gingivitis:
  • Predominant immune response and cellular involvement
• Established lesion of gingivitis:
  • Key histological and clinical features

Oral Medicine (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on oral disease diagnosis, interpretation of clinical signs and symptoms, appropriate investigation selection, and recognition of potentially malignant and systemic conditions with oral manifestations. Questions frequently tested clinical judgement and pattern recognition, often supported by images.

Oral Disease Diagnosis and Investigations

• Diagnosis of oral disease based on presenting symptoms and clinical findings
• Decision-making regarding further investigations:
  • Radiographs (X-ray)
  • Histological examination / biopsy
  • MRI
  • Temperature measurement
  • Blood tests

Oral Ulceration and Ulcer Management

• Oral ulceration:
  • Clinical assessment and differential diagnosis
• Ulcer management (EMQ-style questions):
  • Topical pharmacological treatments
  • Systemic pharmacological treatments
• Most appropriate treatment choice for:
  • Ulcer that is firm on palpation
• Most likely feature suggesting malignancy in an oral ulcer

Potentially Malignant and Malignant Oral Lesions

• Malignant oral lesions:
  • Presentation as swelling or ulcer (exact recall variable)
  • Clinical features raising suspicion of malignancy:
    • Slow progressive growth
    • Paraesthesia of the lip
• Dysplasia progressing to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC):
  • Changes in histopathological features during progression
• Metastatic melanoma:
  • Recognition and oral presentation

Image-Based Identification

• Clinical photographs of:
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Mucocele

Lymphoproliferative and Systemic Conditions

• Lymphoma:
  • Burkitt’s lymphoma
  • Non-Burkitt’s lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma:
  • Oral and radiographic features
• Osteoporosis:
  • Oral and dental relevance

Salivary Gland Disorders

• Sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland:
  • Radiographic appearance

Developmental Dental Defects

• Amelogenesis imperfecta
• Dentinogenesis imperfecta
• Porphyria:
  • Dental and oral features
• Odontodysplasia (as recalled)
• Turner tooth
• Supplemental lateral incisor
• Last succedaneous tooth to erupt

Systemic Disease with Oral Manifestations

• Iron deficiency anaemia:
  • Frequently recalled topic
  • Oral and mucosal features
• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis:
  • Oral mucosal ulceration
  • Associated systemic features:
    • Bloody stools
    • Weight loss

Oral and Facial Clinical Features

• Small white swelling on the forehead:
  • Association with long-term sun exposure
• Chipmunk facial appearance:
  • Identification of the underlying disease

Muscles, Function and Parafunction

• Muscle attachments in the anterior mandible:
  • Geniohyoid
  • Mentalis
• Bruxism:
  • Muscles involved (e.g. masseter, buccinator)
• Feature of bulimia nervosa affecting the oral cavity

Dental Materials, Testing and Pharmacology

• Sensitivity testing:
  • Most appropriate method for a crowned tooth
• Enamel bleaching:
  • Percentage concentration recalled as tested
• Drug associated with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)

UK Clinical Guidelines, Law and Ethics (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on UK clinical governance, law and ethics, consent, communication, teamwork, patient safety, and regulatory frameworks. This area was frequently reported as confusing by candidates and was commonly tested using scenario-based and EMQ-style questions.

Law, Ethics and Professional Responsibilities

• Principles of law and ethics in dental practice
• Professional accountability and ethical decision-making
• Whom the General Dental Council (GDC) exists to protect
• Whistleblowing and raising concerns appropriately
• Respecting colleagues and professional conduct within the dental team
• Resource allocation and ethical considerations

Consent

• Types of consent:
  • Implied consent
  • Express consent
  • Explicit consent
  • Informed consent
  • Invalid consent
• EMQ-style questions on identifying the correct type of consent
• Scenario-based consent question:
  • 16-year-old patient presenting with trauma
  • Patient attending alone
  • Assessment of whether consent can be accepted or treatment deferred

Communication and Teamwork

• Effective communication with patients and colleagues
• Roles and responsibilities within the dental team
• Team leadership and management
• Referring appropriately to members of the dental team:
  • Dental hygienists
  • Dental assistants / nurses
  • Specialists
• EMQ-style questions on communication, teamwork and self-reflection:
  • Analysis
  • Work
  • Review

Referral Pathways

• EMQ-style questions on appropriate referrals to:
  • Oncologist
  • Maxillofacial surgeon
  • General medical practitioner (GP)
  • Oral medicine specialist
  • Orthodontist
  • Endodontist
• Principles of safe and appropriate referral

Medical Risk Assessment and Patient Safety

• Anxiety assessment:
  • Use of anxiety scales
  • Repeated recall of anxiety scale questions
  • Anxiety scale ranges for dentophobia (e.g. 7–9, 10–12)
• Glasgow Coma Scale:
  • Assessment of verbal and other responses
• Intravenous sedation:
  • General awareness and indications

Infection Control, Decontamination and Health & Safety

• Infection control procedures:
  • Disinfection of eye glasses
• Decontamination and sterilisation:
  • Autoclaving temperature and pressure
  • Sterilisation validation
  • Mandatory decontamination training for dental nurses
• Health and safety considerations
• Fire safety:
  • Fire sign colours
  • CO₂ cylinder colour

Waste Management and Environmental Safety

• Waste disposal scenarios:
  • Gold crown
  • Amalgam-filled tooth
  • All-metal crowns and bridges
• Amalgam and amalgam-related waste management
• Use of white-lidded receptacles / special waste containers
• Recognition that no white container was listed among recalled options in one scenario

Clinical Governance and Regulatory Bodies

• Awareness of UK regulatory and professional bodies:
  • NICE
  • GDC
  • NHS
  • BDA
  • Primary Care Trust (as recalled)
  • Evidence-based medicine institutes
• CQC:
  • Who designates responsibility and oversight

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• CPD requirements for dentists:
  • Medical emergencies
  • Radiology / radiation protection
• Minimum required CPD hours for specific subject areas
• Duration for which CPD records must be maintained

Incident Reporting and Data Protection

• Breach in data security:
  • When to report
  • Who to report to initially
• Accidents and serious injuries:
  • Reporting thresholds
  • Appropriate reporting pathways

Indemnity and Complaints

• Professional indemnity:
  • Awareness of claim cover
  • Exact details not fully recalled
• Complaints procedures:
  • Initial handling of complaints
  • Ultimate responsibility of practice management
  • Two recalled questions on complaints management

Smoking Cessation and Behaviour Modification

• Smoking cessation advice:
  • Use of brief interventions (e.g. “VBA”, as recalled)
  • Multiple questions on smoking-related issues
• Behaviour modification techniques:
  • Desensitisation
  • Distraction

Statistics and Research (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on basic research methodology, study design, epidemiology, and interpretation of statistical concepts. Questions were generally conceptual and aimed at testing understanding of study types rather than numerical calculations.

Study Design and Research Methodology

• Identification of study design based on a given research scenario
• Cohort studies:
  • Definition and basic principles
  • Prospective and retrospective cohort concepts
• Case–control studies:
  • Identification based on outcome-first design
• Randomised controlled trials:
  • Recognition of randomisation and intervention allocation
• Parallel studies:
  • Understanding of group allocation and comparison
• Cross-over studies:
  • Recognition of participants acting as their own controls

Statistical Concepts

• General statistics questions testing interpretation rather than calculation
• Ability to distinguish between different types of studies using brief descriptions

Epidemiology and Public Health

• Main cause of anaemia in the UK:
  • Dietary cause (as recalled by candidates)
• Common dietary causes of anaemia in developing countries
• Approximate number of oral cancer cases per year in the UK

Applied Exam Focus

• Questions centred on identifying the correct study type rather than detailed statistical testing
• Emphasis on understanding research terminology and basic epidemiological principles

Dental Materials (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on fundamental dental material science, material properties, clinical applications, and common material-related decision-making scenarios. Questions largely tested conceptual understanding rather than detailed laboratory-level knowledge.

Impression Materials

• Types of impression materials and their basic properties
• Dimensional stability of impression materials:
  • Poor dimensional stability when impressions are left in water for approximately 30 minutes

Composite Resin Materials

• Components of composite resin materials
• Role of the resin matrix in composite materials
• Properties influencing composite flowability
• Methods to increase flowability of composite resin
• Flowable composite for pit and fissure sealing:
  • Material characteristics that make the composite more flowable
  • Reference to short-chain components as recalled
  • Exact mechanism not clearly recalled, preserved as noted

Acid–Base Reaction Materials

• Identification of materials that set via an acid–base reaction
• General properties and clinical relevance of acid–base reaction materials

Amalgam

• Components of dental amalgam
• Identification of the amalgam component that prevents marginal ditching
• General features and properties of amalgam restorations

Gypsum Products

• Addition of potassium sulphate (KSO₄) to gypsum:
  • Effect on setting characteristics

Fixed Prosthodontics

• Degree of taper required for tooth preparation for full coverage crowns
• Advantages of porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) restorations over all-ceramic restorations

Removable Prosthodontics

• Denture faults:
  • Two recalled questions on identification of common faults
• Kennedy classification of partially edentulous arches
• Indirect retention:
  • Role of the saddle in indirect retention
• Denture cleaning:
  • One recalled question on appropriate cleaning methods

Preventive and Dietary Considerations

• Adverse effects of xylitol:
  • Recalled as an MCQ-based question

Oral Radiology (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on basic oral radiology principles, radiation safety, image interpretation, and selection of appropriate radiographic investigations. Questions were commonly case-based and tested understanding rather than technical radiographic physics.

Radiographic Interpretation and X-ray Signs

• Recognition and interpretation of radiographic signs on dental X-rays
• Identification of characteristic X-ray appearances based on clinical context
• Sunburst appearance on radiograph:
  • Association with specific pathological conditions
• Implied X-ray sign recognition based on image-based questions

Radiation and Radiation Safety

• Basic principles related to radiation in dental radiology
• Radiation safety concepts relevant to dental practice
• Identification of safe areas or zones in relation to radiation exposure

Radiographic Investigations

• Different types of radiographic investigations used in dentistry
• Selection of the most appropriate radiographic view based on:
  • Clinical presentation
  • Suspected pathology

Case-Based Radiology Questions

• Radiology questions presented within a clinical case scenario
• Decision-making regarding:
  • Most suitable radiographic investigation
  • Interpretation of findings
• Additional radiology-related question recalled, with exact details unclear

Oral Surgery (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on minor oral surgery, surgical anatomy, local anaesthesia, nerve injuries, facial trauma, and medical emergency management. Questions were frequently case-based and required identification of the correct anatomical structure, nerve involvement, or immediate management step.

Surgical Planning and Patient Factors

• Flap design considerations in medically compromised patients:
  • Diabetic patient requiring extraction of the root of the lower second molar (7)

Local Anaesthesia and Nerve Injuries

• Inferior dental (alveolar) nerve block:
  • Technique and complications
  • Two to three recalled questions on nerve injury during inferior dental block
• Lingual nerve:
  • Anatomical course and vulnerability during procedures
• Facial nerve:
  • Involvement following local anaesthetic complications
• Parotid gland involvement following local anaesthetic injection:
  • Identification of the nerve affected
• Post-anaesthetic signs and symptoms:
  • Pinpoint pupil
  • Eyelid open
  • Eyelid closed
• Drooling of saliva following inferior dental nerve block:
  • Identification of the nerve involved

Facial Nerve Lesions

• Distinguishing features of facial nerve lesions:
  • Upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion
  • Lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion

Surgical Complications

• Surgical emphysema:
  • Recognition
  • Immediate management principles
• Burning sensation in the retromolar area following extraction procedures (as recalled)
• Bruising in the retromolar area:
  • Anatomical considerations

Facial Trauma and Fractures

• Oro-antral, condylar, and traumatic fractures (OACT context as recalled)
• Facial fracture posing a threat to the airway:
  • Identification of the most dangerous fracture type
• Multiple questions on facial fractures and their clinical implications

Cysts and Jaw Pathology

• Cyst of the jaw:
  • Appropriate referral pathway
• Anatomical structure associated with a branchial cyst

Medical Emergencies in Oral Surgery

• Hypoglycaemia
• Angina
• Asthma
• Status epilepticus
• Anaphylaxis

Pharmacology and Anticoagulation

• Local anaesthetic dosage:
  • Maximum number of cartridges of prilocaine for an adult patient
• Anticoagulation considerations:
  • INR threshold for dental procedures
  • Question recalled with uncertainty between INR 3 or 4

Restorative Dentistry (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on pulpal and pain diagnosis, caries detection, restorative decision-making, endodontic principles, and occlusal considerations. Questions were commonly scenario-based and required interpretation of clinical findings rather than procedural detail.

Pulpal and Pain Diagnosis

• Pulpal diagnosis based on clinical presentation and symptoms
• Pain diagnosis and differentiation between odontogenic causes
• Types of pulpal status:
  • Normal pulp
  • Reversible pulpitis
  • Irreversible pulpitis
  • Necrotic pulp

Caries Detection and Diagnosis

• Case scenario involving:
  • Scaling of the cervical area
  • Identification of caries beneath plaque
  • Diagnosis of the specific type of caries
• Zones involved in enamel caries:
  • Recognition and interpretation of histological zones

Endodontics and Restorative Decision-Making

• Pain associated with a canine tooth:
  • History of root canal treatment
  • Presence of a post and core
  • Identification of the most likely diagnosis
• Large tooth anatomy:
  • Communication between the pulp chamber and root canal system
• Working length determination:
  • Measurement from the coronal reference point to the apical constriction

Pulp Therapy and Trauma

• Questions relating to pulp therapy:
  • Indications and basic principles
• Traumatic dental injuries:
  • Impact on pulpal status and restorative planning

Occlusion and Tooth Support

• Occlusal adjustment:
  • Correction of occlusal interferences
• Abutment teeth:
  • Importance of crown–root ratio in restorative planning

Paediatric Restorative Considerations

• Five-year-old child presenting with carious lesions on all primary molars:
  • Identification of the underlying condition

Prosthodontics (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on occlusion, removable and fixed prosthodontic principles, tooth wear, post-endodontic restoration, and aesthetic management. Questions were commonly scenario-based and tested appropriate occlusal selection and treatment planning.

Occlusion and Occlusal Schemes

• Principles of occlusion and their application in prosthodontics
• EMQ-style questions on occlusion:
  • Different occlusal types
  • Scenario-based indications for selecting an occlusal scheme
• Occlusal interference:
  • Identification
  • Correction principles

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and Occlusal Records

• TMJ-related clinical scenarios:
  • Use of occlusal splints
  • Indications for taking an occlusal record
  • Selection of the appropriate occlusal scheme

Removable Prosthodontics

• Kennedy classification:
  • Kennedy Class III modification 3 in a lower removable partial denture (RPD)
  • Selection of the appropriate occlusal scheme in this scenario

Tooth Wear

• Types of tooth wear:
  • Attrition
  • Erosion
  • Abfraction
• Clinical differentiation of tooth wear patterns

Post-Endodontic Restorations

• Post placement considerations:
  • Minimum length of root filling to be retained apically
  • Options recalled: 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm

Aesthetic and Preventive Considerations

• Post-orthodontic enamel decalcification:
  • Identification of the most appropriate management option
  • Microabrasion recalled as a treatment choice
• Non-vital tooth discolouration:
  • Selection of the most appropriate treatment option

Implant Dentistry, Pain Diagnosis and Exam Pattern Observations (LDS Part 1)

This section represents recall-based LDS Part 1 topic areas focusing on implant treatment planning, contraindications, radiographic assessment, pain diagnosis, and general exam pattern observations. Questions were predominantly scenario-based and tested clinical judgement rather than technical implant procedures.

Implant Dentistry

• Implant replacement scenario:
  • Rugby player with loss of lower right canine
  • Long-term use of a removable partial denture (RPD)
  • Patient requesting implant replacement
• Radiographic assessment for implant planning:
  • Choice between orthopantomogram (OPG) and computed tomography (CT)
• Age-related considerations:
  • 16-year-old patient requesting implant placement
  • Identification of the most likely contraindication
• Systemic considerations:
  • 18-year-old patient with diabetes requesting implant treatment
  • Assessment of contraindications and risk factors

Pain Diagnosis

• Dental pain diagnosis:
  • Identification of odontogenic causes of pain
• Facial pain diagnosis:
  • Differentiation between dental and non-dental sources of pain

Professional Standards and Exam Style Questions

• Questions relating to GDC standards:
  • Two recalled questions on professional standards and conduct
• Dental charting:
  • One recalled question on interpretation or completion

Exam Content Distribution (General Observations)

• High frequency of questions from:
  • Oral medicine
  • Restorative dentistry
  • Prosthodontics
• Traumatic dental injuries:
  • Repeatedly tested across multiple questions
• Pulp therapy:
  • Included in several questions across different clinical contexts