Prometric Exam for Specialist Dentists: Orthodontics, Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Restorative Dentistry and Implantology — Blueprints, Pass Marks, MDS Recognition and Salaries (2026)
An MDS or equivalent does not license you as a general dentist with a bonus — it puts you on a separate specialist track with its own exam. This guide compares the eight specialist dental papers (150 questions each; 60% to pass, 65% for implantology), sets out what each blueprint covers, explains MDS, FCPS and Membership recognition, how implant privileges are added to a general dental licence, and what specialist dentists earn.
Dental specialists are licensed on a different track from general dentists. With a recognised postgraduate qualification you are assessed for the Specialist title in your own discipline, sit that discipline's paper, and are paid on a specialist scale. General dentists should read the dentist guide instead; hygienists and assistants the hygienist and assistant guide.
The eight specialist papers
| Specialty (code) | Questions | Time | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontics (ORD5211) | 150 | 3 h | 60% |
| Endodontics (END5021) | 150 | 3 h | 60% |
| Prosthodontics (PRO5051) | 150 | 3 h | 60% |
| Periodontics (PER5131) | 150 | 3 h | 60% |
| Paediatric Dentistry (PED5911) | 150 | 3 h | 60% |
| Oral Surgery (ORS5941) / Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS5351) | 150 | 3 h | 60% |
| Restorative Dentistry (RES5221) | 150 | 3 h | 60% |
| Implantology (IMP4411) | 150 | 3 h | 65% |
Ninety correct answers passes every paper except implantology, which needs 98. Consultant-grade papers exist for several disciplines and are listed in the exam catalogue; which grade you are assessed for depends on your qualification tier and post-qualification experience.
What each blueprint covers
Orthodontics
Growth and development; aetiology of malocclusion; cephalometric analysis; biomechanics and the biology of tooth movement; interceptive treatment; comprehensive treatment in pre-adolescents and adolescents; adult and adjunctive orthodontics; orthognathic surgery; craniofacial deformities; retention and stability. Cephalometric values, anchorage concepts, timing of growth modification and relapse are the recurring themes.
Endodontics
Diagnosis, outcome and treatment planning; pain and emergencies; surgical endodontics; traumatic dental injuries; pharmacology; regenerative endodontics and vital pulp therapy; endo–perio and endo–restorative relationships; procedural mishaps; classic and current literature; the medically compromised patient. Pulpal and periapical diagnosis terminology, trauma guidelines by injury type, irrigant chemistry and perforation or separated-instrument management come up every sitting. "Classic and current literature" is a listed area — know the landmark outcome studies.
Prosthodontics
Fixed partial dentures; removable partial dentures; complete dentures; occlusion and aesthetics; endodontically treated teeth; maxillofacial prosthodontics; implant prosthodontics; dental materials. Kennedy classification and design rules, preparation principles, ferrule, occlusal schemes, impression materials and ceramic systems are the staples.
Periodontics
Periodontal structures; aetiology, microbiology and immunology; examination, diagnosis, risk factors and classification; non-surgical therapy, periodontal medicine and pharmacotherapeutics; surgical techniques and complications; relationships with other specialties; maintenance; implant indications. Learn the current classification with staging and grading — older classification language is now a distractor.
Paediatric dentistry
Dental development and anomalies; prevention and anticipatory guidance; local anaesthesia and sedation; non-pharmacological and pharmacological behaviour management; restorative dentistry and materials; special care; pulp therapy; orofacial trauma; oral pathology; orthodontics, space management and habits. Eruption chronology, fluoride dosing, pulpotomy vs pulpectomy indications, stainless-steel crowns, space maintainer selection and maximum local anaesthetic dose by weight are the high-yield items.
Oral surgery and oral & maxillofacial surgery
Anaesthesia and pain management; maxillofacial trauma; dentoalveolar, pre-prosthetic and implant surgery; cleft and craniofacial surgery; maxillofacial infections; the medically compromised patient; deformities and orthognathic surgery; pathology. The OMFS paper adds the temporomandibular joint and reconstruction and cosmetic surgery. Fascial space infections and airway risk, fracture classification, anticoagulated and bisphosphonate patients, and impacted third-molar assessment repeat most. OMFS titles may require a medical as well as a dental qualification depending on the authority.
Restorative dentistry
Aesthetics; dental anatomy and occlusion; fixed and removable prosthodontics; endodontically treated teeth; basic implantology; infection control. A broad paper that overlaps with prosthodontics.
Implantology
Implant rationale, types and design; medical examination; periodontal considerations; records; diagnosis and treatment planning; surgical principles; posterior vs aesthetic-zone placement; hard and soft tissue reconstruction; immediate vs delayed placement; prosthetic options and workflow; biomechanics and complications. Sinus anatomy, grafting materials, loading protocols and peri-implantitis management dominate — and the pass mark is five points higher than the others.
All of these blueprints also list patient safety and professionalism and ethics. Ten to fifteen questions on consent, infection control, sharps injury and medical emergencies in the dental chair are the cheapest marks on any of these papers.
Which qualifications are recognised
- MDS (three years, full time) in the relevant specialty from a recognised dental college — the standard route for Indian graduates.
- FCPS or MDS from Pakistan, Arab Board, Jordanian and Egyptian board or master's-plus-clinical-training programmes — assessed by tier and duration.
- UK Membership in a specialty (MOrth, MEndo, MPros, MPerio, MPaedDent) with specialty training; North American specialty boards — usually higher tiers.
- Short courses, online diplomas and one-year "fellowships" — not specialist qualifications for licensing, however good the training. This is the most common rejection reason for dental specialists.
Post-qualification experience requirements vary by tier, commonly two to three years for the Specialist title. Confirm with the eligibility check and see why applications get rejected.
Implants on a general dental licence
General dentists frequently ask whether they can place implants. In the UAE, implant placement by a general dentist is an additional privilege, granted on evidence of structured implant training with a minimum number of supervised cases, and sometimes the implantology paper. Without the privilege on your licence, placing implants is outside your scope regardless of how many courses you have attended. Specialists in periodontics, oral surgery and prosthodontics hold implant scope within their own discipline's limits.
Process
- Portal registration and specialist title selection.
- DataFlow verification of BDS, the specialist qualification, registration, experience and good standing (DataFlow guide, good standing).
- Eligibility, booking (lead times) and exam. Some authorities add an oral or clinical assessment for dental specialists.
- Offer and activation.
Fees are in the fee guide.
Salaries
Specialist dentists in the UAE are usually paid a base plus a percentage of collected treatment fees, commonly 30–45%. Typical monthly earnings are AED 25,000–45,000 for orthodontists, endodontists and prosthodontists with a steady list, more for implant and oral surgeons in busy private groups, and AED 20,000–35,000 in salaried hospital posts. Saudi Arabia pays SAR 18,000–35,000 with housing for Specialists in the public and large private sector. Compare structures in the salary calculator and register in the talent pool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the specialist dental Prometric exams?
60% for orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, paediatric dentistry, oral surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery and restorative dentistry, and 65% for implantology. Each paper has 150 questions in three hours.
Can an MDS dentist apply as a general dentist instead?
Yes, using the BDS alone, but you would be licensed and paid as a general dentist and limited to a general dentist's scope. To hold a Specialist title you must be assessed on the MDS.
Can a general dentist place implants in Dubai?
Only with an implant privilege added to the licence, which requires evidence of structured implant training with supervised cases. Course certificates alone do not extend your scope.
Is a one-year fellowship in orthodontics or implantology accepted as a specialist qualification?
No. Regulators recognise full-length postgraduate specialty programmes. Short fellowships, online diplomas and certificate courses do not qualify for a Specialist title.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.