The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow work together to deliver a new suite of dental examinations from Autumn 2026. These will cover 10 specialty fellowship examinations, supporting trainees to demonstrate the specialist knowledge, skills and capabilities required for progression as well as a new exam for the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS).

Currently, most dental specialties have multiple versions of the specialty exam, administered by individual Royal Colleges, or a combination of Colleges.

Having a single exam for each specialty will enable consistency for trainees across the UK and will provide a clearer training pathway for all specialties, while continuing to support patient safety.

Our examinations are delivered by a staff team covering delivery and quality assurance, as well as panels of expert clinicians and our examiners. Our Boards are led by the following:

• Sondos Albadri – Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations Chairperson 
• Patricia Marsden – Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery Examinations Chairperson 

• Paul Batchelor – Dental Public Health Chair 

• Nicholas Longridge – Endodontics Chair 

• Adrian Thorp – Oral Surgery Chair 

• Pamela Ellis – Orthodontics Chair 

• Elizabeth Theaker – Oral Medicine Chair 

• Janet Davies – Paediatric Dentistry Chair 

• Navidah Chaudhary – Periodontics Chair 

• Rupert Austin – Prosthodontics Chair 

• Kalpesh Bavisha – Restorative Dentistry Chair 
• Sarah Buckingham – Special Care Dentistry Chair