Part 1
The Orthodontics Part 1 specification describes 180 single-best-answer questions, divided equally between two two-hour papers. Questions are spread across the published syllabus and their order is randomised for each candidate.
INDEPENDENT REVISION GUIDE
DSFE Orthodontics exam preparation
A concise overview of the published Dental Specialty Fellowship Examinations Orthodontics assessment, with focused ideas for planning your revision.
Prep Ortho is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or acting on behalf of DSFE, a Royal College, or any examining body.
NEW COURSE
DSFE Orthodontics Part 1 preparatory course
Prep Ortho has started its first independent DSFE Orthodontics Part 1 preparatory course for the October 2026 examination. The course is designed to support structured SBA revision using the published Orthodontics syllabus as a study framework.
Candidates should confirm all exam dates, eligibility, fees, application deadlines, and assessment requirements directly with DSFE.
What the published information says
The Dental Examinations Executive publishes the syllabus, assessment strategy, eligibility criteria, regulations, and current exam schedule. These official sources should always be your reference for eligibility, fees, dates, application requirements, and any changes to the assessment.
Part 2
The assessment strategy describes a Clinical Structured Oral format for assessing clinical judgement, diagnosis, treatment planning, management, and decision-making in standardised clinical scenarios.
Part 1 topics: SBA revision
Part 1 is a written SBA assessment. These are the main syllabus areas to organise your revision around.
Growth and development
Craniofacial development, genetics, postnatal growth, development of the dentition, psychosocial factors, and causes of malocclusion.
Diagnosis and planning
Examination, records, imaging, occlusion and TMD, cephalometrics, growth prediction, and treatment planning.
Delivery of care
Interceptive care, tooth movement, appliances, materials, biomechanics, anchorage, adult orthodontics, emergencies, risk, retention, and stability.
Multidisciplinary care
Orthodontics with oral surgery and restorative dentistry, plus the assessment and management of facial disharmony.
Clinical reasoning
Interpret clinical information, compare options, recognise risk, make safe management plans, and explain the rationale behind them.
Evidence and reflection
Use question practice to identify weaker topics, revise the underlying principles, then return to timed mixed-question practice.
Part 2 topics: clinical structured oral preparation
Part 2 uses structured clinical scenarios. The same published syllabus remains relevant, with emphasis on applying knowledge to safe, reasoned patient management.
Clinical assessment
Interpret the history, examination, photographs, radiographs, scans, models, and other investigations needed for an orthodontic diagnosis.
Diagnosis and options
Formulate diagnoses, consider differential diagnoses where relevant, compare treatment options, and explain the option of no treatment when appropriate.
Treatment planning
Plan interceptive, appliance-based, aligner, adult, surgical, restorative, and multidisciplinary care according to the individual clinical situation.
Risk and complications
Recognise risk, consent issues, iatrogenic effects, trauma, appliance emergencies, urgent referral, and the safe management of complications.
Communication and follow-up
Explain clinical reasoning clearly, set realistic expectations, coordinate multidisciplinary care, and plan review, retention, and long-term follow-up.
Evidence-based decisions
Use evidence, patient factors, and the balance of benefits and risks to justify safe, practical management decisions.
A practical revision approach
- Read the current official syllabus and assessment information.
- Map your revision topics to the syllabus sections.
- Use SBA-style practice to find gaps in knowledge and clinical application.
- Review explanations and source material before repeating mixed mock practice.
- Use cases to practise diagnosis, prioritisation, treatment planning, risks, and follow-up decisions.
Official information: Dental Examinations Executive and DSFE specialty-specific Orthodontics resources.
