100+ Free LDS Part 1 Practice Questions

Pass your LDS Part 1 - Licentiate in Dental Surgery (Royal College of Surgeons of England) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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MFDS Part 1

Practice Questions100 questions

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: LDS Part 1 Exam

2 papers

Paper A and Paper B are taken on the same day for LDS Part 1

RCS England - LDS Part 1

300 questions

150 SBA/EMQ items in each of the two LDS Part 1 papers

RCS England - LDS Part 1

6 hours

Two three-hour papers make up the full LDS Part 1 examination

RCS England - LDS Part 1

Pass both at once

Candidates must pass Paper A and Paper B at the same sitting

RCS England - LDS Part 1

About GBP 900

June 2026 LDS Part 1 fee, rising to about GBP 1,025 from October 2026

RCS England - LDS Part 1 fees

Safe Practitioner Framework

GDC Safe Practitioner Framework provides the LDS Part 1 syllabus blueprint

General Dental Council

SBA and EMQ

LDS Part 1 uses single best answer and extended matching question formats

RCS England - LDS Part 1

100

Free original LDS Part 1 practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

LDS Part 1 is the written knowledge stage of the Royal College of Surgeons of England Licence in Dental Surgery, a route to UK GDC registration for overseas-qualified dentists. It is delivered as two computer-based papers (Paper A and Paper B) on a single day, three hours each, for six hours of testing. Each paper contains 150 single best answer (SBA) and extended matching question (EMQ) items, giving 300 questions overall. There is no fixed percentage pass mark; the standard is criterion-referenced and both papers must be passed at one sitting. The June 2026 fee is about GBP 900, rising to about GBP 1,025 from October 2026. This 100-question bank gives original SBA practice across the full Part 1 syllabus.

Sample LDS Part 1 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your LDS Part 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A 58-year-old patient takes warfarin for atrial fibrillation and needs a single dental extraction. Their INR measured today is 2.6. What is the most appropriate management?

A.Proceed with the extraction without interrupting warfarin and use local haemostatic measures

B.Stop warfarin for 5 days before the extraction

C.Refer to hospital for a heparin bridge

D.Postpone treatment until the INR is below 1.5

Explanation: Current UK guidance (SDCEP) advises that patients on warfarin with a stable INR below 4.0 can have simple dental extractions without interrupting the anticoagulant, using local measures such as sutures and packing. Stopping warfarin risks thromboembolism.

2A patient becomes pale, sweaty and loses consciousness shortly after sitting up from the dental chair. Their pulse is slow. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A.Anaphylaxis

B.Vasovagal syncope

C.Myocardial infarction

D.Hypoglycaemia

Explanation: Vasovagal syncope (a simple faint) is the most common medical emergency in dentistry. It presents with pallor, sweating, bradycardia and brief loss of consciousness, and is managed by laying the patient flat and raising the legs.

3Which drug should be given first to a conscious patient experiencing severe anaphylaxis in the dental surgery?

A.Intramuscular adrenaline 0.5 mg (1:1000)

B.Intravenous hydrocortisone 200 mg

C.Oral chlorphenamine 10 mg

D.Intramuscular adrenaline 0.5 mg (1:10000)

Explanation: The first-line treatment for anaphylaxis is intramuscular adrenaline 0.5 mg of 1:1000 (500 micrograms) into the anterolateral thigh, repeated after 5 minutes if needed. It reverses bronchospasm and hypotension.

4A type 1 diabetic patient on insulin becomes shaky, confused and sweaty during a long morning appointment. They are still conscious and able to swallow. What is the immediate management?

A.Give 15-20 g of fast-acting oral glucose

B.Administer intramuscular glucagon

C.Give intravenous 20% glucose

D.Reassure and continue treatment

Explanation: This is hypoglycaemia. In a conscious patient who can swallow, give 15-20 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate such as glucose tablets or sugary drink, then a longer-acting carbohydrate once recovered.

5Which of the following is the most important reason to take a careful drug history before prescribing an NSAID such as ibuprofen for dental pain?

A.NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and interact with anticoagulants and antihypertensives

B.NSAIDs always cause severe drowsiness

C.NSAIDs are contraindicated in all patients over 40

D.NSAIDs cannot be combined with paracetamol

Explanation: NSAIDs increase the risk of gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding, can reduce the effect of antihypertensives, and increase bleeding risk with anticoagulants. They are also cautioned in asthma, renal impairment and heart failure.

6A patient reports a history of rheumatic fever and a replacement heart valve. According to current NICE guidance in the UK, antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis before dental procedures is:

A.Routinely required for all such patients

B.Not routinely recommended, but considered on an individual basis after specialist discussion

C.Required only if the patient is over 65

D.Replaced by a chlorhexidine mouthwash in all cases

Explanation: NICE guidance states antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis is not routinely recommended for dental procedures, but it may be considered for individuals at increased risk following discussion with the patient and their specialist.

7Which laboratory finding is most characteristic of a patient with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus?

A.Elevated HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin)

B.Reduced serum potassium

C.Elevated INR

D.Reduced serum calcium

Explanation: HbA1c reflects average blood glucose over the preceding 2-3 months and is the key marker of long-term glycaemic control. A high HbA1c indicates poor diabetic control and increased periodontal and infection risk.

8A patient taking a long-term oral corticosteroid for autoimmune disease may be at risk during stressful dental treatment because of:

A.Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis leading to an inadequate cortisol response

B.Excessive endogenous adrenaline release

C.An increased risk of malignant hyperthermia

D.Spontaneous hyperkalaemia

Explanation: Long-term exogenous steroids suppress the HPA axis, so the adrenal glands may not mount an adequate cortisol response to stress. This can rarely precipitate an adrenal (Addisonian) crisis with hypotension and collapse.

9Which viral infection is transmitted by blood and body fluids and poses the greatest occupational risk of transmission to a dental professional following a needlestick injury from an infected source?

A.Hepatitis B virus

B.Influenza A virus

C.Measles virus

D.Rotavirus

Explanation: Hepatitis B is highly infectious by the bloodborne route, with the highest transmission risk of the bloodborne viruses after a needlestick from an infected source. This is why hepatitis B vaccination is mandatory for dental staff.

10A patient with chronic liver disease may have impaired haemostasis during oral surgery primarily because:

A.The liver synthesises clotting factors and reduced function lowers their levels

B.The liver stores all the body's platelets

C.The liver produces adrenaline needed for clotting

D.Liver disease always causes severe thrombocytosis

Explanation: The liver synthesises most clotting factors, including the vitamin K-dependent factors II, VII, IX and X. Hepatic impairment reduces their production, prolonging the prothrombin time and increasing bleeding risk.

About the LDS Part 1 Exam

The Licentiate in Dental Surgery (LDS) Part 1 is a written knowledge examination run by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It is one of the routes by which overseas-qualified dentists can demonstrate the knowledge required for General Dental Council registration in the UK, and it is set to the same standard as the GDC Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) Part 1. The examination is delivered as two computer-based written papers on a single day. Paper A focuses on clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease, while Paper B covers all aspects of clinical dentistry together with law, ethics and health and safety. Each paper uses single best answer (SBA) and extended matching question (EMQ) formats, and there is no practical or clinical component at Part 1. The syllabus follows the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework and spans human disease, oral biology, dental anatomy, oral pathology and medicine, microbiology, pharmacology, dental materials, behavioural sciences and the principles that underpin clinical dentistry.

Assessment

Two computer-based written papers taken on the same day. Paper A covers clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease; Paper B covers aspects of clinical dentistry, law and ethics, and health and safety. Each paper has 150 single best answer (SBA) and extended matching question (EMQ) items.

Time Limit

Six hours in total: Paper A is three hours (180 minutes) and Paper B is three hours (180 minutes), taken on the same day.

Passing Score

No fixed published percentage. The pass standard is set by criterion-referenced standard setting, and candidates must pass both Paper A and Paper B at the same sitting to pass LDS Part 1.

Exam Fee

Approximately GBP 900 for the June 2026 sitting, rising to approximately GBP 1,025 from October 2026 under the College's revised pricing. Always confirm the current fee with RCS England before applying. (Royal College of Surgeons of England)

LDS Part 1 Exam Content Outline

20%

Clinically applied human disease and medicine

General medicine and pathology that affect dental care: cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine (including diabetes), haematological, hepatic and renal disease, bleeding disorders, anticoagulants, medical emergencies in the dental chair, and the safe management of medically compromised patients.

13%

Oral biology, dental anatomy and embryology

Tooth morphology and FDI numbering, development of the face, palate and dental tissues, the structure and function of enamel, dentine, pulp, cementum and periodontium, eruption sequences, and salivary gland physiology.

16%

Oral and maxillofacial pathology and oral medicine

Caries and periodontal pathology, odontogenic cysts and tumours, potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma, vesiculobullous and ulcerative conditions, oral infections, and the clinical and histological diagnosis of mucosal and bony lesions.

Microbiology and infection control

Oral microflora, dental plaque biofilm, cariogenic and periodontal pathogens, candidal and viral infections, cross-infection control, decontamination and sterilisation, and the rational use of antimicrobials in dentistry.

12%

Pharmacology and therapeutics

Local anaesthetic agents and toxicity, analgesics, antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals, sedation pharmacology, drugs affecting haemostasis and bone metabolism, drug interactions, and prescribing using the BNF and Dental Practitioners' Formulary.

11%

Dental materials science

Composition, properties, setting reactions and clinical handling of amalgam, composite resin, glass-ionomer cements, dental ceramics, impression materials, gypsum products, luting cements, casting alloys, and the principles of adhesion and bonding.

14%

Clinical dentistry and principles of practice

Operative dentistry, endodontics, periodontology, fixed and removable prosthodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, dental radiography and radiation protection, diagnosis and treatment planning across the full scope of clinical dentistry.

Behavioural sciences, law, ethics and health and safety

Professionalism and the GDC Standards for the Dental Team, valid consent, confidentiality and data protection, communication and behaviour change, health and safety, radiation legislation (IRR/IRMER) and the legal framework of UK dental practice.

How to Pass the LDS Part 1 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: No fixed published percentage. The pass standard is set by criterion-referenced standard setting, and candidates must pass both Paper A and Paper B at the same sitting to pass LDS Part 1.
Assessment: Two computer-based written papers taken on the same day. Paper A covers clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease; Paper B covers aspects of clinical dentistry, law and ethics, and health and safety. Each paper has 150 single best answer (SBA) and extended matching question (EMQ) items.
Time limit: Six hours in total: Paper A is three hours (180 minutes) and Paper B is three hours (180 minutes), taken on the same day.
Exam fee: Approximately GBP 900 for the June 2026 sitting, rising to approximately GBP 1,025 from October 2026 under the College's revised pricing. Always confirm the current fee with RCS England before applying.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

LDS Part 1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Use the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework as your blueprint and map your revision to every domain, because Part 1 samples the whole undergraduate dental curriculum rather than a few high-yield topics.

2Drill applied human disease until you can state how each medical condition and its drugs change dental management, as these scenarios appear heavily in Paper A.

3Practise drug doses and local anaesthetic limits with the BNF and Dental Practitioners' Formulary so prescribing and toxicity questions become quick recall.

4Learn dental materials by setting reaction, properties and failure mode, not just by name, because distractors often differ only in one property such as solubility or modulus.

5Do timed SBA blocks of roughly one minute per question to build the pace needed for 150 items in three hours.

6Revise GDC standards, consent, radiation protection (IRR/IRMER) and infection control for Paper B, where law, ethics and health and safety questions are concentrated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers and questions are in LDS Part 1?

LDS Part 1 has two written papers, Paper A and Paper B, taken on the same day. Each paper contains 150 single best answer (SBA) and extended matching question (EMQ) items, so there are 300 questions in total.

How long is the LDS Part 1 exam?

Each paper lasts three hours (180 minutes), so the full examination is six hours of testing in one day, plus scheduled breaks and instructions.

What is the pass mark for LDS Part 1?

There is no published fixed percentage pass mark. The standard is set using criterion-referenced standard setting, and candidates must pass both Paper A and Paper B at the same sitting to pass Part 1.

How much does LDS Part 1 cost?

The fee for the June 2026 sitting is about GBP 900, rising to about GBP 1,025 from October 2026 under the College's revised pricing. Always confirm the current fee on the RCS England website before applying.

How is LDS different from the GDC's ORE?

The LDS is run by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the ORE is run by the General Dental Council, but both are routes to UK registration for overseas-qualified dentists and are set to the same Part 1 knowledge standard and syllabus.

Are these official RCS England or GDC questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep practice questions written to match the LDS Part 1 syllabus and SBA style. They are for study only and do not reproduce official RCS England or GDC examination material.