Faculty of Dentistry Regulations for

Membership in General Dental Surgery

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Table of Contents

1 General Regulations 2
2. MGDS Entry Requirements & Examination Format 3
3. Withholding and/or annulling results 4

4. APPENDIX I - Candidate Code of Conduct 5

5. APPENDIX II - Scope of Examination 6

Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI 1

1. General Regulations

The Membership in General Dental Surgery (MGDS) of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of
Surgeons in Ireland is registrable as an additional qualification with the Dental Council in Ireland.

The requirements to present for the examinations are outlined below.

The dates of the examination and the fees payable for admission to the examination are set out in the
examination calendars, which are published annually by the College and are available on the Faculty of
Dentistry website https://facultyofdentistry.ie. The examination is conducted in the English language.

Applications must be made online through https://postgradexams.rcsi.ie/

Prior to formally applying, please ensure that you carefully read the following information that can be
found on our Faculty website

 Exam regulations
 Exam Rules of Conduct

The online application must be received by the SARA Department (Student Academic and Regulatory
Affairs) on or before the closing date of the examination. Once applications have reached the maximum
quota, which may be in advance of the advertised closing date, no further applications will be accepted.

Once your online application has been processed, you will receive official confirmation, along with your
examination number.

The SARA Department will be in contact with you prior to the examination regarding further details and
timetables, etc.

The required certificates and the full amount of the fee payable for the examination must accompany
applications for admission to an examination.

Candidates should make themselves familiar with the Examination Policies available on our website

Candidates withdrawing from an examination must adhere to the examination policies regarding
withdrawal.

The College or Board of the Faculty reserves absolute discretion to refuse to admit to the examination,
proceed with the examination of, any candidate who (a)infringes any of the Regulations or (b) who is
considered by the Examiners to be acting in a manner prejudicial to the proper management and
conduct of the examination or (c) whose conduct has rendered them in the College’s or Board’s opinion,
unsuitable for conferral with the Diploma/Membership of Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of
Surgeons in Ireland.

Candidates who wish to appeal should review the appeals policy.

Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI 2

2. Membership in General Dental Surgery

Entry Requirements & Examination Format

MGDS – Entry Requirements

The requirements to present for the examination in MGDSRCSI are:

1. Holder of the MFD RCSI*, MFDS*, or MJDF * (For those candidates in possession of the MFDRCSI,
they must be in good standing with the Faculty of Dentistry RCSI)

*The above qualifications will only be accepted if achieved by examination. A letter from the awarding
Faculty confirming this, must be submitted with the candidate’s application.

2. At least three years post-graduation from the dental school where the primary qualification has
been obtained.

MGDS – Examination Format

Notes
The Membership in General Dental Surgery Examination has one paper which consists of two sections:

Section 1 Clinical Reasoning Assessment (CRA), based on clinical dental practice

Section 2 Single Best Answer (SBA), based on clinical dental practice

The MGDS Examination standard will be set at a higher level than the MFD RCSI examination.
Components Description
Section 1 Two hour Written Paper (CRA)

(Twenty Short Structured Questions assessing clinical knowledge

and reasoning in Dental Practice)

Candidates MUST pass at least half of the questions

Section 2 One hour Written Paper (SBA)

(Sixty single best answer questions assessing aspects of General

Dental Practice)

Award of the MGDS The MGDS will be awarded to those who pass both sections of the
examination. The passing mark is based on the performance in both
sections of the examination.
Notes The fees and deadline for candidates entering the examination is
advertised on the Faculty website.

Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI 3

Withholding and/or annulling results

Candidates are advised that the Faculty of Dentistry RCSI may withhold or annul results and require a
candidate (or a group of candidates) to re-take any part of their examinations. This action will be taken if
the Faculty of Dentistry RCSI is present with: Sufficient evidence that the security of any part of the
examination has been compromised.

The Faculty of Dentistry RCSI reserves the right to enforce this in the absence of evidence of direct
candidate involvement in any activities that may be investigated under the misconduct regulations.

The Faculty of Dentistry RCSI reserves the right to decline to accept applications from candidates where
concerns have been highlighted in relation to candidate behavior under these guidelines.

Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI 4

APPENDIX I

Candidate Code of Conduct:

RCSI can reasonably expect professional behaviours and to rely on candidates own registration with their
professional bodies as indicative of understanding requisite professional behaviours and standards, including
as they pertain to academic integrity and examination conduct.
RCSI and the Faculty of Dentistry are required to ensure that their assessments are equitable, valid and
reliable. Any form of cheating poses a threat to the academic standards of the qualifications, and to the
integrity of qualifications awarded to the vast majority who achieve their qualification entirely by legitimate
means (based on QAA guidelines , 2013, 2016 cited in OIAHE: The good practice framework: disciplinary
procedures 2018) .

The objective of these regulations is to help and encourage all candidates behave in a professional manner
including but not limited to adherence to relevant codes of conduct, Examination / Assessment Regulations
and Protocols, and other published standards of professional behaviour of the Royal College of Surgeons in
Ireland (“RCSI”) or relevant training bodies.

Together, with the statements below, these outline the defined standards and principles by which candidates
must abide. These standards are considered by RCSI as evidence of fitness to study and practice in the chosen
profession.

 Membership of a healthcare profession requires the highest standards of professional and ethical
conduct. Candidates must behave professionally at all times and in all dealings with RCSI.
 Every candidate is personally responsible for their own acts or omissions.
 These regulations are based on the following core principles:

a. Your primary concern must be to maintain and improve the health, wellbeing, care and safety
of patients.
b. Act according to the highest ethical principles at all times.
c. Demonstrate professional responsibility and behaviour.
d. Develop your professional competence, skills and standing so as to bring health gain and value
to the community and society.
e. Be accountable for your own actions. Be honest and trustworthy and show respect for others.
f. Conduct yourself in a manner which enhances the service provided to society and which will
maintain the good name of your profession.
g. Be aware of your obligations and do not do anything which constitutes a breach of these
standards

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 Candidate acknowledgement of the code of conduct for examination
By enrolling in an examination held by the Faculty of Dentistry, Royal College of Surgeons in
Ireland, I, a candidate for examination, confirm that I have read, understood and accepted
the following code of conduct for the examination.

The Code of Conduct in respect of disseminating examination information:

1. I confirm that I will not disseminate in any way (written, oral or electronic) information
regarding the content of this examination. I will maintain the confidentiality of the
examination materials. I will not reproduce or attempt to reproduce examination materials
through recording, memorization, or by any other means. I will not provide information
relating to examination content to anyone, including those who may be taking or preparing
others to take the examination. This includes postings regarding examination content
and/or answers on the Internet.

2. Should RCSI obtain information that I had prior access to or was involved in, reproducing or
disseminating RCSI examination question materials, I understand that I may be prohibited
from ever taking or retaking any RCSI certification examinations.

3. I understand that prior knowledge of or disseminating information on the content of the a)

Written Examination (both on line or paper based) or b) Oral Clinical Examination (Viva
Voce, both on line of paper based), or c) Clinical Skills Examination (where applicable),
could constitute a breach of my responsibility as an RCSI examination candidate.

4. I understand and accept that any violation of the above notices may mandate an
investigation that may subject me to disciplinary and/or legal action taken by RCSI. The RCSI
may, at its discretion, refuse to examine me or, having examined me, may refuse to issue a
certificate based upon its above-described investigation. Should I already have become a
Fellow, Member or Diplomate of the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI, such violation may result in
the revocation of my certificate. It would also be customary for RCSI to inform such
violation to the relevant professional governing body with whom I am registered in the
practice of dentistry.

Penalties for Examination Offences

Examination offences are taken extremely seriously. Anyone either suspected of or caught
committing an examination offence or for breaching the code of conduct in relation to the
dissemination of examination information will be reported immediately to the Faculty and College
Authorities. Further action may be taken.

Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI 6

APPENDIX II

Scope of Examination

The scope of the examination is broad and covers all aspects of general dental practice. No syllabus can be
comprehensive and the list that follows is not intended to be prescriptive but to give candidates a guide to
the scope of the examination. Both theoretical and practical knowledge in respect of the following non-
exhaustive headings will be expected.

1. Clinical Application of basic dental and medical sciences: demonstrating and applying a sound
knowledge of the basic sciences relevant to the examination, diagnosis, treatment planning and
treatment of patients in general dental practice, including the impact of underlying medical
conditions, psycho-social factors and past dental history on their dental care

2. Preventive Dentistry: integrating the concept of active disease prevention into general dental
practice including preventive care in relation to caries, periodontal disease, tooth surface loss and
dental health education.

3. Clinical dentistry: a level of expertise consistent with at least 3 years post –qualification in the practice
of all aspects of clinical dentistry.

4. Biomaterials: clinical performance of dental materials available for use in the oral environment,
including rationale for particular choices, alternatives and their limitations.

5. Emergencies in dental practice: Medical emergencies in dental practice including cardio-pulmonary

resuscitation. The management of acute dental emergencies and the overall management of the
emergency patient.

6. Management of Special Care Patients: including the individuals with special needs, medically
compromised and elderly patients.

7. Medical ethics and medico-legal responsibilities: knowledge of professional ethics, jurisprudence

and regulations pertaining to the practice of general dentistry.

8. Therapeutics: Principles of applied pharmacology in dentistry, prescribing in dental practice including

a thorough understanding of the contra-indications and side effects of relevant medications and how
they may affect the provision of dental care.

9. Radiology: knowledge of radiology, radiation hazards, principles of safe and effective imaging, the
effects of ionising radiation in clinical practice including radiation protection, monitoring and dose
reduction.

10. Practice management and personnel issues: understanding of the socio-economics of providing
dental care, communication skills, information management, clinical record keeping, clinical audit
including the audit cycle , quality assurance, strategic planning in the practice environment, the

Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI 7

 mechanics of practice management, cost efficiency, selection and management of staff, delegation,
motivation and supervision of dental auxiliaries, and maintenance of standards of laboratory work.

11. Health and safety: The knowledge, and where applicable, implementation of best practice regarding
all health and safety issues relating to the practice of general dentistry including implications of
COVID-19 with its physical & psychological effects on clinicians, staff, patients and
specifically for the safe management of general dental practice. Constant monitoring review and
update of workplace guidance related to the practice of dentistry including heating, air- conditioning
and ventilation relevant to SARS-CoV-2.

12. Dental literature: knowledge of relevant current literature from which contemporary best practice is
based and an ability to evaluate relevant scientific reports.

13. Epidemiology & Research: knowledge of how frequently oral or dentally related diseases occur in
different groups of population and why, including plans and strategies to prevent such occurrences.

Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI 8