ie-diploma-primary-care-dentistry
Diploma in Primary Care Dentistry (RCSI Faculty of Dentistry)
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreCommon mistakes
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Diploma in Primary Care Dentistry (DPCD) is a qualification offered by the RCSI Faculty of Dentistry, the dental faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, based at 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. It is aimed at dentists working in, or moving into, primary care settings who want a structured, faculty-assessed credential recognising their clinical practice rather than a hospital or specialist pathway. Because the official examination page for the diploma could not be retrieved at the time of writing, this guide cannot confirm the exam's format, length, item count, pass mark, fee, retake rules or validity period, and candidates should treat every such detail as unverified until checked directly with the Faculty. What can be said with confidence is that preparation for a primary care dentistry diploma normally combines day-to-day clinical experience across the general practice workload - restorative work, periodontal care, paediatric dentistry, oral medicine, prescribing and patient communication - with directed reading and practice on applied, case-based questions. Our question bank is written to support that kind of applied revision, with self-contained items and full rationales. It is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in collaboration with RCSI or its Faculty of Dentistry.
What you'll study
About ie-diploma-primary-care-dentistry preparation
What format is the DPCD exam?
This cannot be confirmed. The official RCSI Faculty of Dentistry page for the Diploma in Primary Care Dentistry returned a 'Page not found' error when checked, so the format - written paper, OSCE, viva or a combination - is unverified. Confirm the current format with the Faculty before booking or planning revision.
How many questions are on the paper and how long do I get?
Unknown from available sources. Neither the item count nor the duration is published on any page we could retrieve, so no figure is given here rather than an estimate. Ask the Faculty directly, and use timed practice sets of your own choosing in the meantime.
What is the pass mark?
Not verified. The passing standard is not stated in the material available to us, and it may be set by standard-setting rather than a fixed percentage. Do not rely on a number quoted informally; request the current regulations from the Faculty of Dentistry before your exam.
How much does it cost and how long is the award valid?
Both are unverified. The fee and any validity or re-certification period are not stated in the source we could access. Contact the RCSI Faculty of Dentistry for the current fee schedule and the terms attached to the award.
Can I retake it if I fail, and how many attempts do I get?
The retake policy is not confirmed in available sources. Attempt limits, waiting periods and any re-entry fee should be checked with the Faculty before you sit. Plan on the assumption that a resit means another full preparation cycle rather than a quick repeat.
How difficult is it?
It is a postgraduate faculty examination, so expect applied rather than recall-level questions: scenarios where you must choose the safest next step, interpret findings and justify management in a primary care setting. Difficulty is not formally graded in any source we could verify, so judge readiness by consistent practice scores, not rumour.
What should I study first?
Start with the areas you handle daily - examination, diagnosis and treatment planning, caries and restorative care, periodontal management and paediatric basics - because these carry the most clinical weight and are quickest to consolidate. Then move to weaker areas such as oral medicine, pharmacology and medical emergencies, which are commonly under-revised.
What are the most common ways candidates lose marks?
Typically: jumping to treatment before establishing a diagnosis, ignoring medical history and drug interactions, choosing specialist referral when primary care management is appropriate, and misreading single-best-answer stems that ask for the next step rather than the definitive treatment. Practise justifying each option, not just picking one.
Is this site affiliated with RCSI?
No. This is independent study material produced by a separate platform. It is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or approved by RCSI or its Faculty of Dentistry, and it does not reproduce official examination content. Always treat the Faculty's own published regulations as authoritative.