MGDS Examination

Faculty of Dentistry

MGDS RCSI Examination

Status update:

Applications have now closed for the MGDS 2023 Online Examination. Details regarding the MGDS 2024 Online Examination and Preparatory Lecture Series will be released on this webpage in due course. Further details regarding the format can be found below.

The Membership in General Dental Surgery Examination (MGDS RCSI) is an international exam open to all dentists, in all parts of the world. The scope of the examination is broad and covers all aspects of general dental practice.

We have made some slight changes to the format of the MGDS RCSI examination in order to streamline the delivery of the examination online. The examination may be delivered in a variety of formats. The updated regulations can be viewed here.

MGDS Exam Fees: €1050 Euros

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

Section 1 Clinical Reasoning Assessment (CRA):

Two hour written paper (Twenty Short Structured Questions assessing clinical knowledge and reasoning in Dental Practice)

Section 2 Single Best Answer (SBA):

One hour written paper (Sixty single best answer questions assessing aspects of General Dental Practice)

The MGDS Examination standard will be set at a higher level than the MFD RCSI examination.

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.

Please browse through the links to find out more about the MGDS RCSI Examination.

Apply Online

MGDS Regulations

MGDS Syllabus

Code of Conduct

MGDS Lecture Series

RCSI Exam Calendar

If you would like further information about this examination, please enter your details below and we will contact you directly:

MGDS Session 1

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CPD

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Edward Cotter

Qualifications:

BA, B. Dent Sc, FFD RCSI, MS Prosthodontics

Bio:

Edward Cotter graduated from Trinity College in 1988. He worked for two years in General Practice in Downpatrick Co Down. He received his specialty Residency training in Prosthodontics at the University of Iowa and his Fellowship training in Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Dental Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Edward is in practice limited to Prosthodontics, Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Dental Oncology in Dublin. He is a previous Secretary of the Board of Faculty of Dentistry. He is a previous member of the Board of the Irish Dental Association. He is a Past President of Metropolitan Branch of IDA.

Peter Ramsay-Baggs

PRB

Qualifications:

BDS, MB, BCh, BAO, FFD RCSI, FFDS RCS(Eng), FRCS (Ed)

Bio:

Mr Ramsay-Baggs qualified from The London Hospital Dental School (QMC, U London) in 1976. He spent time in general dental practice in London before undertaking his specialist training with posts in Scotland and London prior to attending Queens University Belfast to undertake a medical degree. His training was completed in Northern Ireland. He obtained the FFD in 1987, FDS in 1989 and the FRCS in 1990. He was appointed Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon in 1991. He was member of the Board of the Faculty of Dentistry RCSI in 2005, 2014-2017 and 2017-2020.

Joe Hennessy

Qualifications:

BA, B. Dent Sc, MFD(RCSI), DClinDent(TCD), MOrth(RCSEd), FFD(RCSI)

Bio:

Joe is a Specialist Orthodontist in Dundrum, Dublin and the Regional Orthodontic Unit ,Tallaght. He is an Orthodontic Supervisor in the Dublin Dental University Hospital and has served on the previous Board of the RCSI faculty of Dentistry. He is the Treasurer for the Faculty of Dentistry RCSI, is the Chair of the Audit and Finance committee and a member of the Education Committee for the Faculty. Joe is the Lead Examiner for the FFD in Orthodontics for the RCSI.
Joe qualified as a dentist from Trinity College Dublin in 2008, obtaining a first Class Honours degree and winning the Sheldon Friel Prize for the overall highest grade in his final exams.

Osama E Omer

Qualifications:

BDS Khartoum
MSc (1986) & PhD (1991) Manchester
FDSRCSI & FFDRCSI (Intercollegiate 1999)
Diploma in Health Services Management (Dip. HSM) Institute of Commercial Management, UK (2004)
University Diploma in Implantology (DIU), Lille (2010)
Associate Fellowship of American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AFAAID) (2011)

Bio:

Served for a number of terms in the Board of Faculty of Dentistry RCSI and was Vice Dean during 2013-2015. Examiner FODRCSI since 2000. Former Director of Continuing Dental Education, Dublin Dental University Hospital during 2005-2010. Internal and External Examiner for under and postgraduate Dental Students. Research interests include Clinical Dental Materials and Restorative Dental Oncology. Published in local, regional and international dental periodicals. Member of various learned societies including the IADR, ISMR. Currently works as Associate Professor/Consultant in Restorative Dentistry/Restorative Dental Oncology, Dublin Dental University Hospital.

Sean Malone

Qualifications:

BA, B. Dent Sc, FFD RCSI, Dip Clin Dent, TCD FICD

Bio:

Dr Sean Malone graduated from TCD in 1980. He worked in the Dublin Dental Hospital, and Liverpool Dental Hospital, and in General Practice in U.K. He returned to Dublin in 1990, and worked in the Dublin Dental Hospital and in General Practice in Sandycove. Dr Malone completed his FFD in General Dentistry in 1992, and the Diploma in Clinical Dentistry in 2002. He was elected to the International College of Dentistry in 2008.He was a part time lecturer in the Dublin Dental Hospital from 1990 to 2000, from which time he devoted himself full time to Private practice. He is a past President of the Irish Dental Association. In his time as Board member of the Faculty of Dentistry RCSI, he has organised the Annual Scientific Meeting for many years, and examined extensively in Ireland, the Middle East, and Sudan. Dr Malone feels that a strong voice for General Practice is of vital importance on the Board of the Faculty of Dentistry.

Andrew Bolas

Qualifications:

BDS 1991 Queens University, FFDRCSI Oral Surgery 1994, FDSRCS(Ed) Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine 1995, MSc Dental Radiology 2000 Kings College London, FICD 2018

Bio:

Board Member RCSI 2019-2023, Assistant National Oral Health Lead HSE, Part time Lecturer in Dental Radiology, Dublin Dental University Hospital. Co-Chair of the National Radiation Protection Committee. Dental representative on the EPA Ionising Radiation Committee. National and International speaker on Dental Radiology and radiography. President of Irish Dental Association 2012.

Lorna Dobbyn

Qualifications:

B.A. B.Dent.Sc (TCD), MFDS RCSEd, MDSc, M.Orth (RCSEd), FDS (Orth) RCSEd, FFD (RCSI), PGCert(MedEd)

Bio:

I graduated as a dentist from Trinity College Dublin in 2001 and following the VT programme in Ireland I went to the UK for a variety of house officer posts. I subsequently went on to complete specialist orthodontic training at Dundee Dental School and then Consultant training at Glasgow Dental School in Scotland. My masters research was on evaluating outcomes in cleft care and I have maintained an interest in this area managing a spoke cleft centre. I have been head of the orthodontic unit in Galway University Hospital for the past 10 years and am the current chair of the Irish Consultant Orthodontist Group (ICOG). I have been involved in lecturing and examining for RCSI for the last 10 years. I am interested in teaching and training for the whole dental team. I would like to develop the role of the therapist in the public service in Ireland in order to improve efficiency and staffing levels. I would like to develop career pathways for all members of the dental team from nurses to specialists.

Albert Yeung

Qualifications:

BDS Glasgow 1989

MMedSci Sheffield 1999

DDPH RCS 2003

MPHe Manchester 2004

FFD (DPH) RCSI 2006

FDS (DPH) RCPS 2006

FHEA 2007

FFPH 2007

MPhil Manchester 2010

ACIEA 2020

MCGDent 2021

Current Post:

Consultant in Dental Public Health, NHS Lanarkshire, Scotland

Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow

Professional Adviser, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman