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Dental Manikin/Clinical Skills/Bench Test

“Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.”-Henry Van Dyke


Photo courtesy -@indykadeer


Preparing for a Clinical Skills Exam

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  • This part of the exam is called as clinical skills/bench test /Dental Manikin- it is for the assessment of your 'hand skill and motor control' which is crucial for dentistry and also your understanding of the basic core knowledge of the 'bread and butter ' procedures in dentistry.

  • This is usually done on typodont/ diphyodont / dental manikin similar to the one you have in college for preclinical dentistry. (If you are still in college, get some extra teeth and do some practice before you leave as the cost of setting it all up outside is very expensive as you will need to get a whole kit.)

  • I had a whole kit when I was preparing for IQE which bought from India and took all things needed from India and a micromotor. I also know of a few people who bought a compressor to practice with airoter. The exam would usually be using both the fast and slow handpiece (airotor and micromotor)

  • The Dental Manikin Consortium - Amazing wealth of information regarding this type of exam - the different possible procedures, instruments provided, the desirable and undesirable qualities of a prep.

  • LDS - Guidance Document

  • LDS - Commonly used instruments

  • LDS -Sample DM question

  • So if you can get hold of a typodont and teeth - get practising - YOU CAN BE THE EXECUTIONER AND JUDGE!! or you can practice on every extracted tooth - mounted in some plaster. (I always suggest another pair of eyes to show you things you miss, even better if its an experienced person/ tutor)



  • The usually asked clinical skills to be done on a typodont are

  1. The preparation of teeth for Class 2 for amalgam and composite

  2. Class 3 / 4 preparation and restoration of anterior teeth

  3. The restoration of a prepared tooth with resin composite

  4. The restoration of a prepared tooth with amalgam

  5. The preparation and/or temporisation of a tooth for a crown and lab prescription.

  6. Veneer prep

  7. Impressions for study models

  8. surveying a partially edentulous mouth and resigning an RPD/prepare a rest and lab prescription for a Co-Cr Denture.

  9. An endodontic procedure (access opening and working length determination, BMP, obturation)

  10. Application of rubber dam

  • Although it sounds basic and 'pre-clinical stuff' the precision of work needed to 0.01mm is the challenging bit without damaging the adjacent teeth is crucial.(It's checked by examiners with loupes - so nothing is missed!)

  • COURSES IN UK / USA /AUSTRALIA/CANADA - ARE GIVEN IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SECTIONS.

  • SOME COURSES I FOUND ONLINE HELPING IN PREPARATION FROM INDIA, THE COSTS ARE REASONABLE COMPARED TO UK. THEY CLAIM THEY DO PREPARATORY COURSES FOR ORE/NDBE/NBDE/ADC. PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE MANIKIN FACILITIES.

  • DISCLAIMER - I KNOW NONE OF THEM!


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