Specialist Restorative Dentistry Prometric & Licensing Exam 2026: Complete Syllabus, Passing Marks and Study Guide (DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA, Kuwait MOH)

If you are a Restorative Dentistry-trained dentist planning to practise as a Specialist in Restorative Dentistry in the Middle East, your licensing pathway will depend on the country, the recognition tier of your postgraduate qualification and the health authority you are applying to. Several regulators use a dedicated Restorative Dentistry examination, but the question count, duration, pass standard, scope definition and exemption rules are not identical.

This guide covers the major Middle East health authorities and explains the eligibility requirements, exam format, syllabus, reference books and licensing pathways relevant to Specialist Restorative Dentistry candidates.

1. What is the Specialist Restorative Dentistry Exam?

The Specialist Restorative Dentistry licensing or classification examination assesses whether a dentist with recognised postgraduate Restorative Dentistry training has the advanced knowledge, clinical judgement, treatment-planning ability and patient-safety awareness required for specialist restorative care. Across Middle East regulators, the scope may include cariology and operative dentistry, aesthetics, endodontically treated teeth, fixed and removable prosthodontics, occlusion, restorative implant therapy, medically complex patients, periodontal-restorative relationships, ethics and patient safety. There is no single Gulf-wide Restorative Dentistry examination.

Question type: Where a computer-based Restorative Dentistry examination is required, questions are predominantly single-best-answer multiple-choice questions. The number of questions and blueprint weighting vary by authority.

Language: English. Prometric licensing examinations covered by this guide are conducted in English.

Delivery: Mainly computer-based testing through Prometric, Pearson VUE or an authority-approved testing platform. Some applicants may be exempt from the specialty examination based on the recognition category of their postgraduate qualification.

Result: Reporting varies by authority. The UAE guideline used across DHA, MOHAP and DOH publishes a fixed percentage pass standard; SCFHS publishes title-specific thresholds; Qatar DHP publishes a specialty qualifying-exam pass mark; and Bahrain uses its general dental licensure examination when an exam is assigned.

Attempts: Authority-specific. The UAE Unified PQR grants three examination attempts across the UAE Authorities, with limited additional-attempt provisions. Qatar's dental-specialty circular permits a maximum of three attempts for the specialty qualifying exam, while Bahrain permits four initial licensure-exam attempts within three years.

2. Middle East Health Authorities and Regulatory Pathways for Specialist Restorative Dentistry

Each regulator has its own specialist-classification route, and a Restorative Dentistry licence or title issued by one authority is not automatically valid in another jurisdiction. The table below summarises the principal pathway across the authorities covered by this guide.

3. Specialist Restorative Dentistry Passing Marks and Exam Format

Specialist Restorative Dentistry examination specifications differ across Middle East regulators. Across DHA, MOHAP and DOH, the same UAE Specialist Restorative Dentistry specification applies: 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 60% pass mark. Other jurisdictions use their own classification or qualifying-exam structure.

*Qatar note: the current DHP qualifying-examination webpage lists Restorative Dentistry as 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 65% pass mark, while Circular DHP/2024/19 and the Dental Specialty Qualifying Examination Blueprint list the same 150-MCQ examination as 3.5 hours. The circular also permits a maximum of three attempts for the dental specialty qualifying exam. Candidates should follow the duration and attempt instructions shown on their current DHP eligibility and booking documents.

4. Eligibility Criteria for Specialist Restorative Dentistry Candidates

The exact requirements differ by regulator and depend heavily on how the postgraduate Restorative Dentistry qualification is classified. A primary dental degree alone is not sufficient for the Specialist Restorative Dentistry title; applicants need a regulator-recognised postgraduate specialty qualification and must meet the experience, registration and assessment rules of the target authority.

Primary dental qualification: A recognised BDS, DDS, DMD or equivalent primary dental degree from an accredited institution.

Specialty qualification: A recognised postgraduate Restorative Dentistry qualification or regulator-recognised equivalent is required for the specialist title. Do not assume that every MDS in Prosthodontics, Conservative Dentistry or Endodontics automatically maps to Restorative Dentistry; the qualification must be accepted for the requested title by the target regulator.

Clinical experience: Required post-specialty experience varies by regulator and qualification tier. Under the current UAE PQR, Tier 1 and Tier 2 Specialist dental qualifications do not require additional experience; Tier 3 generally requires one year for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women, and three years for non-UAE nationals. Graduates of UAE dental universities are exempt from the Tier 3 Specialist experience requirement.

Saudi classification: SCFHS lists Restorative Dentistry as a dedicated classification examination. The current blueprint uses Registrar and Senior Registrar passing thresholds; the final professional title depends on the recognised postgraduate qualification, training and SCFHS classification decision.

Qatar restorative pathway: Qatar has a specific rule for Restorative Dentistry degree holders: applicants follow the DHP dentist guidelines, including General Dentist evaluation/licensing and relevant non-core privileges in Endodontics and/or Prosthodontics where applicable. After the required experience/privilege pathway, the Restorative Dentistry specialty exam is used to determine eligibility for change of scope to Specialist. This differs from the simpler Category 1/2 exemption route used for several other dental specialties.

Professional licence and Good Standing: A valid professional registration/licence and a recent Certificate of Good Standing are commonly required. Under UAE requirements, the Good Standing Certificate is generally expected to be valid and not older than six months at submission.

Primary Source Verification: Primary dental degrees, postgraduate Restorative Dentistry qualifications, experience and professional licences may require primary-source verification such as DataFlow where mandated by the target authority.

Training documentation: Regulators may request transcripts, residency/programme details, curricula, experience certificates, clinical case logs and evidence that the programme covers the scope expected for Restorative Dentistry.

Scope of practice: Restorative Dentistry examinations may include basic implant or implant-restorative knowledge, but examination content does not automatically grant surgical implant privileges. Implant surgery and other advanced procedures remain subject to separate regulator and facility privileging rules.

Examination exemption is not uniform. UAE authorities apply PQR-based exemption rules where applicable, SCFHS applies its own classification criteria, and Qatar has a distinct Restorative Dentistry pathway tied to privileges, experience and the specialty exam. Candidates should not book an examination until the regulator confirms the title and assessment required for their specific qualification.

5. Specialist Restorative Dentistry Syllabus and Core Study Areas Across Middle East Health Authorities

The 13 study areas below consolidate the UAE Specialist Restorative Dentistry coverage with the current SCFHS and Qatar Restorative Dentistry blueprints. The UAE guideline lists 11 headings and includes both removable prosthodontics and two Fixed Prosthodontics headings; SCFHS uses 13 weighted domains with strong emphasis on Operative Dentistry, Prosthodontics and Endodontics; Qatar uses a narrower eight-domain Restorative Dentistry blueprint in which Fixed Prosthodontics (18%), Cariology (17%), Esthetic Considerations (17%) and Dental Implant Restorations (14%) carry the highest weights. The framework below therefore covers the shared specialist core without claiming that one authority's weighting applies everywhere.

Topic 1: Basic Science, Cariology and Tooth Preservation

Applied tooth structure, pulpal-dentinal biology, caries aetiology and risk assessment, lesion detection and activity, non-operative disease control, minimally invasive dentistry, selective caries removal, remineralisation strategies and preservation of sound tooth structure.

Topic 2: Operative Dentistry and Direct Restorations

Cavity design and contemporary operative principles, adhesive dentistry, resin composites, glass ionomer and related materials, isolation, matrix systems, proximal contacts, finishing and polishing, repair versus replacement, management of deep caries and clinical decision-making for direct restorations.

Topic 3: Esthetic Considerations

Smile and facial analysis, tooth proportion and morphology, shade selection, bleaching of vital and non-vital teeth, direct aesthetic layering, veneers, ceramic selection, minimally invasive aesthetic treatment planning and integration of analogue and digital workflows.

Topic 4: Endodontically Treated Teeth and Endodontic-Restorative Decisions

Restorability assessment, pulpal/endodontic considerations relevant to restorative practice, cuspal coverage, remaining tooth structure, ferrule principles, post and core selection, adhesive restoration of endodontically treated teeth, fracture risk and evidence-based decisions between restoration, retreatment, extraction and replacement.

Topic 5: Fixed Prosthodontics

Diagnosis and treatment planning for crowns and fixed partial dentures, abutment selection, tooth preparation and finish lines, retention and resistance form, provisionals, conventional and digital impressions, pontic and connector design, material selection, cementation, biomechanics, CAD/CAM workflows and management of failed fixed restorations.

Topic 6: Complete Removable Prosthodontics

Assessment of the edentulous patient, impressions and border moulding, jaw relations, vertical dimension and centric relation, articulator concepts, tooth selection and arrangement, trial insertion, processing, delivery, post-insertion adjustment, denture stomatitis, relining/rebasing and maintenance.

Topic 7: Removable Partial Prosthodontics

Kennedy classification, surveying, support, stability and retention, rests and rest seats, direct and indirect retainers, major/minor connectors, distal-extension biomechanics, impressions, framework design and try-in, insertion, adjustment, repair and maintenance.

Topic 8: Dental Anatomy, Occlusion and Orofacial Pain

Dental morphology, centric relation and maximum intercuspation, vertical dimension, anterior guidance, canine guidance and group function, occlusal analysis, articulators, excursive contacts, parafunction, splint principles, temporomandibular/orofacial pain screening and referral, and pain-control concepts relevant to restorative care.

Topic 9: Dental Implant Restorations and Basic Implantology

Restoratively driven implant planning, patient/site assessment, implant-restoration options, screw- versus cement-retained designs, abutment selection, impression and digital workflows, single-tooth and multi-unit rehabilitation, maintenance, prosthetic complications and recognition of surgical procedures outside the restorative scope.

Topic 10: Dental Materials

Properties, indications, limitations and clinical handling of restorative and prosthodontic materials including resin composites, ceramics, zirconia, lithium disilicate, metals, cements, bonding systems, impression materials, provisional materials and CAD/CAM materials.

Topic 11: Medically Compromised Patients and Periodontal-Restorative Interrelationship

Medical-risk assessment, medication and bleeding considerations, diabetes and cardiovascular disease considerations, periodontal health before restorative treatment, supracrestal tissue attachment, margin placement, crown lengthening/referral principles and interdisciplinary periodontal-restorative planning.

Topic 12: Infection Control and Patient Safety

Correct patient and tooth/site identification, medical history and allergy review, infection prevention, instrument and impression/prosthesis decontamination, sharps safety, radiation and CBCT justification, aspiration/ingestion prevention, emergency readiness, documentation and adverse-event management.

Topic 13: Research, Evidence, Professionalism and Ethics

Critical appraisal and evidence-based restorative decision-making, informed consent, treatment alternatives, realistic prognosis, confidentiality, documentation, management and disclosure of failed treatment, referral obligations, scope of practice, professional boundaries and ethical conduct.

Cross-Authority Focus: The Restorative Dentistry Scope Changes More Than the Core Science

The UAE, SCFHS and Qatar all test restorative decision-making, but they package the specialty differently. Qatar concentrates 66% of its published blueprint in Cariology, Esthetics, Fixed Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Restorations. SCFHS spreads the examination across 13 domains, adding Basic Science, Operative Dentistry, Endodontics, Orofacial Pain, medically compromised patients and the periodontal-restorative interface. The UAE guideline additionally includes complete and removable partial prosthodontics. Candidates should therefore use the full cross-authority framework for preparation and then weight final revision according to the authority actually assigned.

6. Recommended Reference Books

The UAE Specialist Restorative Dentistry guideline contains ten numbered reference entries; the final entry combines the SCFHS Professionalism and Ethics handbook with Essentials of Patient Safety. Several named editions are older, so use the listed titles as the official framework while studying from current editions and evidence where possible:

Preservation and Restoration of Tooth Structure by Graham J. Mount and W. R. Hume. The UAE guideline lists the 2nd edition; use the latest applicable edition.

Local Anesthesia in Dentistry by P. Robinson, T. R. Pitt Ford and F. McDonald. Foundational local-anesthesia and pain-control reference.

Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry: A Contemporary Approach by Summitt, Robbins, Hilton and Schwartz. Core operative and adhesive dentistry reference.

Essentials of Dental Radiography and Radiology by Eric Whaites. Core imaging and radiation-safety reference.

Clinical Aspects of Dental Materials by Marcia Gladwin and Michael Bagby. Core dental-materials reference.

Contemporary Fixed Prosthodontics by Rosenstiel, Land and Fujimoto. Major fixed restorative/prosthodontic reference.

Failure in the Restored Dentition: Management and Treatment by M. D. Wise. Reference for complex restorative failure.

Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics by Shillingburg and colleagues. Core fixed-prosthodontic principles.

Applied Occlusion by Wassell, Naru, Steele and Nohl. Core occlusion reference.

Professionalism and Ethics, Handbook for Residents, SCFHS, plus Essentials of Patient Safety, SCFHS, latest editions.

Beyond textbook study, high-quality MCQ practice is essential. The Specialist Restorative Dentistry MCQ bank on prometricguide.com follows the 13-topic cross-authority framework and includes 2500 plus questions with detailed explanations.

7. Two Ways We Can Help You Get Licensed

Prometric Guide supports Specialist Restorative Dentistry exam preparation across the Middle East, while our sister company Alzantra International supports the UAE licensing process.

For Exam Preparation: Prometric Guide (All Middle East Authorities)

Whether you are targeting DHA, MOHAP, DOH Abu Dhabi, SCFHS Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA Bahrain or Kuwait MOH, our MCQ bank provides one broad preparation base across the major restorative licensing pathways:

2500 plus Specialist Restorative Dentistry MCQs mapped to the 13-topic cross-authority framework.

Detailed explanations with references to operative, restorative, prosthodontic, cariology, endodontic, occlusion and dental-material sources used across published authority guidance.

Free introductory mock tests and topic-wise practice sets.

High-yield coverage of cariology, operative dentistry, aesthetics, endodontically treated teeth, prosthodontics, occlusion, implant restorations, materials, patient safety and professionalism.

Access on any device, unlimited attempts.

Explore the full Specialist Restorative Dentistry exam preparation package on prometricguide.com.

For UAE Licensing Paperwork: Alzantra International (DHA, MOHAP, DOH)

For UAE licensing, Alzantra International supports Restorative Dentistry candidates targeting Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi with documentation and licensing coordination:

DataFlow / primary-source verification of the dental degree, specialty qualification, professional licence and experience.

DHA Sheryan Specialist Restorative Dentistry application and assessment coordination for Dubai.

MOHAP specialist evaluation and licensing application for the Northern Emirates.

DOH Abu Dhabi Specialist Restorative Dentistry application through TAMM.

Specialty qualification, transcript/residency, experience and supporting-document preparation guidance.

Eligibility submission, tracking and follow-up.

CBT or additional assessment coordination where required.

Specialist licence activation and UAE facility-credentialing support.

Contact Alzantra International at www.alzantra.ae or [email protected] for UAE licensing support. For SCFHS/Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA Bahrain and Kuwait MOH, use the relevant authority or authorised service channel.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for Specialist Restorative Dentistry?

For DHA, MOHAP and DOH, Specialist Restorative Dentistry is 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 60% pass mark. SCFHS publishes 65% for Registrar and 70% for Senior Registrar. Qatar DHP publishes 65% for its Restorative Dentistry qualifying exam. NHRA Bahrain publishes 60% for Bahrain licensure examinations when an examination is assigned.

What postgraduate qualifications are accepted for Specialist Restorative Dentistry?

The postgraduate qualification must be recognised by the target regulator for the Restorative Dentistry title. Do not assume that every MDS in Prosthodontics, Conservative Dentistry or Endodontics automatically maps to Restorative Dentistry. UAE, SCFHS and Qatar each classify qualifications differently.

How many questions are in the Specialist Restorative Dentistry exam?

DHA, MOHAP and DOH use 150 MCQs in 3 hours. SCFHS uses 200 MCQs in 4 hours. Qatar DHP uses 150 MCQs; its live page states 3 hours while its specialty circular/blueprint states 3.5 hours. Follow the booking notice issued to you.

Which reference books should I use?

The UAE guideline lists Mount and Hume, Robinson/Pitt Ford/McDonald, Summitt, Whaites, Gladwin and Bagby, Rosenstiel, Wise, Shillingburg, Applied Occlusion, and SCFHS Ethics/Patient Safety. SCFHS also lists cariology, dental materials, implant, endodontic and TMD/occlusion sources.

Can I complete the exam from my home country?

Often yes when the assigned assessment is delivered through an international test network such as Prometric or Pearson VUE. Availability depends on the authority, eligibility period, examination provider and centres shown during scheduling.

How is the SCFHS Restorative Dentistry classification exam different?

SCFHS uses a dedicated 200-MCQ, 4-hour classification exam. The highest weights are Operative Dentistry and Prosthodontics (13% each), Endodontics (11%), Cariology (9%), and Esthetic Dentistry and Implant Dentistry (8% each). Pass marks are 65% Registrar and 70% Senior Registrar.

How many attempts do I get?

Attempt rules vary by authority. UAE examinations follow the Unified PQR framework of three attempts across the UAE Authorities, with limited additional-attempt provisions. Qatar's dental-specialty circular permits a maximum of three attempts for the specialty qualifying exam. Bahrain allows four initial licensure-exam attempts within three years before retraining rules apply.

Does every Middle East authority use the same Specialist Restorative Dentistry exam?

No. DHA, MOHAP and DOH use the same UAE specification; SCFHS uses a 200-question classification exam; Qatar uses its own restorative pathway and specialty exam; Bahrain may assign the general dental licensure exam; and no standalone public Restorative Dentistry OC exam was verified for Oman or Kuwait.

Is Specialist Restorative Dentistry the same as Prosthodontics?

No. They are separate licensing titles where both are recognised. Restorative Dentistry has a broader restorative scope that can include cariology, operative dentistry, aesthetics, endodontically treated teeth, occlusion and implant restorations in addition to prosthodontic content. Prosthodontics is a distinct specialist category focused on prosthodontic rehabilitation. Apply under the title that matches the qualification recognised by your target authority.

What is the best MCQ bank for Specialist Restorative Dentistry exam preparation?

The Specialist Restorative Dentistry MCQ bank on prometricguide.com includes 2500 plus questions aligned to the 13-topic cross-authority framework with detailed explanations.

9. Final Thoughts

Specialist Restorative Dentistry is recognised as a distinct dental specialty or scope in several major Middle East licensing systems, but the route to the title and the breadth of the specialty are not uniform. The UAE authorities use a common published examination specification, SCFHS has a separate 200-question classification exam, Qatar uses a specific restorative pathway before specialty scope change, and other regulators may use broader dental licensure or authority-specific assessment pathways.

Prepare around the complete restorative scope: cariology and tooth preservation, operative dentistry, aesthetics, endodontically treated teeth, fixed and removable prosthodontics, occlusion and pain control, implant restorations, dental materials, medically compromised patients, periodontal-restorative relationships, patient safety, evidence and ethics. Match final revision to the actual authority blueprint because the weighting differs substantially between the UAE, SCFHS and Qatar.

Prometric Guide supports Specialist Restorative Dentistry candidates preparing across the major Middle East health authorities.