ORE & LDS Part 1 Course
High Success Rate in the UK
ORE: run by the General Dental Council and LDS exam: run by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Only one of the two needs to be taken and passed and the choice is yours.
Overseas dentists wishing to work in the UK need to pass a UK dental registration examination before they can register with the General Dental Council (GDC) and practise independently. There are two recognised routes: the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE), run by the GDC, and the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS), run by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. You only need to pass one — not both — and our course prepares you thoroughly for either route.
Our ORE & LDS Part 1 course is delivered by UK-based tutors with direct examiner-level experience of the exam syllabus, and is open to candidates whether you’re already based in the UK or preparing from overseas.
High Success Rate in the UK
Our candidates consistently achieve strong pass rates in the ORE, LDS, and MJDF Part 1 exams, built on a structured revision programme covering the full GDC and RCS syllabus.
Learn from the Experts
UK.Dental has many years of experience providing dental clinicians a seamless transition to UK dentistry - allowing them to study & prepare for the dental exams and meanwhile gain UK experience.
Make First Attempt Count
Both ORE and LDS allow a limited number of attempts. Our course is built around getting it right the first time, with mock exams, structured feedback, and exam-technique coaching.
Understanding the ORE & LDS Part 1 Exams
ORE Part 1, set by the General Dental Council, is a computer-based written exam made up of two papers:
- Paper A – clinically applied dental science and clinically applied human disease
- Paper B – clinical dentistry, law and ethics, and health and safety
Both papers use extended matching questions (EMQs) and single best answer (SBA) questions. You must pass both papers in the same sitting to progress to ORE Part 2.
LDS Part 1, set by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, follows a similar written format and covers equivalent subject areas, but is administered separately with its own booking process and candidate numbers.
Candidates get up to four attempts at each part of either exam. Choosing between ORE and LDS often comes down to seat availability, exam dates, and which provider’s format suits your revision style – our advisors can help you decide which route fits your circumstances.
ORE vs LDS: Which Should You Take?
| ORE | LDS | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | General Dental Council (GDC) | Royal College of Surgeons of England |
| Format | Two computer-based papers (A & B) | Computer-based written exam |
| Attempts allowed | Up to 4 | Up to 4 |
| Typical candidate | Overseas-trained dentists (any route) | Overseas-trained dentists (fewer seats available) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ORE Part 1 exam?
ORE Part 1 is a computer-based written exam set by the General Dental Council, testing overseas-trained dentists' knowledge across two papers before they can progress to ORE Part 2 and register to practise in the UK.
Can I take this course from outside the UK?
Yes. Our course is delivered online, so you can prepare from your home country before travelling to the UK to sit the exam.
Should I take ORE or LDS?
Both lead to the same outcome — GDC registration — so the right choice usually depends on exam dates, seat availability, and which format suits your revision style. Our advisors can talk you through the differences for your situation.
How many attempts do I get?
Candidates are typically allowed up to four attempts at each part of the ORE or LDS exam. Please confirm current limits directly with the GDC or RCS, as policies can change.
How long is the course?
This is an on-demand course and includes structured teaching, topic-by-topic question banks, and full mock exams to prepare you for exam day.
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Anjeza Doka
5/5 Stars without hesitation
I highly recommend Dental Hygienist Advisory Board to any overseas dentist (including dentists from Albania) looking to pursue a career as dental hygienist in UK. They supported me through out my application and I got registration first time without any rejection. Because of my experience, I will rate them 5/5 stars without hesitation!
Akhil Gali
Hassle free resgistration
I highly recommend the services offered by this organization. They are detail-oriented; Avi spends time to gather all the relevant information of an applicant and provides best advice in regards to the required documents for registration. They take a systematic approach, thus their services were timely. For hassle-free seamless completion of the registration process, this is where you go.
Ksenia Abubakar
Great help
I'm an overseas dentist from Ukraine I recommend Dental Hygienist Advisory Board to any overseas dentist or dental hygienist that wish to register and work in the UK. They have been great help and gave lots of support throughout the process. I've applied to GDC to register as hygienist and I've received positive decision at first attempt.
Hala Diab
Granted in One Attempt
I am Hala, an overseas dentist from Libya. I applied for dental hygienist registration with GDC last year and I am so so happy my application was granted in one attempt. I also got my GDC number in December last year and i’ve been working as Hygienist since then. I would like to thank my advisor for his help with my application & documentation I needed. Thank you for being so concerned always about my application during the process and handling my enquiries even during weekend and nights and always being there for me. I recommend Avi and the Dental Hygienist Advisory Board team with a pleasure.
Sarah Alnaho
Helped with GDC Rejection
I'm an overseas dentist from Iraq and wanted to register as a Dental Hygienist in the UK. I had applied to the GDC but got rejected, that's when I started to look for some support and found Dental Hygienist Advisory Board through recommendation. The response from them was so fast and comforting which was so much-needed due to the limited time to re-apply to GDC without any additional fees. Avi and his team helped me step by step to fulfil all the deficiencies from the rejection and directed me to the right path. Shortly after, I got a positive decision from the GDC. I got help and support throughout the process of registration and even after I've got my registration with GDC.
Renu Mathew
Exemplary - In one word
In one word, I would describe the services provided by Avi and his team as exemplary. The help I received to put together my application was enormous starting from the very first phonecall during which Avi touched on even the smallest detail regarding the application process which was instrumental in me taking an informed decision on whether or not to take up this task. Once you decide to embark on this journey, then guidance and assistance is provided at each and every step in the form of a message or call.With God's grace, Avi's support I was able to got registered as both Dental hygienist and therapist in 4 months time and in the first attempt itself. What surprised me the most is even after you get registered, Avi's team continues to extend their support to help you get back to practice by recommending courses to polish your skills and take up the new role with expertise and confidence. I would highly recommend this company to anyone who decides to get registered in the UK as either a dental hygienist / therapist.