International dentists left angry by new LDS assessment as ORE booking problems continue

International dentists were left frustrated this week, as further Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) booking problems coincided with a new Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) assessment that candidates believe resulted in an ‘exceptionally low’ pass rate.

From spring 2026, the LDS transitioned to assessing the General Dental Council’s (GDC) new Safe Practitioner Framework, in line with the GDC’s requirements for all training providers.

As part of the changes, the LDS Part 2 has been updated with a view to achieving clearer separation between the different assessment components, greater clarity about what each component assesses, and closer alignment with the Safe Practitioner Framework.

An LDS Part 2 sitting in June was the first to include a new structured clinical reasoning component, which replaced the previous unseen cases unit. Candidates told Dentistry that despite this significant change, there were no sample cases, marking rubrics or clear guidance to help them prepare.

Many candidates said they believed that the pass rate was much lower than in previous years, reporting that just five dentists in a cohort of around 95 had passed the LDS. Dentistry was unable to verify these numbers. Additionally, they said that they had received no meaningful feedback to improve after failing.

A candidate said: ‘Without detailed feedback, I have no way of understanding what I did wrong or how to improve.’

Another added: ‘I am not asking for special treatment. I am asking for transparency, accountability, and fairness.’

International dentists and the UK workforce

Beyond the disappointment of failing, several dentists pointed out the financial strain of the examination and its potential impact on their immigration process.

One said: ‘When an exam has the power to determine not only someone’s career but also their immigration status, financial security, and family life, the process must be beyond reproach.’

The concerns echo wider questions around how internationally qualified dentists are supported through UK registration routes.

At a recent Dental Leaders Network event, the GDC said the ORE and LDS remained key variables in modelling the future make-up of the dental register. Under one scenario discussed at the event, fewer than a third of new dentists joining the register could be UK trained by 2029, with UK-trained dentists becoming a minority of the overall register by 2034.

Speakers also warned that the route into UK practice could be fragmented and expensive for overseas-qualified dentists, with candidates potentially spending between £15,000 and £18,000 from the start of the registration process to joining the register.

ORE booking problems continue

The LDS is one of two main routes into UK practice for international dentists, the other being the Overseas Registration Examination (ORE).

At the end of June, candidates attempting to book a place to sit the ORE Part 1 experienced payment issues, errors and overloaded servers. Many candidates had payment taken but received no confirmation that they had successfully booked a place.

A Part 2 booking scheduled for 14 July was then delayed by a week so the GDC could carry out further testing. A spokesperson for the GDC said: ‘We understand any change to timing can be unsettling for candidates, and we apologise for any inconvenience this causes.’

Ahead of the delayed release on 21 July, candidates were told that they may ‘still experience some performance issues’. The GDC provided advice for what to do if they received errors such as a ‘payment unsuccessful’ message or a missing confirmation email.

Following the booking window, candidates once again reported similar technical errors, which they attributed to an overloaded booking system.

The GDC has said that it will be implementing a new portal for exams scheduled from the beginning of 2027.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England has been approached for comment.

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