The DLOSCE (Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is a pivotal step for dental professionals seeking licensure, designed to assess a wide range of clinical competencies. This comprehensive DLOSCE examination evaluates candidates across multiple domains of dentistry, ensuring they possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe and effective patient care. Below, we’ll dive into the DLOSCE exam content and specifications, highlighting the key DLOSCE topic areas and their respective weightings, as outlined in the DLOSCE 2025 Candidate Guide.

Examination Content and Specifications

The DLOSCE exam is structured to cover a broad spectrum of dental practice areas, each weighted to reflect its importance in clinical practice. Here’s a breakdown of the DLOSCE examination content

Restorative (24%)

This is the largest section of the DLOSCE, focusing on core restorative skills. Key DLOSCE keywords here include

Diagnosis: Identifying dental caries and other restorative needs.

Preparations: Preparing teeth for restorative procedures.

Restorations

Direct: Fillings such as amalgam or composite.

Indirect: Crowns, inlays, and onlays. Mastery of these DLOSCE restorative competencies ensures candidates can restore function and aesthetics effectively.

Prosthodontics (19%)

This section tests skills in replacing missing teeth, with DLOSCE prosthodontics covering

Removable: Dentures, both partial and complete.

Fixed: Bridges and crowns.

Implants: Implant-supported restorations. These DLOSCE prosthodontic topics emphasize the ability to design and implement prosthetic solutions.

Oral Pathology, Pain Management, and Temporomandibular Dysfunction (13%)

A critical area of the DLOSCE examination, this section includes

Oral Pathology/Oral Medicine: Diagnosing conditions like oral cancer or mucosal lesions.

Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Dysfunction: Managing TMJ disorders and facial pain. These DLOSCE oral pathology skills are vital for identifying and addressing complex oral health issues.

Periodontics (10%)

Focused on gum health, the DLOSCE periodontics section covers

Diagnosis: Assessing periodontal disease severity.

Treatment Planning: Developing strategies for periodontal care.

Etiology: Understanding causes like plaque and systemic factors. These DLOSCE periodontal competencies ensure candidates can manage gingival and supporting bone health.

Oral Surgery (9%)

This DLOSCE oral surgery component evaluates

Diagnosis: Identifying surgical needs.

Treatment Planning: Planning procedures like extractions.

Extractions: Performing simple and surgical tooth removal. Proficiency in DLOSCE oral surgery skills is essential for handling surgical interventions.

Endodontics (8%)

The DLOSCE endodontics section focuses on root canal therapy and related areas

Diagnosis: Identifying pulpal and periapical pathology.

Treatment Planning: Outlining endodontic procedures.

Emergency Management: Addressing acute dental pain.

Post-treatment Evaluation: Assessing outcomes of endodontic care. These DLOSCE endodontic topics test a candidate’s ability to manage tooth pulp issues.

Orthodontics (6%)

A smaller but significant part of the DLOSCE, covering

Treatment Screening: Evaluating orthodontic needs.

Space Management: Addressing crowding or spacing issues. These DLOSCE orthodontic skills ensure basic competency in alignment and occlusion.

Medical Emergencies (6%)

This DLOSCE medical emergencies section tests

Diagnosis: Recognizing emergencies like syncope or anaphylaxis.

Management: Responding effectively in a clinical setting. Preparedness in DLOSCE emergency management is crucial for patient safety.

Prescriptions (5%)

The smallest section of the DLOSCE exam, focusing on

Antibiotic: Prescribing for infections.

Analgesic: Managing pain with medications. These DLOSCE prescription skills round out the clinical pharmacology knowledge required. Cross-Cutting Themes: Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and Occlusion In addition to the above categories, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning—along with Occlusion—are woven throughout the DLOSCE examination. These foundational DLOSCE competencies appear across restorative, periodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, and other areas, emphasizing their universal importance in dental practice. Patient Diversity in the DLOSCE

The DLOSCE exam content incorporates scenarios involving patients of various types and backgrounds, including

Pediatric: Children with unique dental needs.

Geriatric: Elderly patients with age-related conditions.

Special Needs: Patients requiring tailored care approaches.

Medically Complex: Those with systemic health challenges. This diversity ensures DLOSCE candidates are prepared for real-world clinical encounters.

Tooth Notation System

The DLOSCE utilizes the Universal/National System for tooth notation, as adopted by the American Dental Association (ADA). This DLOSCE tooth numbering system designates

Permanent Dentition: Numbers 1-32.

Primary Dentition: Letters A-T. Familiarity with this system is essential for success on the DLOSCE examination.

Conclusion The DLOSCE exam is a rigorous assessment that spans restorative, prosthodontics, oral pathology, periodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, medical emergencies, and prescriptions. By integrating diagnosis, treatment planning, and occlusion across these domains, the DLOSCE ensures candidates are well-rounded clinicians. Whether you’re preparing for the DLOSCE 2025 or simply exploring its structure, understanding these DLOSCE keywords and content areas is your first step toward success.