The RCSEd Dental Skills Competition offers final-year dental students from across the UK and Ireland the chance to demonstrate their dental skills and represent their dental school in a national competition.
Challenges include implant placement, setting up teeth for a try-in, wire bending, composite placement, identifying tooth anatomy, endodontics, model scanning, removal of a buried root, suturing and even remote surgery.
The competition is a highlight of the Faculty of Dental Surgery calendar at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), and a valuable opportunity for the College to engage with and support the next generation of dentists. Students benefit from national recognition, feedback from experienced clinicians, hands-on experience and a chance to enhance their CVs while building confidence in both clinical and non-technical skills.
Previous Competition Winners
2024/25 Dental Skills Competition
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) proudly hosted the 2024/25 UK and Ireland Dental Skills Competition, culminating in a Grand Final on Saturday 29 March 2025.
Designed to test and celebrate the practical abilities of final-year dental students, the competition featured ten stations covering a wide range of skills. These included suturing on wounded bananas, oral surgery flap design, knowledge of child dental development, orthodontics, implant placement, a laparoscopic dexterity test, intraoral scanning, denture set-up, a restorative dentistry challenge and a new station focused on prevention - a reflection of the evolving landscape of dentistry.
Congratulations to all this year’s finalists. Check back later this year for details on how to enter the 2025/26 competition.
Competition Highlights
Dental Affiliate Network
As you progress in your study, complete your training, or prepare for your MFDS or Specialty Membership Examinations, having the right support is crucial. RCSEd is here to help you shape your dental career progression and offer you a wide range of resources for training, Membership and Fellowship Examinations and development opportunities.
Apply now