Showcase Your Clinical Skills
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) National Dental Skills Competition gives dental students from across the UK and Ireland the chance to demonstrate their skills and represent their school in a prestigious national competition.
Since its launch, the competition has become a highlight of the Faculty of Dental Surgery calendar, providing participants with hands-on experience, professional feedback and the opportunity to enhance their CVs.
Why Enter the RCSEd National Dental Skills Competition
- Test your abilities across key clinical and technical skills.
- Gain national recognition and feedback from experienced clinicians.
- Develop confidence and build your professional portfolio.
- Network with peers and mentors from across the UK, Ireland and internationally.
- Complimentary affiliate membership with RCSEd included for participants.
Skills You’ll Master in the National Dental Skills Competition
Challenges include:
- Implant placement
- Tooth anatomy identification
- Wire bending and orthodontic techniques
- Composite placement and restorative skills
- Endodontics
- Denture set-up and try-in
- Removal of buried roots
- Suturing and flap design
- Model scanning and digital dentistry
- Remote surgery and laparoscopy dexterity
2024/25 National Dental Skills Competition Details and Key Dates
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. Read more here.
Congratulations to all this year’s finalists. Check back later this year for details on how to enter the 2025/26 competition.
Past Winners of the Dental Skills Competition
Competition Highlights and Gallery
International Dental Skills Competition
The RCSEd International Dental Clinical Skills Competition - Malaysia 2025
On 16 August 2025, Straumann Group proudly sponsored the RCSEd International Dental Clinical Skills Competition in Malaysia. This exciting partnership brought together nine dental schools from across the country to compete in a series of timed challenges, testing their clinical skills, precision and adaptability.
Read more
Join the RCSEd Dental Affiliate Network
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.
Join now