Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Prosthodontics Syllabus

Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Prosthodontics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Prosthodontics in Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Cariology and Direct Restorations

   4 topics

   • Caries detection, classification and management
     • Minimal intervention and selective caries removal
     • ICDAS and lesion activity assessment
   • Dental materials for direct restoration
     • Resin composites and bonding systems
     • Glass ionomer and resin-modified materials
     • Dental amalgam and Minamata considerations
   • Cavity design and moisture control with rubber dam
   • Management of tooth wear and erosion
2. 2

   Indirect Restorations and Fixed Prosthodontics

   5 topics

   • Crown, inlay and onlay preparation principles
   • Bridgework design
     • Conventional versus resin-bonded bridges
     • Abutment selection and pontic design
   • Impression techniques and digital scanning
   • Luting cements and cementation protocols
   • Occlusion in fixed prosthodontics
3. 3

   Endodontics

   5 topics

   • Pulp and periapical diagnosis
     • Reversible and irreversible pulpitis
     • Apical periodontitis and periradicular pathology
   • Root canal treatment principles
     • Access, shaping, irrigation and obturation
     • Working length determination and apex locators
   • Vital pulp therapy and pulp capping
   • Endodontic emergencies and management of flare-ups
   • Endodontic retreatment and surgical endodontics
4. 4

   Removable Prosthodontics

   5 topics

   • Complete denture design and construction stages
   • Partial denture design
     • Kennedy classification and saddle support
     • Retention, bracing and connector design
   • Recording jaw relations and the occlusal scheme
   • Management of the edentulous and resorbed ridge
   • Denture-related problems and repairs
5. 5

   Implant Dentistry Fundamentals

   3 topics

   • Patient selection and treatment planning for implants
   • Osseointegration biology and prosthetic options
   • Peri-implant health and peri-implantitis

Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Prosthodontics flashcards for Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF)

20 of 59 cards from the Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Prosthodontics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the four main methods of caries detection beyond visual-tactile examination?

   Bitewing radiography, transillumination (FOTI/DIFOTI), laser fluorescence (e.g. DIAGNOdent), and electrical conductance/impedance measurement.

2. What is the ICDAS classification used for, and what do codes 0 and 6 represent?

   The International Caries Detection and Assessment System grades caries severity visually. Code 0 = sound surface (no change after drying); Code 6 = extensive distinct cavitation with visible dentine involving more than half the surface.

3. In the modern (minimally invasive) management of an active enamel-only carious lesion, what is the first-line approach?

   Non-operative/preventive management: oral hygiene instruction, dietary advice, and remineralisation with fluoride (e.g. topical fluoride varnish), monitoring rather than restoring.

4. List Black's classification of cavities (Classes I-VI) by location.

   Class I: pits/fissures. Class II: proximal of posterior teeth. Class III: proximal of anterior teeth not involving incisal angle. Class IV: proximal of anterior teeth involving incisal angle. Class V: cervical/gingival third of any tooth. Class VI: incisal edges or cusp tips.

5. Compare the main mechanical retention requirement of amalgam versus the bonding mechanism of composite resin.

   Amalgam relies on macromechanical retention (undercuts, retention grooves, convergent walls) as it is non-adhesive; composite bonds micromechanically/chemically via acid-etch enamel and dentine bonding agents, allowing more conservative preparations.

6. What is the composition difference between conventional and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (GIC)?

   Conventional GIC = fluoroaluminosilicate glass powder + polyacrylic acid liquid (acid-base set). Resin-modified GIC adds HEMA and photoinitiators, giving an additional light-cured resin polymerisation set, improving strength and reducing early moisture sensitivity.

7. State two clinically important properties of glass ionomer cement that make it useful as a restorative.

   Chemical (ionic) adhesion to enamel and dentine without a separate bonding agent, and sustained fluoride release/recharge giving anticariogenic potential. Its coefficient of thermal expansion is also close to tooth.

8. What is the polymerisation shrinkage range of conventional methacrylate-based composite, and why does it matter clinically?

   Approximately $2\text{-}3\%$ by volume. Shrinkage creates contraction stress that can cause marginal gaps, microleakage, postoperative sensitivity, and debonding; incremental placement and controlling the C-factor reduce its effects.

9. Define the cavity configuration factor (C-factor) and its clinical significance.

   $C\text{-factor} = \dfrac{\text{number of bonded surfaces}}{\text{number of unbonded (free) surfaces}}$. A higher C-factor (e.g. a deep Class I) means greater polymerisation contraction stress and higher risk of marginal/bond failure.

10. Why is rubber dam considered the standard of care for moisture control in restorative and endodontic work?

    It provides a dry, isolated, clean operative field; improves bond strength and material handling; protects the airway from aspiration/ingestion of instruments and irrigants; retracts soft tissues; and reduces cross-contamination.

11. What is the function of the bevel placed on the enamel margin of an anterior composite restoration?

    It exposes the ends of enamel prisms for more effective acid-etch retention, increases bonding surface area, and improves marginal aesthetics by blending the composite-tooth junction.

12. Outline the BEWE (Basic Erosive Wear Examination) scoring system.

    Per sextant, the most severely worn surface is scored: 0 = no wear; 1 = initial loss of surface texture; 2 = distinct defect, hard tissue loss <50% of surface; 3 = hard tissue loss ≥50%. Sextant scores are summed to guide management.

13. Distinguish erosion, attrition, abrasion and abfraction as causes of tooth surface loss.

    Erosion = chemical dissolution by acid (dietary/intrinsic). Attrition = tooth-to-tooth wear. Abrasion = wear by an external mechanical agent (e.g. toothbrush). Abfraction = cervical loss attributed to occlusal flexural/tensile stresses.

14. What is the Dahl concept in managing localised anterior tooth wear?

    Placing a localised appliance/restorations that raise the bite anteriorly creating posterior disclusion; over weeks-months relative axial tooth movement re-establishes posterior occlusal contacts, creating interocclusal space to restore worn teeth without removing tooth tissue.

15. State the recommended total occlusal convergence (taper) for an ideal full crown preparation.

    Approximately $6^{\circ}$ total convergence (about $3^{\circ}$ per wall). Clinically achievable values are often higher, but excessive taper reduces retention and resistance form.

16. Define retention form and resistance form in crown preparation.

    Retention form prevents removal of the restoration along the path of insertion (governed by taper, height and surface area). Resistance form prevents dislodgement under apical/oblique/rotational forces during function.

17. What minimum occlusal reduction is generally required for a metal-ceramic crown versus a full all-metal crown?

    Metal-ceramic: about $1.5\text{-}2.0\,\text{mm}$ on functional cusps to accommodate metal plus porcelain. Full gold/all-metal: about $1.0\text{-}1.5\,\text{mm}$ functional cusp reduction.

18. How do inlays and onlays differ in cuspal coverage?

    An inlay is an intracoronal restoration sitting within the cusps (no cuspal coverage); an onlay extends over and protects one or more cusps, providing extracoronal cuspal coverage to reinforce weakened teeth.

19. What is the ferrule effect and why is it important for endodontically treated teeth?

    A ferrule is a $360^{\circ}$ band of sound tooth tissue (ideally ≥$1.5\text{-}2\,\text{mm}$ height) encircled by the crown. It resists fracture by bracing the tooth and reducing stress on the post/core, improving the survival of restored root-filled teeth.

20. In bridgework, define abutment, pontic, retainer and connector.

    Abutment = tooth/implant supporting the bridge. Retainer = the part cemented to the abutment. Pontic = the artificial tooth replacing the missing one. Connector = joins pontic to retainer (rigid or non-rigid).

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