MFDS Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the MFDS exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 MFDS Exam Format at a Glance
📚 MFDS Topics to Study (43)
✍️ Sample MFDS Questions & Answers
1. The ideal occlusal scheme for a full arch implant-retained prosthesis is:
Mutually protected occlusion (anterior guidance protects posteriors in excursions; posteriors protect anteriors in ICP load) is the preferred scheme for implant-supported prostheses to minimise lateral forces on implants.
2. Which component of amalgam is primarily responsible for its corrosion resistance?
High-copper amalgam alloys suppress the corrosion-prone tin-mercury (gamma-2) phase by converting it to copper-tin (eta) phase, greatly improving corrosion resistance.
3. A biopsy of a palatal swelling reveals a tumour composed of a mixture of epithelial and myoepithelial cells in a chondromyxoid stroma. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary gland tumour, accounting for approximately 60% of all salivary neoplasms. It shows great histological diversity ('pleomorphic') with a mixture of epithelial cells (forming ducts and sheets), myoepithelial cells, and mesenchymal-like stroma (chondroid, myxoid, or fibrous). The palate is the most common intraoral site (minor salivary glands). Despite being benign, it has a tendency to recur if incompletely excised.
4. Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia most commonly affects which demographic group?
Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia has a strong predilection for middle-aged black women and is typically an incidental radiographic finding requiring no treatment.
5. A diabetic patient taking metformin presents for dental treatment. Their HbA1c is 75 mmol/mol (9.0%). What is the clinical significance of this result?
An HbA1c of 75 mmol/mol (9.0%) indicates poor glycaemic control. The NICE target for type 2 diabetes is generally 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or 53 mmol/mol (7.0%). Poor control increases the risk of impaired wound healing, susceptibility to infection (including periodontal disease progression), dry mouth, candidiasis, and delayed recovery from surgical procedures. Medical liaison is advisable before elective invasive dental treatment.
6. Glass ionomer cement bonds to tooth structure primarily through:
Glass ionomer cement forms ionic bonds between carboxylate groups of the polyacid and calcium ions in hydroxyapatite, providing true chemical adhesion.