Cardiff Dentistry Interview Questions (2027 Entry)

How does Cardiff interview for dentistry?

Source: Cardiff University, Dental Surgery (BDS) course page (next intake September 2027; tuition fees for 2027 entry); Cardiff University, Admissions information for studying Dentistry at Cardiff (last updated 2 October 2026) (no entry year stated; last updated 02/10/2026); Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Passport to Dentistry: what must I do to become a dentist, dental hygienist or dental therapist? (PDF) (no year stated); Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Undergraduate (courses and MMI dates table) (MMI dates for 2026 entry; no 2027 dates; read 18 October 2026)

When are Cardiff dentistry interviews for 2027 entry?

Source: Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Undergraduate (courses and MMI dates table) (MMI dates for 2026 entry; no 2027 dates; read 18 October 2026); Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Undergraduate, web.archive.org copy of 14 October 2025 (October 2025 copy; January 2026 dates under a heading labelled 2025 entry); Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Undergraduate, web.archive.org copy of 20 January 2025 (MMI dates for 2025 entry (BDS 13 to 22 January 2025)); Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Undergraduate, web.archive.org copy of 15 September 2024 (September 2024 copy; still showing the MMI dates for 2024 entry (BDS 15 to 24 January 2024)); Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Passport to Dentistry: what must I do to become a dentist, dental hygienist or dental therapist? (PDF) (no year stated); Cardiff University, Admissions information for studying Dentistry at Cardiff (last updated 2 October 2026) (no entry year stated; last updated 02/10/2026); Cardiff University, Interview and audition guidance (no year stated (updated 29 August 2024))

How does Cardiff decide who to interview?

Source: Cardiff University, Admissions information for studying Dentistry at Cardiff (last updated 2 October 2026) (no entry year stated; last updated 02/10/2026); Cardiff University, School of Dentistry admissions policy for undergraduate programmes (2027 entry) (2027 entry (last updated 18/09/2026))

What does Cardiff assess at its dentistry interview?

Source: Cardiff University, Dental Surgery (BDS) course page (next intake September 2027; tuition fees for 2027 entry); Cardiff University, Admissions information for studying Dentistry at Cardiff (last updated 2 October 2026) (no entry year stated; last updated 02/10/2026); Dental Schools Council, Guidance on the core values and attributes needed to study dentistry (linked from Cardiff's admissions information) (2023); General Dental Council, Standards for the Dental Team (effective from 30 September 2013)

Commitment to dentistry, and why Cardiff

What Cardiff says: Cardiff asks every applicant's personal statement to show a commitment to the dental profession, evidence of the skills and attributes it needs, and an understanding of the dental professions; the Dental Schools Council lists motivation to study dentistry among the attributes dental schools look for. Cardiff University, Admissions information for studying Dentistry at Cardiff (last updated 2 October 2026)

Cardiff screens your personal statement without scoring it, so the interview is where your motivation is tested properly. Cardiff also trains dental hygienists and dental therapists, which makes "why a dentist?" a fair question to expect. It says work experience is not essential, but an understanding of the dental professions is, so be ready to show how you found out what the job involves.

1. 1

   Why dentistry and not medicine?

   What to cover: Say what draws you to dentistry itself, such as looking after the same patients over many years, carrying out treatment with your own hands and prevention you can see working. Avoid presenting medicine as the harder option you stepped back from, because the interviewer will hear a second choice.

2. 2

   Cardiff trains dental hygienists and therapists as well as dentists. What does each of them do, and why do you want to be the dentist?

   What to cover: Cardiff's Passport to Dentistry guide describes hygienists as giving prevention advice and treating gum disease, and therapists as also placing fillings, carrying out root treatments on baby teeth and taking baby teeth out. Then explain which parts of a dentist's role, such as leading the team, diagnosis and complex treatment, you want, and talk about the other roles with respect.

3. 3

   Why Cardiff?

   What to cover: Choose two things Cardiff publishes about its own course, such as being the only dental school in Wales, being based in the University Dental Hospital, seeing your first patient in year two or primary care placements across Wales in year four, and explain why they suit you. A ranking tells the interviewer nothing about you.

4. 4

   Cardiff says work experience is not essential. How else have you found out what a dentist's working life is like?

   What to cover: Be specific about what you did: talking to a dentist or dental nurse, reading, an online course, a dental school open day or a job with the public. Cardiff's own School of Dentistry also takes over-16s for clinic work experience, usually on Thursdays and Fridays in term time. Then say what you learnt that you would not have known otherwise, because the understanding is what Cardiff asks for.

5. 5

   From year two at Cardiff you start building your own list of patients. What do you expect to find hard about that?

   What to cover: Name something real, such as being slow while a patient waits, a patient who does not come back, or knowing you are responsible for their care. Then say what you already do that gives you a small start, such as keeping on top of a job with regular commitments.

6. 6

   Cardiff is reviewing its BDS with its students and expects to finish the review by August 2027. What would you want a dental course to get right?

   What to cover: Think about how you learn best, such as practical work early, small-group teaching or regular feedback, and tie it to something you have seen work for you. Showing that you have read the course page and thought about it is the point of the question.

7. 7

   How have you tested whether you would enjoy fine, precise work with your hands for a whole career?

   What to cover: Give real examples, such as an instrument, model-making, sewing, art or a practical job, and say what each taught you about patience and control. Cardiff publishes no dexterity test, so treat this as a question about whether you have checked that the practical side of the job suits you.

8. 8

   If you are not offered a place this year, what will you do?

   What to cover: Give a realistic plan, such as a gap year with more experience before reapplying, which Cardiff says it welcomes, or a related degree you would want to study. Explain why, so it sounds like a plan you made before today.

Go deeper: How to answer "Why dentistry?"

Issues important to the profession

What Cardiff says: Cardiff's MMI looks at whether you have thought about some of the issues that are important to the profession. Cardiff University, Dental Surgery (BDS) course page

Cardiff says dental education in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government so that public money improves the health of Wales as well as the wider UK. Know the main debates in UK dentistry, and know where Wales does things differently from England, because NHS dentistry is run separately in each nation. The interviewer wants to see that you have formed a view you can defend, so understanding the arguments matters more than memorising figures.

9. 9

   What do you think is the biggest problem facing NHS dentistry, and what would you do about it?

   What to cover: Access is the obvious choice: many people struggle to find an NHS dentist taking on new patients. Explain one cause, one effect on patients and one realistic change, and admit what your idea would not fix.

10. 10

    How is NHS dentistry in England paid for, and why do people argue about it?

    What to cover: Explain Units of Dental Activity in plain words and why critics say the system rewards treatment over prevention and complex care. Our guides to the UDA system and contract reform set out both sides. Wales runs its own NHS dental contract, so read how its reforms differ before the day.

11. 11

    Cardiff says dental education in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government to improve the health of the nation. What does that mean for you as a Cardiff dental student?

    What to cover: Think about who the course is meant to serve: patients across Wales, including rural and deprived areas, and the duty that comes with a publicly funded place. Saying you would consider working where care is hardest to find shows you understood the point.

12. 12

    Tooth decay is largely preventable. Why is it still so common in young children?

    What to cover: Talk about sugary food and drink, brushing habits, fluoride, cost and access to a dentist, and why these cluster in poorer areas. Wales has a national children's oral health programme, Designed to Smile, which is worth reading about before the interview.

13. 13

    Should fluoride be added to drinking water?

    What to cover: Set out the evidence that it reduces decay, especially in deprived areas, against the argument that people cannot opt out of what is in their tap water. Reach a view and explain what would change your mind, because a fair weighing of both sides is what is being scored.

14. 14

    Oral health is usually worse in poorer communities. Why, and what can a dentist do about it?

    What to cover: Link diet, cost, health literacy and access to wider inequality; our health inequalities guide covers the Marmot argument. Then be practical about what a dentist controls, such as prevention, clear advice and making it easy for anxious or irregular patients to come back.

15. 15

    Why are dentists moving away from amalgam fillings?

    What to cover: Explain the environmental concern about mercury under the Minamata Convention, the UK's restrictions on amalgam for children and pregnant women, and the trade-offs of the alternatives. Our amalgam guide has the detail.

16. 16

    Some people travel abroad for cheaper dental treatment. What are the risks, and how should a UK dentist respond?

    What to cover: Think about follow-up care, complications, consent given in a hurry and who repairs the work when it fails. Respond without judging the patient, because cost is usually the reason; our dental tourism guide covers both sides.

Go deeper: NHS dentistry hot topics

Thinking on your feet and appraising information

What Cardiff says: Cardiff says the MMI helps it decide whether you can think on your feet and whether you can critically appraise information. Cardiff University, Dental Surgery (BDS) course page

Cardiff names critical appraisal as one of four things its MMI tests, and its course expects graduates to interpret research as part of an evidence-based approach. Expect to be given a claim, a headline or a small set of figures and asked what you make of it with little time to think. Say what the information shows, what it does not show and what you would want to know next.

17. 17

    A toothpaste advert says nine out of ten dentists recommend it. What would you want to know before believing it?

    What to cover: Ask who was surveyed, how many, what exactly they were asked and who paid for the survey. Then say what kind of evidence would convince you, such as a fair comparison against another toothpaste.

18. 18

    A newspaper headline says a common mouthwash is linked to heart disease. How would you judge the claim?

    What to cover: Separate a link from a cause, ask what kind of study it was and what else might explain it, and look for the original research. End with what you would tell a patient who asked about it tomorrow.

19. 19

    Here is a table showing tooth decay in five-year-olds in two areas of Wales. One is much higher. What could explain the difference?

    What to cover: Think of several explanations, such as deprivation, diet, fluoride, access to a dentist and how the children were examined, before choosing one. Say what further data would let you tell them apart.

20. 20

    A patient shows you a social media video claiming charcoal toothpaste whitens teeth safely. What do you say?

    What to cover: Take the question seriously, explain what the evidence does and does not show and mention the risk of wearing away enamel. Leave the patient feeling listened to, because a patient who feels mocked stops asking.

21. 21

    One small study says a new filling material lasts much longer than the usual one. Should dentists start using it?

    What to cover: Talk about sample size, follow-up time, who funded the study and whether others have found the same result. A good answer is cautious without dismissing the idea.

22. 22

    You have two minutes. Tell me three things that would improve children's oral health in Wales.

    What to cover: Give a clear structure, such as one idea for families, one for schools and one for dental services, and a reason for each. Under time pressure, a short, organised answer beats a long list.

23. 23

    What is the difference between a study that shows a correlation and one that shows a cause?

    What to cover: Use a simple example, explain why a randomised trial can show cause where an observational study usually cannot, and mention confounding. Our guide to reading a medical paper covers the basics.

24. 24

    A friend says electric toothbrushes are a waste of money. How would you answer from the evidence?

    What to cover: Say that systematic reviews have found a modest benefit for powered brushes in reducing plaque and gum inflammation, and that brushing well twice a day with fluoride toothpaste matters more than the brush. Being accurate about the size of a benefit is part of appraising evidence.

Go deeper: Data interpretation stations

Communicating ideas effectively

What Cardiff says: Cardiff's MMI tests whether you can communicate ideas effectively, and the Dental Schools Council statement it links to says dentists must communicate with a wide range of people, often anxious patients, and anticipate barriers to communication. Cardiff University, Dental Surgery (BDS) course page

Cardiff's interviews are in person for home applicants, so practise out loud with someone sitting opposite you. Its course develops communication with people from diverse backgrounds, and it lets you interview in Welsh, English or both. Expect to explain something to a frightened adult, a child or someone who finds the system hard to use, and to be judged on whether they understood.

25. 25

    A patient tells you they have not seen a dentist for ten years because they are terrified. Talk to them.

    What to cover: Thank them for coming, ask what frightens them most and agree a stop signal so they feel in control. Explain each step before it happens and do not rush, because trust built at the first visit decides whether they come back.

26. 26

    Explain to a seven-year-old and their parent why fluoride varnish is being put on their teeth.

    What to cover: Use short words and one picture the child can hold on to, tell them what it will feel like, and give the parent the practical advice. Speaking to both of them at their own level is the skill being scored.

27. 27

    A patient is angry because they cannot find an NHS dentist taking new patients. What do you say?

    What to cover: Let them finish and agree that it is a real problem. Explain what you can do, such as how to get urgent care, and avoid blaming colleagues or promising what you cannot deliver.

28. 28

    Explain what happens during a filling to an adult with a learning disability who is nervous.

    What to cover: Give more time, use plain words and pictures, show the instruments if that helps and check understanding by asking them to tell you back. Ask who supports them, while making sure you are talking to the patient and not just their carer.

29. 29

    A patient speaks very little English and needs a tooth taken out. How do you make sure they understand?

    What to cover: Ask for a professional interpreter, use plain words and pictures, and check understanding by asking them to explain it back. A child should not interpret for a parent, and consent is only valid if the patient understands what they are agreeing to.

30. 30

    Cardiff lets you switch between Welsh and English at any point in its MMI. Why might a patient want their dental care in their first language?

    What to cover: Think about how anxiety, pain or dementia can make a second language harder to use, and how being understood builds trust. Welsh Government policy expects health services in Wales to offer Welsh without the patient having to ask, which is worth reading about.

31. 31

    How would you explain the difference between NHS and private options to a patient who needs a crown?

    What to cover: Set out what each option involves, what it costs and how they differ, in plain words and without pressure. The patient decides, and the GDC expects patients to have clear information about costs before treatment starts.

32. 32

    How do you know when someone has not understood you?

    What to cover: Watch for a quick, polite nod and ask them to tell you back what you said. If they cannot, change the words you used instead of saying the same thing more loudly.

Go deeper: MMI role-play stations

Putting patients first: consent and confidentiality

What Cardiff says: Cardiff maps most MMI stations to the attributes the GDC expects of dental professionals; the Dental Schools Council statement it links to sets out putting patients' interests first, obtaining valid consent and protecting patients' information, with attributes such as appreciating the complexity of consent decisions and the courage to advocate for patients. Cardiff University, Admissions information for studying Dentistry at Cardiff (last updated 2 October 2026)

These are the stations where Cardiff's GDC mapping is easiest to see. The Dental Schools Council says you will be taught consent at dental school, and what it looks for now is the potential to act ethically. Say what matters to the patient, what you would want to find out, what you would do and why, and know when you would ask a supervisor.

33. 33

    A patient with capacity refuses to have a badly infected tooth removed. What do you do?

    What to cover: Check they understand the risks of refusing, find out why, offer alternatives and record the conversation, then respect their decision. Our consent guide explains what makes consent valid.

34. 34

    A 14-year-old comes to the clinic alone wanting treatment and does not want their parents told. What are the issues?

    What to cover: Think about whether they are competent to consent, their right to confidentiality and whether anything suggests they are at risk. Our Gillick competence guide sets out the test.

35. 35

    An older patient with dementia needs a tooth extracted. How would you decide whether they can consent?

    What to cover: Capacity is decision-specific and can change, so assess this decision at this time, with support to help them understand. If they lack capacity, decide in their best interests and involve those close to them; our capacity guide covers the Mental Capacity Act, which applies in Wales and England.

36. 36

    From year two at Cardiff you treat your own patients under supervision. A patient on your list asks you to take out a tooth you think can be saved. What do you do?

    What to cover: Find out why they want it out, explain the options and their consequences in plain words, and involve your supervisor. A patient can choose an extraction, but only once they understand what they are giving up.

37. 37

    A patient wants several healthy teeth crowned for cosmetic reasons. Should a dentist agree?

    What to cover: Weigh the patient's wishes against the harm of removing healthy tooth structure, and talk about less destructive options. Putting patients' interests first sometimes means declining treatment a patient is willing to pay for.

38. 38

    While treating a child you notice bruises that worry you. What do you do?

    What to cover: Record what you see, speak to your supervisor straight away and follow safeguarding procedures. Dental teams are expected to raise child protection concerns, and the duty to the child comes before an awkward conversation.

39. 39

    A friend asks you to check whether their neighbour has been a patient at the Dental Hospital. What do you say?

    What to cover: Say no, explain that you cannot look up or share patient information without a reason connected to their care, and do not apologise for it. Our confidentiality guide explains where the line sits.

40. 40

    When is it right for a dentist to break a patient's confidence?

    What to cover: Confidentiality is the default, with exceptions such as a serious risk of harm to others, safeguarding or a legal requirement. Give an example of one and say that the patient should usually be told first.

Go deeper: Dentistry ethical scenarios

Candour, probity and suitability for the profession

What Cardiff says: Cardiff takes Suitability for the Profession scores into account alongside station scores, and says an applicant can score highly on the stations but not receive an offer if those scores are low; the Dental Schools Council lists recognising the duty of candour, taking responsibility for your own actions and integrity among the attributes it maps to the GDC standards, including raising concerns if patients are at risk. Cardiff University, Admissions information for studying Dentistry at Cardiff (last updated 2 October 2026)

Cardiff says a low Suitability for the Profession score can cost you an offer whatever your station marks, so prepare the scenarios about honesty and respect as carefully as any station. Its interview guidance also asks you to verify your identity and confirm that you are not using AI, and says an offer will be withdrawn if AI use is discovered later. Think through what you would do when telling the truth is inconvenient, because most of the questions below turn on that moment.

41. 41

    As a student you make a small mistake during a patient's treatment and nobody notices. What do you do?

    What to cover: Tell your supervisor straight away, make sure the patient is told and offered an apology, and work out how it happened. The duty of candour means the mistake can be forgiven and hiding it cannot.

42. 42

    Cardiff asks applicants to confirm at interview that they are not using AI. Why does that matter for a future dentist?

    What to cover: Link it to trust: patients, colleagues and the GDC need to know that what you say and write is your own work and your own judgement. You can say AI has good uses in dentistry while explaining why an interview or a patient record is the wrong place to hide it.

43. 43

    A friend on your course admits using AI to write a reflection for their ePortfolio. What do you do?

    What to cover: Encourage them to own up and redo it, because reflection only helps a clinician if it is their own. If they will not, you raise it; dental students are held to fitness to practise standards, so probity on the course is treated as seriously as probity with patients.

44. 44

    A course mate posts a photo from clinic with a patient visible in the background. What do you do?

    What to cover: Treat it as a breach of confidentiality whatever they intended. Ask them to take it down at once and raise it if they refuse, because the patient's privacy comes before the friendship.

45. 45

    You see a dentist reuse an instrument that should have been sterilised. What do you do?

    What to cover: Patient safety comes first, so speak up at the time if you can do so safely, then report it through the proper route. Our whistleblowing guide explains how concerns are raised and why the GDC expects it.

46. 46

    What does the duty of candour mean in dentistry?

    What to cover: Being open with patients when something has gone wrong with their care, apologising, explaining what happened and putting it right where possible. Give a small example to show you understand it is about everyday practice as well as serious incidents.

47. 47

    A patient complains that you were rude to them. How do you respond?

    What to cover: Listen without getting defensive, apologise for how they felt, find out what happened and involve your supervisor. Then reflect on whether there was something in what they said, because complaints are a source of learning.

48. 48

    Why does the GDC care about what dental students do outside clinic?

    What to cover: Because patients need to trust the profession, and the GDC's standards cover personal behaviour that affects that trust. Dental schools ask applicants to declare cautions and convictions for the same reason.

Go deeper: The nine GDC principles

Working in the dental team, and resilience

What Cardiff says: Cardiff's BDS has students work in pairs, alternating between operating and assisting, and closely with the wider dental team of NHS consultants, dental care professionals, dental nurses, dental technicians and administrative staff; the Dental Schools Council lists working as part of a team and individual responsibility and resilience among the attributes dental schools look for. Cardiff University, Dental Surgery (BDS) course page

Cardiff's course puts teamwork into the clinic from the start, with students taking turns to operate and assist and training alongside dental care professionals. It gives formative feedback on every preclinical and clinical session, so expect to be asked how you take criticism. The Dental Schools Council, quoted in Cardiff's admissions information, asks applicants to think about the intensity of a dental course and their distance from home, so have a real answer about how you cope.

49. 49

    At Cardiff you will work in pairs, taking turns to operate and to assist. What makes a good assistant?

    What to cover: Think about anticipating what the operator needs, keeping the patient comfortable and informed, watching for safety and speaking up if something looks wrong. Then say what you would learn about your own technique from watching someone else work.

50. 50

    What does a dental nurse do, and why does a dentist depend on one?

    What to cover: Cover chairside support, infection control, preparing materials, records and reassuring patients. Dental nurses are registered with the GDC in their own right, so describe them as professionals, not helpers.

51. 51

    What does a dental technician do?

    What to cover: They make crowns, bridges, dentures and appliances to a dentist's prescription, and are GDC-registered. Explain why clear communication between dentist and technician affects the result the patient gets.

52. 52

    You are the most junior person in the clinic and think the treatment plan is wrong. What do you do?

    What to cover: Ask a question first and give your reason, then accept the answer if it is a good one. If a patient's safety is at stake, keep going until someone senior has listened.

53. 53

    Tell me about a team you were part of that did not work well. What was your part in it?

    What to cover: Own a share of the problem, work out what went wrong, such as unclear roles or someone not being heard, and say what you would do differently. Blaming everyone else wastes the question.

54. 54

    Cardiff gives feedback on every preclinical and clinical session. How do you respond when you are told your work is not good enough?

    What to cover: Describe a real time you got hard feedback, how it felt and what you changed afterwards. Showing that you can hear criticism without falling apart or arguing is what resilience looks like in clinic.

55. 55

    In year four you will spend time on placement in primary care across Wales. How would you settle into a new practice quickly?

    What to cover: Talk about learning names and routines, asking what the team needs from you and asking for help early. Adapting means fitting into how the practice works, not waiting for it to change for you.

56. 56

    Dental courses are intense, and you may be far from your family and friends. How will you look after yourself?

    What to cover: Describe what you actually do when work piles up and the warning signs you watch for in yourself. Say who you would talk to, and mention that you would use the personal tutor every Cardiff student has.

Go deeper: The multidisciplinary team explained