DOH General Dentist Exam 2026: Eligibility & MCQs

DOH General Dentist Exam Quick Summary

The DOH (Department of Health) Abu Dhabi General Dentist exam covers restorative dentistry, oral medicine & surgery, periodontics, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, and orthodontics, with 150 MCQs and 3 hours to complete -- delivered via Pearson VUE test centers, not Prometric, with a passing score in the approximate 60-65% range.

DOH / HAAD Abu Dhabi General Dentist Exam

The Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi -- previously known as the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) -- administers this Pearson VUE-based licensing exam for General Dentists seeking to practice in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. It's widely regarded as one of the more demanding Gulf dental licensing exams, so treat it as its own preparation target rather than reusing DHA or MOH study material unchanged. See our DOH exam subjects & format guide for how this compares across DOH's dental specialties.

Booking note: DOH exams run on Pearson VUE, not Prometric -- see our full DOH exam registration guide for the step-by-step TAMM account, DataFlow, and Pearson VUE scheduling process.

Eligibility criteria for the DOH General Dentist exam

To apply for the DOH General Dentist exam, candidates are generally expected to meet the following (see our DOH/HAAD eligibility requirements for dentists guide for the full source detail):

Primary dental degree: A recognized 5-year full-time BDS, DDS, DMD, or equivalent dental degree from an accredited institution.

Internship: A completed one-year internship/housejob after graduation, which does not itself count toward the clinical experience requirement below.

Clinical experience: At least 2 years of continuous, verifiable clinical experience in a licensed dental facility after your internship.

Valid license & Good Standing Certificate: Current professional registration/license from your country of practice, plus a Good Standing Certificate issued within the last 6 months.

DataFlow Primary Source Verification: All educational, professional, and licensing documents must be verified through DataFlow. Our DOH credentialing process guide walks through this step in detail.

DOH General Dentist exam exemption

Nationality-based exemption under DOH's PQR system

DOH's Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) provide for certain candidates to be exempted from parts of the standard pathway, including the post-internship clinical experience requirement: UAE nationals, and separately children of Emirati women, may qualify for exemption from some requirements. This is different from an international-dental-board exemption -- DHA publishes its own list for dentists, but DOH does not publish an equivalent board-exam exemption route. If you hold a qualification such as NBDE, ORE, or an Australian/Canadian/Irish/New Zealand dental board certification, confirm directly with DOH whether it carries any recognition before assuming it applies.

See our DOH specialist exam exemption criteria guide for the physician-focused exemption list, which does not extend to dental-specific credentials.

DOH General Dentist exam syllabus & weightage

The exam's subject weighting breaks down approximately as follows:

Subject Area

Approximate %

Restorative Dentistry

25%

Oral Medicine & Surgery

20%

Periodontics

15%

Endodontics

15%

Pediatric Dentistry

10%

Orthodontics

10%

Basic Dental Sciences (anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, materials, infection control)

5-10%

Key topics: restorative and endodontic case selection, oral surgery decision-making, periodontal disease staging, pediatric behavior management and pulp therapy, orthodontic screening, infection control protocols, and dental ethics.

Questions are presented as clinical scenarios assessing diagnosis, treatment planning, and management across these subjects, plus Abu Dhabi-specific healthcare standards, ethics, and patient safety.

DOH General Dentist study material & questions

Our Qbank offers 6,500+ high-yield, recall-based questions compiled from actual test takers and reviewed by expert dentists, with a real exam-like simulation and full explanations.

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DOH General Dentist exam format

150

MCQs

3 hours

Time allowed

~60-65%

Passing score

The exam is delivered as a computer-based, proctored test at authorized Pearson VUE centers (not Prometric), with no negative marking for incorrect answers. The exact passing threshold can vary slightly by testing cycle, so confirm the current figure with DOH or Pearson VUE directly before your exam.

Preparation tips for the DOH General Dentist exam

Double-check your test center

DOH uses Pearson VUE, not Prometric -- confirm your booking platform early so you don't accidentally schedule at the wrong center.

Prioritize Restorative Dentistry and Oral Medicine & Surgery

Together these carry the heaviest weighting of any subjects on the exam -- build your revision schedule around them first, then round out the remaining subjects.

Don't assume DHA/MOH prep is enough

DOH's dental exam is described as tougher than DHA or MOH equivalents -- treat it as its own preparation target rather than reusing another authority's study plan unchanged.

Pace yourself

With 150 questions in 3 hours, you have about 1.2 minutes per question -- build that pace into your practice sessions early.

Sample Practice MCQs

Test your knowledge with these original clinical scenario-style questions. Tap a question to reveal the answer.

> Question 1: Oral Surgery

A patient returns three days after a lower third molar extraction reporting severe, throbbing pain that has worsened since the procedure. Examination reveals an empty-looking socket and a distinct foul odor, with no swelling or fever. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: Alveolar osteitis (dry socket).

Explanation: Loss or premature dissolution of the blood clot exposes underlying bone, producing disproportionate pain days after extraction, typically without significant swelling or systemic signs of infection -- distinguishing it from a spreading odontogenic infection.

> Question 2: Restorative Dentistry

Radiographic and clinical examination of an asymptomatic, vital molar reveals a deep carious lesion approximating the pulp, with no signs of pulpal exposure. What is the most appropriate management?

Answer: Indirect pulp capping -- remove the bulk of the caries, deliberately leave a thin layer of affected but remineralizable dentin over the pulp, place a protective liner, then restore.

Explanation: This conservative approach preserves pulp vitality in a deep but non-exposed lesion, avoiding unnecessary pulpotomy or root canal treatment when the pulp shows no signs of irreversible involvement.

> Question 3: Infection Control

After treating a patient with a known bloodborne infection, the clinic needs to reprocess heat-sensitive handpiece attachments that contacted mucous membranes. Which reprocessing method is appropriate?

Answer: High-level disinfection or sterilization validated specifically for heat-sensitive instruments, per manufacturer guidelines -- not simple surface wiping.

Explanation: Instruments that contact mucous membranes or blood are classified as semi-critical or critical and require validated high-level reprocessing; surface disinfection alone is insufficient and risks cross-contamination.

Frequently Asked Questions

> What does the DOH General Dentist exam cover?

It covers Restorative Dentistry, Oral Medicine & Surgery, Periodontics, Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, and Basic Dental Sciences, with Restorative Dentistry and Oral Medicine & Surgery carrying the heaviest weighting.

> Is the DOH General Dentist exam held at Prometric or Pearson VUE?

Pearson VUE. This is different from DHA and other Gulf authorities that use Prometric -- confirm your test center before scheduling.

> What is the passing score for the DOH General Dentist exam?

Approximately 60-65%, and it can vary slightly by testing cycle -- confirm the current threshold directly with DOH or Pearson VUE.

> Are dentists exempted from the DOH exam?

UAE nationals and children of Emirati women may qualify for exemption from certain requirements under DOH's PQR system. There is no confirmed international-dental-board exemption route (such as NBDE or ORE) for DOH the way DHA publishes one -- confirm your specific situation directly with DOH.

> Are official DOH General Dentist past papers available?

No -- DOH does not release official past papers publicly. Recall-based question banks compiled from actual test takers' feedback are the closest available preparation resource.

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