Dental Assistant License Syllabus: Sections and Question Counts

Last verified: 11 November 2026. This is an independent guide; it is not affiliated with Saudi Commission for Health Specialties or any government body. Exam details can change, so check the exam page at Saudi Commission for Health Specialties before relying on any figure.

How the questions are split

The exam has 150 questions in 180 minutes, split across the sections according to the exam specification from Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.

The two largest sections are Dental Assistant and Dental Materials: together 52 of the 150 questions (34.7%). Start with them, then take the rest in order of size.

Notes on this split

• Practice here starts in English, with Arabic translation available. The published blueprint does not specify the actual exam language; confirm it with SCFHS and your booking before paying.

Topics in each section

Oral Anatomy (15 questions)

• Teeth: types, numbering systems and morphology
• Tooth tissues: enamel, dentin, cementum, pulp
• Periodontium and supporting structures
• Bones of the skull, maxilla and mandible
• Muscles of mastication and facial expression
• Salivary glands, nerves and blood supply
• Oral mucosa, tongue and landmarks

Dental Assistant (30 questions)

• Operatory preparation and patient seating
• Four-handed dentistry and instrument transfer
• Restorative and prosthetic chairside assisting
• Endodontic, surgical and periodontal assisting
• Pediatric and orthodontic chairside assisting
• Aspiration, retraction and moisture control
• Charting, records and appointment sequencing

Dental Terminology (10 questions)

• Anatomic and directional terms
• Procedure and specialty terms
• Abbreviations and charting symbols
• Material and instrument nomenclature

Dental Materials (22 questions)

• Impression materials: alginate, elastomers
• Gypsum products: plaster, stone, die stone
• Cements, liners and bases
• Amalgam and composite restorative materials
• Bonding agents, etchants and sealants
• Waxes, acrylics and provisional materials
• Mixing, handling, storage and safety

Dental Radiography (15 questions)

• X-ray physics, film/sensor and image formation
• Intraoral techniques: paralleling, bisecting, bitewing
• Extraoral and panoramic imaging basics
• Radiation safety: ALARA, protection, monitoring
• Image quality errors and correction
• Infection control in radiography

Infection Control (15 questions)

• Standard precautions, PPE and hand hygiene
• Instrument processing: clean, package, sterilize
• Sterilization methods and monitoring (spore tests)
• Surface disinfection and operatory turnover
• Sharps, waste and bloodborne pathogen exposure
• Waterlines, biofilms and dental unit water quality

Preventive Dentistry (15 questions)

• Caries process and risk assessment
• Plaque, calculus and periodontal disease prevention
• Fluoride: systemic, topical, varnish, trays
• Pit-and-fissure sealants
• Oral hygiene instruction and aids
• Nutrition and tobacco counselling basics

Dental Emergency and MCP (11 questions)

• Medical history, vital signs and risk classification
• Syncope, hyperventilation and anxiety emergencies
• Hypoglycemia, asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis
• Chest pain, stroke signs and airway obstruction
• Medically compromised patients: cardiac, diabetes, bleeding, pregnancy
• Emergency kit, oxygen and documentation

Communication and Patient Education (9 questions)

• Therapeutic communication and active listening
• Explaining procedures and obtaining cooperation
• Home-care instruction and motivational counselling
• Special populations: children, elderly, anxious, disabled
• Cultural and language-sensitive communication

Ethics (8 questions)

• Scope of practice and working under dentist supervision
• Informed consent, autonomy and refusal of care
• Confidentiality, privacy and records
• Honesty, reporting errors and professional conduct
• Non-maleficence, beneficence and justice in the clinic

How to use this split

Start with the 10 free questions, no sign-up: your score comes back split by section, so you see the weakest one. Then spread your study days according to the table above, as laid out in the study plan.