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Saudi Dental Licensure Examination (SDLE): free practice test

Start with 10 free questions to see what needs more practice. Finish to see your score, weakest units and every option explained.

Pass score: 542 on the 200–800 reporting scale. Practice accuracy cannot be converted to this score. This is your practice accuracy. It cannot be converted to the exam’s scaled score or used to determine whether you pass.

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Practice test questions with answers and explanations

Try the questions in the test above first, then open each one here to see the correct answer and why every other option is wrong.

01An adult has an active but noncavitated occlusal lesion on a permanent molar. Isolation is achievable. Which intervention is prioritized over fluoride varnish alone for arresting this lesion?

Practice question Unit: Restorative Dentistry

  1. APit-and-fissure sealant ✓ Correct answer

    A sealant, with or without varnish, is prioritized for a noncavitated occlusal lesion.

  2. BImmediate full-coverage crown

    The described lesion does not establish a need for a crown.

  3. C10% CPP-ACP paste alone

    The guideline advises against 10% CPP-ACP paste when fluoride, sealants, or resin infiltration are accessible.

  4. DWeekly sodium fluoride rinse alone

    Rinse alone is not prioritized over a feasible sealant in this setting.

Reference: ADA chairside guideline, p. 1, noncavitated occlusal recommendation. https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/chairside_guide_nonrestorative_treatments_for_carious_lesions_on_permanent_teeth.pdf

02The mandibular record base rocks when light pressure alternates between sides, and repeated horizontal jaw records disagree. What should be corrected first?

Practice question Unit: Restorative Dentistry

  1. AAverage several jaw records made with the same rocking base

    Averaging does not remove displacement caused by an unstable recording platform.

  2. BSelect the record that gives the most even contacts without correcting the base

    A plausible-looking record does not establish accuracy when the base moves.

  3. CThe articulator condylar guidance

    Changing articulator guidance does not stabilize the rocking base.

  4. DRecord-base adaptation and stability ✓ Correct answer

    A rigid, stable base is necessary for dependable jaw registration.

Reference: BSSPD, Barsby et al., Guides to Standards in Prosthetic Dentistry — Complete and Partial Dentures, 2005 update (currently linked society version); printed p.3 / PDF p.3: Recording jaw relations; printed p.7 / PDF p.7: Working casts and registration rims. https://www.bsspd.org/File.ashx?id=16311

03When reconstructing the occlusal anatomy of a maxillary first molar, which cusps are connected by its oblique ridge?

Practice question Unit: Restorative Dentistry

  1. ABoth buccal cusps: mesiobuccal and distobuccal

    These are the two buccal cusps, separated by the buccal groove.

  2. BMesiobuccal and distolingual

    That diagonal is not the typical maxillary molar oblique ridge.

  3. CMesiolingual and distobuccal ✓ Correct answer

    The oblique ridge links the mesiolingual and distobuccal cusp regions.

  4. DMesiolingual and distolingual

    These are the two lingual cusps rather than the oblique-ridge endpoints.

Reference: University of Al Maarif, Muhammad Abdulmunim Abdullatif, Dental Anatomy Lecture 11: Permanent Maxillary Molars, institutional teaching chapter, undated; printed/PDF p.1: Principal identifying features, item3. https://uoa.edu.iq/storage/uploads/6977312bc82b7_dental-anatomy-lec-11.pdf

04A training sensor at a composite surface records a constant irradiance of 600 mW/cm² for 20 seconds. What radiant exposure was delivered? This is a calculation exercise, not a prescribed curing schedule.

Practice question Unit: Restorative Dentistry

  1. A0.012 J/cm²

    This incorrectly converts milliwatts to watts by an extra factor of 1000.

  2. B12 J/cm² ✓ Correct answer

    600 mW/cm² = 0.6 W/cm²; 0.6 × 20 = 12 J/cm². Suitability still depends on the material and clinical delivery.

  3. C12,000 J/cm²

    This leaves milliwatts unconverted; the initial product is in mJ/cm².

  4. D30 J/cm²

    Dividing time by irradiance does not calculate radiant exposure.

Reference: ADA, Dental Curing Lights; Last updated 27 March 2023; accessed 3 November 2026; Curing Light Use, radiant exposure; Table 1. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/dental-curing-lights

05A patient with stage II periodontitis has substantial plaque, supragingival calculus and bleeding pockets. Which initial plan best supports subsequent subgingival treatment?

Practice question Unit: Periodontics

  1. AWait for spontaneous improvement before giving hygiene instruction

    Active periodontitis requires management rather than observation without instruction.

  2. BPrescribe a rinse and postpone mechanical plaque control

    A rinse does not replace mechanical biofilm removal or patient instruction.

  3. CTeach effective home cleaning, control risk factors and remove supragingival deposits ✓ Correct answer

    These first-step measures establish the conditions for effective cause-related treatment; subgingival instrumentation is still needed.

  4. DPerform definitive periodontal surgery before addressing plaque control

    Plaque and risk-factor control are foundational steps before further treatment decisions.

Reference: EFP S3 guideline, Treatment of stage I–III periodontitis (2020), Section 5; R1.1; R2.1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7891343/

06A confirmed periodontitis case has greatest interdental CAL of 2 mm, less than 15% radiographic bone loss, maximum probing depth 4 mm and no tooth loss. Bone loss is horizontal, and there are no factors that increase complexity. Which stage fits?

Practice question Unit: Periodontics

  1. AStage II

    Stage II severity begins at 3–4 mm interdental CAL.

  2. BStage III

    No stage III severity or complexity criterion is provided.

  3. CStage IV

    No extensive tooth loss or stage IV rehabilitation complexity is present.

  4. DStage I ✓ Correct answer

    The worst-site CAL and bone loss meet stage I criteria, without upgrading factors.

Reference: Staging and Grading Periodontitis, p.1, staging. https://www.perio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Staging-and-Grading-Periodontitis.pdf

07A conscious, cooperative adolescent has just lost a permanent incisor in a sports injury. A teacher finds the tooth on the ground. How should the tooth be picked up to limit further periodontal damage?

Practice question Unit: Endodontics

  1. AHold the crown and avoid touching the root ✓ Correct answer

    Handling the crown helps protect periodontal ligament cells on the root surface.

  2. BScrape the root before lifting the tooth

    Scraping adds mechanical damage and is not the recommended first aid.

  3. CGrip the root firmly with a tissue

    Root handling can damage the cells that are important for periodontal healing.

  4. DHold the root with forceps to avoid the crown

    Forceps on the root can injure the periodontal surface; the crown is the preferred handling site.

Reference: IADT (2020), Avulsion of Permanent Teeth, section 2, first aid, item 2. https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/e_avulsion.pdf

08A dentist records only “symptomatic apical periodontitis” after examining a painful tooth. Which additional diagnostic category is needed for a complete conventional endodontic diagnosis?

Practice question Unit: Endodontics

  1. AThe patient’s preferred toothpaste

    Toothpaste preference is not a pulpal or apical diagnosis.

  2. BThe brand of the existing restoration

    Restoration details may inform evaluation but are not the missing diagnostic category.

  3. CThe planned appointment duration

    Appointment duration does not complete the diagnosis.

  4. DA diagnosis of the pulpal status ✓ Correct answer

    A complete endodontic assessment describes both pulpal and apical status.

Reference: AAE Endodontic Diagnosis (2013), diagnostic terminology only; p.2, examination and diagnostic principles. https://www.aae.org/specialty/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Fall2013-EndoDiagnosis.pdf

09A 6-year-old has deep caries in a restorable primary molar. Pain occurs briefly with cold and stops after the stimulus. There is no swelling, sinus tract, pathologic mobility, or radiographic root pathology. A dentin barrier remains. Which approach best reduces the risk of exposing the pulp during treatment?

Practice question Unit: Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry

  1. AIntentional pulp exposure before placing a liner

    Exposure is not a required step in indirect pulp treatment; avoiding it is a central objective.

  2. BComplete excavation to hard dentin over the pulp

    Complete excavation increases the chance of exposing the pulp and is not preferred for this presentation.

  3. CPulpectomy regardless of the pulpal findings

    There is no evidence of necrosis or radicular disease to justify removing all pulp tissue.

  4. DSelective caries removal with indirect pulp treatment ✓ Correct answer

    Selective removal preserves the deepest dentin to avoid exposure in a tooth consistent with normal pulp or reversible pulpitis.

Reference: AAPD, Use of Vital Pulp Therapies in Primary Teeth 2024; Table 3, recommendations 8a–8b (journal p.18). https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_guidelines/g_vpt-2024.pdf

10A patient with a prosthetic aortic valve needs subgingival scaling. There is no antibiotic allergy. Which preventive approach is appropriate?

Practice question Unit: Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery

  1. AProvide indicated infective endocarditis prophylaxis ✓ Correct answer

    A prosthetic valve is a highest-risk cardiac condition, and subgingival scaling manipulates gingival tissue.

  2. BOmit prophylaxis because no mucosal incision is planned

    Gingival manipulation itself qualifies in a high-risk cardiac patient.

  3. CProvide prophylaxis only if valve implantation was within six months

    The prosthetic-valve indication is not limited to the first six months.

  4. DReserve prophylaxis for extractions rather than scaling

    Subgingival scaling also manipulates gingival tissues.

Reference: ADA, Patient Selection; Dental Procedures. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/antibiotic-prophylaxis

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