State of Kuwait
Ministry of Health
Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization
Kuwait
Dental
Licensing
Examination
(KDLE) Guide
Table of contents
Introduction
Objectives
Eligibility
Validity of the examination
Board of examiners
Format and content of the examination
Examination schedule
Results
Resit for the examination
Registration fees
Application procedure
Recommended textbooks for KDLE
Answer sheets for Papers 1 and 2
Appendix
Sample questions – Paper 1
– Biomedical sciences
Sample questions – Paper 2
– Dental and clinical sciences
Correct answers
Introduction
Most countries have laws and regulations governing the practice of dentistry. Although
licensing provisions vary among industrialized countries, requirements commonly include
successful completion of a licensing examination. To ensure minimal professional standards
for those who wish to practice dentistry in Kuwait, a licensing examination has been
established by the Ministry of Health, State of Kuwait.
Objectives
The objectives of the Kuwait Dental Licensing Examination (KDLE) are to:

Institute standardized methods of evaluating dental graduates from different dental
schools for the practice of dentistry in Kuwait.

Ensure that dentists have the required knowledge and understanding of biomedical
and clinical dental sciences to practice dentistry consistent with contemporary
standards of care.

Assure the public that dentists intending to practice in Kuwait are professionally
qualified.
Eligibility
The KDLE is a prerequisite for the practice of Dentistry in Kuwait.
All dental school
graduates who do not currently hold a license to practice in Kuwait are required to
successfully complete this examination for practice in the public or private sector. A dentist
who holds a professional dental degree conferred by a dental school recognized by the
Ministry of Higher Education, Kuwait (as listed in the most recent issue of the World
Directory of Dental Schools, published by the World Health Organization) is eligible to apply
for the KDLE.
Validity of the examination
The results of the KDLE are valid for five years subsequent to the date of passing the
examination. If a dentist has not practiced dentistry for more than five years after passing
this examination, successful completion of a new examination, under its current format, will
be required for licensure.
Board of examiners
The examination is set by the Board of Examiners who are members of the Faculty of
Dentistry of Kuwait University and the Ministry of Health.
Format and content of the examination
The KDLE is a one day written examination in English, composed of 200 multiple-choice
questions (MCQs) and is divided into two parts.
Part I: Biomedical Sciences (21/2 hours, morning session)
This part will contain 100 MCQs related to: Anatomical Sciences, Biochemistry, Physiology,
Microbiology, Pharmacology, Dental Anatomy, Occlusion, and General Pathology
Part II: Dental and Clinical Sciences (21/2 hours, afternoon session)
This part will contain 100 MCQs related to: Endodontics, Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine,
Oral Radiology, Oral Diagnosis, Operative Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pain
Control, Management of Emergencies, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Preventive Dentistry,
Public Health Dentistry, Prosthodontics, and Pediatric Dentistry.
Examination schedule
The KDLE is administered three times per year, generally in October, February and June.
The dates for the examination and deadlines for the application procedures are set by the
Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS).
Results
The results will be announced within 2 weeks of sitting for the KDLE.
The pass mark for the entire examination will be determined by the Board of Examiners.
Re-sit for the examination
There is no limit to the number of attempts at the KDLE.
Registration fees
The fee for the KDLE will be determined by the Ministry of Health. This fee must accompany
the Application Form. Any candidate who fails to appear for the examination will forfeit the
registration fee. The fee must be paid for each attempt at the examination. The fee may be
revised based on the costs of the examination.
Application procedures
Candidates must submit:

A completed application form

The full fee for the examination

A certified true copy of the candidate's diploma for the basic dental degree

Two passports size photos
Recommended Textbooks for KDLE
1. Ash MM. Wheeler's dental anatomy, physiology and occlusion. 7 th ed., Philadelphia:
Saunders, 1993.
2. Kidd EAM, Smith BGM. Pickard’s manual of operative dentistry. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1996.
3. Lindhe J, Karring T, Lang NP (eds.). Clinical periodontology and implant dentistry. 3 rd
ed., Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1997.
4. Mathewson RJ, Primosch RE. Fundamentals of pediatric dentistry. 3 rd ed., Illinois:
Quintessence, 1995.
5. McGivney GP, Carr AB. McCracken's removable partial prosthodontics. 10 th ed., St Louis:
Mosby, 1999.
6. Proffit WR,. Fields HW. Contemporary orthodontics. 2nd ed., St. Louis: Mosby, 1993.
7. Shillingburg HT, Hobo S, Whitsett CD, Jacobi R, Brackett SE. Fundamentals of fixed
prosthodontics. 3rd ed., Chicago: Quintessence, 1997.
8. Soames JV, Southam JC. Oral pathology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
9. Ten Cate AR. Oral histology: Development, structure and function. 5 th ed., St. Louis:
Mosby, 1998.
10. Walton RE, Torabinejad M. Principles and practice of endodontics. 2 nd ed., Philadelphia:
Saunders, 1995.
11. White SC, Pharoah MJ. Oral radiology–principles and interpretation. 4th ed., St. Louis:
Mosby, 2000.
12. Zarb GA, Carlsson GE, Bolender CL. Boucher's prosthodontic treatment for edentulous
patients. 11th ed., St Louis: Mosby, 1997.
Additional suggested sources include:
1. Anusavice KJ. Phillips' science of dental materials. 10th ed., Philadelphia: Saunders, 1996.
2. Murray JJ (ed.). Prevention of oral disease. 3rd ed., New York: Oxford University Press,
1996.
3. Peterson LJ, Hupp JR, Ellis E, Tucker MR. Contemporary oral and maxillofacial surgery.
3rd ed., St. Louis: Mosby, 1997.
4. Pine CM (ed.). Community oral health. Oxford: Wright/Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998.
5. Scully C, Cawson RA. Medical problems in dentistry. 4 th ed., Oxford: Wright, 1998.
6. Tyldesley WR, Field EA. Oral medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Appendix
Sample questions Part I – Biomedical Sciences
1. During repair, tissue that has undergone coagulation necrosis is removed primarily by:
autolysis.
foreign body giant cells
neutrophils.
macrophages.
eosinophils.
2. The secretory product of odontoblasts is:
topocollagen.
calcium salts.
mantle dentin.
hydroxyapatite.
All of the above.
3. The escapement spaces between teeth and the interdental spaces are called:
marginal ridges.
contact areas.
embrasures.
developmental grooves.
sulci.
4. Centric relation is:
the jaw position where the contacting surfaces of the teeth fit together.
the rotational center of a tooth.
A strained, unnatural jaw position.
the relationship of an opposing cusp in the central fossa of a tooth.
none of the above.
Sample questions Part II –
Dental and Clinical Sciences
1. Reduction in which of the following represents the most significant advantage of using an
acid-etch technique?
Microleakage
Setting shrinkage of the restorative material
Coefficient of thermal expansion of the restorative material
Reduced porosity of the restoration
2. In an edentulous patient, when the teeth of maxillary and mandibular complete dentures
are in contact coincidental with centric relation, the face height is called:
interocclusal distance.
physiologic rest position.
vertical dimension of occlusion.
free way space.
closest speaking space.
3. Which of the following drugs is often administered intravenously to treat life-threatening
ventricular arrythmias?
Quinidine
Lidocaine
Verapamil
Propranolol
Epinephrine
4. Papillary hyperplasia is MOST frequently found where?
Hard palate
Soft palate
Anterior labial gingiva
Lingual gingiva
Correct Answers
Part I – Biomedical Sciences
d
c
c
e
Part II – Dental and Clinical Sciences
a
c.
b.
a