Following the recent launch of a portfolio-based route to Associate Fellowship and the Clinical & Technical domain of Fellowship, the College has published detailed requirements for portfolio submissions in Restorative Dentistry.
To be eligible to submit a portfolio for assessment, applicants must have at least five years’ post-qualification experience in Restorative Dentistry, and must hold Associate Membership or Full Membership of the College at the time of application. Non-members should first join the College and should allow up to two weeks for their membership application to be validated and processed.
They will then need to submit:
- A log of training meeting the requirements below.
- Six cases meeting the specifications below.
- A comprehensive CV detailing at least five years’ post-qualification experience in roles with the appropriate responsibilities and clinical environment to meet the expected standard of patient care.
Training requirements
Applicants must have:
- Completed 165 hours of verifiable training consistent with RQF Level 7, set out in a training log which details the hours and attaches the evidence for each of the required topics below, or
- Completed an accredited postgraduate qualification of at least 60 RQF credits for which the transcript demonstrates coverage of the required topics below, or
- Successfully completed a recognised Royal College Diploma examination
Applicants submitting evidence of training undertaken before 2010 must also provide evidence of at least 50 hours of Enhanced CPD relevant to restorative dentistry undertaken in the last 5 years.
Required topics:
- Patient assessment, history and treatment planning and communication
- Principles and application of occlusion
- Smile design
- Tooth whitening
- Anterior direct restorations
- Posterior direct restorations
- Clinical photography
- Anterior direct restorations
- Posterior direct restorations
- Indirect restorations – crowns, onlays and ceramic veneers
- Management of tooth surface loss
- Replacement of missing teeth
- Endodontics
- Periodontics
- Contemporary caries management
Case specifications
Applicants must present a total of six anonymised cases, all undertaken within the past five years. The first three must demonstrate, respectively, endodontic, periodontic and prosthodontic management. The remaining cases can be in any of these three disciplines, however no more than half of the total number of cases may be submitted from any one discipline.
Endodontic cases must demonstrate at least one of the following:
- a multirooted tooth with root curvatures 30 – 45 degrees
- a tooth with canals deemed non-negotiable in the coronal third, but patent thereafter, as evidenced clinically and radiographically
- a multirooted tooth with a canal length exceeding 25 mm
- a tooth with incomplete root development
- re-treatment of a previously treated tooth, with evidence of patency beyond an existing short root filling, provided there are no complicating factors from earlier treatment
- removal of a fractured post (less than 8 mm in length)
Periodontic cases must demonstrate one of the following:
- Treatment of generalised stage II, III or IV periodontitis that has true pocketing of 6 mm or more showing BOP <10% and PPD < 4mm at 1 year after treatment
- Management of gingival enlargement non-surgically with a minimum of 1 year post operative review: showing BOP <10% and PPD < 4mm at 1 year after treatment
- Management of a peri implant mucositis case with a minimum of one-year postoperative review showing ≤ 1 point of BOP and absence of suppuration
- Management of furcation defects and other complex root morphologies when strategically important (in more than one sextant) showing stability at 1 year after treatment e.g. <10% BOP and PPD <4mm at a 1 year post operative review
- Periodontal treatment that includes pocket reduction surgery in more than 1 sextant
Prosthodontic cases must demonstrate one of the following:
- Occlusal reorganisation is necessary, and medium-term stability is achieved through plastic restorations, removable appliances, or both
- Occlusion requires careful management to avoid premature failure of restorations (e.g., guidance for multiple restorations)
- Replacement and temporisation of multiple fixed restorations, where oral condition stability/control may be at risk
- Addressing anatomical challenges related to soft tissues
- Compromised health of denture-bearing soft tissue
- Raised or critical aesthetic or functional expectations/needs
- Definitive replacement of at least three teeth involving pre-prosthetic procedures, such as: (i) abutment optimisation (ii) minor oral surgery procedures (iii) occlusal adjustments
Consent
For each case, applicants must ensure that they have the consent of the patient for inclusion in their portfolio. The bespoke Patient Information Sheet and Patient Consent Form should be used to ensure informed participation.
Case format
Each case must adhere to the structure and content outlined in the Restorative Case Template
Application & assessment
To submit their application, applicants will need to upload their case presentations, CV and training log (or equivalent), and pay a non-refundable Assessment Fee of £600.
Assessment will be centred around the evidence submitted, with specific emphasis on the case selection, and will include a case-based discussion. This will be undertaken by a panel of two suitably qualified assessors with experience of assessment for Postgraduate Diploma qualifications.
A successful portfolio will qualify the applicant for Associate Fellowship of the College and in addition will satisfy the Clinical & Technical domain of Fellowship. The applicant will also be able to add their successful portfolio to the College’s Register of Members and Fellows as a recognised qualification. If an application is unsuccessful, the applicant may be able to request a review by a separate panel, for which an additional Review Fee of £200 would apply.
Portfolio specifications for Implant Dentistry and Orthodontics will be published in 2026.
