What is a Dentistry MMI?
A Dental School MMI is a series of short, timed stations designed to assess your suitability for dentistry - covering motivation, ethics, communication, manual skills, and dental knowledge.
Each station lasts 5–8 minutes, with a brief prep period, and tests your ability to think clearly, demonstrate empathy, and communicate professionally.
Why do dental schools use MMIs?
Dental schools such as Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, King’s, Leeds, Manchester, and more - use MMIs to fairly evaluate candidates’ non-academic skills, reduce bias, and test essential attributes like ethical reasoning and manual dexterity.
Common Dentistry MMI question types?
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Motivation & Work Experience
“Why dentistry?” They’re looking for genuine passion and thoughtful reflection.
“Tell me about your dental experience.” Use vivid examples - how it informed your understanding of care and patient empathy.
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Ethical scenarios
Example: “Who should receive a limited dental implant resource?”
You must balance fairness, clinical need, and patient factors.
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Dental knowledge & policy
Expect questions on oral health topics like dental caries, implants, NHS banding, and water fluoridation
Discuss pros and cons - e.g., should implants be free under the NHS
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Manual dexterity tasks
Stations may involve hands-on tasks like string manipulation to mimic dental precision
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Communication & role-play
Practice role-plays with anxious patients or team members, showing empathy and professional language
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Hot topics & NHS awareness
Stay current on matters like NHS contracts, sugar tax, artificial intelligence, and social media's impact on dentistry.
How to structure your answers for MMI Questions in Dentistry?
Use a clear, structured approach:
Brief context: restate the scenario and clarify your understanding.
Key points: list two or three relevant factors or options.
Pros and cons: weigh each option (e.g., patient autonomy vs public health).
Decision & rationale: state your choice and underline your ethical reasoning.
Communication & empathy: show awareness of patient feelings and concerns
Get your Dentistry MMI Cheat Sheet!
Sign up now to access our Dentistry MMI Cheat Sheet, including:
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Common dentistry question themes + structured frameworks
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5 full station scenarios + model responses
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Expert tips for manual stations and hot topics
FAQs: How do I prepare for dental MMI?
Practice specific station types - motivation, ethics, manual tasks, and policy and use timed mocks, feedback, and structured answers referencing GDC principles.
What is an MMI in dentistry?
A circuit of short interview stations designed to evaluate core clinical and professional competencies essential for dentistry!
Does dentistry have MMI?
Yes - many UK dental schools, including King’s, Leeds, Cardiff, and Manchester, routinely use MMI stations in their admissions process.
How hard is an MMI interview?
Challenging yet fair - if you master the MMI format, practice under pressure, and prepare with structured frameworks, you’ll confidently perform your best!