PROS Candidate Study Guide 2023 EN

FELLOWSHIP EXAMINATION
CANDIDATE STUDY GUIDE

PROSTHODONTICS
Introduction
The intent of this guide is to provide the candidate with an understanding of the
format used for the Fellowship Examination in Prosthodontics.
The example questions are intended for candidates in Prosthodontics and are meant to
demonstrate the various styles of questions that may appear in the exam. The content
is meant for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as an example of
the difficulty level of the examination.
Fellowship Examination Format
The examination is a test of clinical decision-making. Specifically, the ability to assess,

treat, and understand probable outcomes. These questions are case based. A typical
clinical case protocol contains a hypothetical patient situation (a clinical vignette)
developed from actual cases and may include a patient history, radiographs, and/or
clinical photographs. The candidate is then questioned on how he/she will manage the
patient, emphasis is placed on patient care decisions, as if the candidate was caring for
the patient.
As part of their preparation, it is also highly recommended that candidates gain as

much experience as possible working through case-based oral examination questions.
While preparing for the Fellowship Examination it is also helpful to have colleagues
and/or mentors present the candidate with clinical cases using the aforementioned
format. It is better still if the candidate is provided cases that they have never seen
before or are unfamiliar with.
© 2023 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Page 1

Here is a general description of a clinical case protocol; this is followed by a number of
sample questions. Once again it should be stressed that the content used in these
sample questions are used for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as
an example of the level of difficulty or content of the examination questions.
Clinical Case Protocol
A typical case would start with a clinical vignette that could include some or all of these
elements:
Age and gender of the patient

Chief complaint
History of the chief complaint
Health history
Dental history
Other information as needed
Initial radiographs and/or photographs
Once the clinical vignette has been presented, the candidate is then questioned on how
he/she will manage this clinical case. Additional clinical information, radiographs, and/or
photographs will be made available upon request or they may be provided automatically
to the candidate. An example of the sequencing of questions follows.
1) CASE ASSESSMENT, DATA GATHERING, ETIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS
In this section, some of the decision-making skills that may be assessed include:
Offer a final diagnosis

Systematically identify the existing problems
Use appropriate additional diagnostic modalities to aid in the diagnosis
Demonstrate a questioning strategy to investigate the chief complaint
Identify the etiology of the clinical problem
Develop a differential diagnosis if appropriate, and be able to discuss each of these
legitimate possibilities based on the information provided
Possible questions that may be asked include:
Describe what you see?

How would you investigate your patient’s chief complaint?
How would you manage the chief complaint?
What other information/test/image would you want to obtain for this patient?
How would you proceed?
What is your differential diagnosis?

What is your probable diagnosis?
How would you manage the chief compliant?
2) TREATMENT PLAN, THERAPY AND PROGNOSIS
Develop a treatment plan or management strategy for this clinical case

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed treatment plan
Discuss the prognosis for the proposed treatment
Discuss the management of the case if key clinical information was modified such as
a different chief complaint or medical history
You now see these radiographs/photographs/clinical tests, how would you proceed?
What would be your treatment plan for this patient?
What would be the short and long-term prognosis?
How would you explain the treatment plan to the patient?
Describe the therapy most beneficial to the patient; indicate why you feel this is the
best therapy?
The patient questions you about prognosis, how would you respond?
Once you have completed the first phase of treatment, what would you do next?
The patient presents with a different medical history, for example asthma, how would
you modify the treatment plan?
If the patient becomes uncooperative with your treatment, what would you do next?
3) THERAPEUTIC RESULTS, COMPLICATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Management of the case following the completion of initial treatment

Development of a plan to assess the outcomes of treatment
Prevention of future complications and reoccurrence of disease
Identify and treat possible future complications
Discuss the long-term plan for this patient
Discuss alternative treatments when the patient demonstrates poor compliance
What would be your criteria for successful treatment of this patient?

How would you follow this patient long-term?
Would you see this patient again? when? and how often?
Now that treatment is completed, would you have any concerns?
Is additional treatment indicated in the future?

What are the possible complications for this patient?
What signs and symptoms would you expect?
How would you treat this complication?
If the patient did not respond to treatment, what would be your next step?
What maintenance procedures would you provide for this patient?
Sample Case
A 33-year-old healthy female presents to your clinic with a chief complaint of not liking
the appearance of her smile.
a. What causes could be responsible for this patient’s complaint?
b. What is your presumptive diagnosis?
c. What do you tell her regarding what you can do to address her chief complaint?
Would you offer more than one treatment option? If so, what treatment and why?
d. Upon reflection of a full thickness flap you observe the following features of the
underlying bone (clinical image provided). Describe what you see and whether you
would modify your treatment plan?
e. During the surgical procedure you experience difficulties with ........................ How
would you address this complication?
f. Three days post-surgery your patient phones your office complaining of

………………… What do you tell this patient? What would you do about this
problem?
You see the patient at one week for the first scheduled post-operative checkup.
What instructions do you provide to this patient? What do you tell her about the
time to achieve surgical healing, before she can be referred to her dentist for
restorative treatment?

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FELLOWSHIP EXAMINATION

CANDIDATE STUDY GUIDE

Fellowship Examination Format

The examination is a test of clinical decision-making. Specifically, the ability to assess,

As part of their preparation, it is also highly recommended that candidates gain as

© 2023 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Page 1

Clinical Case Protocol

Age and gender of the patient

1) CASE ASSESSMENT, DATA GATHERING, ETIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS

Offer a final diagnosis

Possible questions that may be asked include:

Describe what you see?

© 2023 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Page 2

2) TREATMENT PLAN, THERAPY AND PROGNOSIS

Develop a treatment plan or management strategy for this clinical case

Possible questions that may be asked include:

3) THERAPEUTIC RESULTS, COMPLICATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Management of the case following the completion of initial treatment

Possible questions that may be asked include:

What would be your criteria for successful treatment of this patient?

© 2023 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Page 3

a. What causes could be responsible for this patient’s complaint?

b. What is your presumptive diagnosis?

f. Three days post-surgery your patient phones your office complaining of

© 2023 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Page 4

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