Jobins Training · Free OET Practice
Dentistry: practise your professional communication.
One full Writing task and one paired Speaking role play, with models, reasoning and a second attempt.
No registrationOriginal practiceModels explainedWriting · Full-length task
Persistent symptoms after root-canal treatment
Attempt the task before opening the model. Use the five-minute reading period to study the notes and task without writing or marking them; write your letter during the following 40 minutes.
Jobins Training · Original OET practice
- WRITING SUB-TEST:
- DENTISTRY
- TIME ALLOWED:
- READING TIME: 5 MINUTES
WRITING TIME: 40 MINUTES
Read the case notes and complete the writing task below.
Notes:
Assume that today’s date is 6 November 2026.
Ms Leah Benton, aged 39, attends the dental practice where you are her general dental practitioner.
- Practice:
- Orchard Dental Practice, 12 Orchard Road, Westbridge
PATIENT DETAILS:
- Name:
- Leah Benton (Ms)
- Date of birth:
- 27 May 1987 (39 years)
- Residence:
- 31 Orchard Lane, Westbridge
- Occupation:
- Primary-school administrator
- Dental attendance:
- Six-monthly; appointments after 3.30 pm preferred
- Affected tooth:
- 26 – upper-left first molar (FDI notation)
- Root-canal completion:
- 28 Aug 2026
- Current review:
- 06 Nov 2026
Medical history:
Generally well; no regular medication.
No known drug allergies.
Non-smoker; alcohol approx. three units/week.
No relevant family medical history recorded.
Dental and social background:
Tooth 26: large mesio-occlusal composite, placed 2018.
Restoration replaced 2022.
Tooth 36: crown 2020; asymptomatic.
Oral hygiene satisfactory.
No previous specialist endodontic referral.
No admission for facial swelling.
Anxious about injections; explanations helpful.
Prefers tooth retention where feasible.
Understands retention cannot be guaranteed.
Presentation – 14 Aug 2026:
Spontaneous ache from 26 for five days.
Prolonged cold sensitivity; sleep disturbed.
No fever, facial swelling or trismus.
No swallowing difficulty.
Deep recurrent caries beneath restoration.
Tooth 26 tender to percussion.
Periapical radiograph: deep restoration; no obvious fracture.
Assessment: symptomatic irreversible pulpitis; apical tenderness.
Initial treatment:
Options explained: root-canal treatment or extraction.
Patient chose tooth preservation.
Access/initial treatment under local anaesthesia.
Temporary seal placed.
Post-treatment advice supplied.
Return for swelling, fever or worsening pain.
Treatment completion – 28 Aug 2026:
Symptoms substantially improved.
No swelling or sinus.
Three canals located and obturated.
Definitive coronal restoration placed.
Cuspal coverage discussed for later review.
Postoperative radiograph retained.
No antibiotic prescribed.
Progress – 16 Oct 2026:
Intermittent chewing discomfort for approx. two weeks.
Avoiding left side temporarily.
No constant pain or systemic symptoms.
Restoration intact; minor occlusal interference.
Occlusion adjusted; review arranged.
Mild percussion tenderness; no mobility.
Probing depths 2-3 mm.
Return sooner if symptoms worsen.
Current examination – 06 Nov 2026:
Chewing discomfort persists despite adjustment.
Tooth 26 remains tender to percussion.
Adjacent teeth asymptomatic; sensibility responses present.
Radiograph: apical radiolucency, mesiobuccal root.
No visible fracture or isolated deep pocket.
No facial swelling or draining sinus.
Assessment and referral plan:
Persistent apical disease suspected.
Possible untreated anatomy; cause unconfirmed.
Specialist assessment before extraction preferred.
Possible retreatment costs accepted by patient.
Referral agreed; deterioration advice repeated.
Preoperative, postoperative and latest radiographs enclosed.
Cuspal coverage deferred pending specialist opinion.
Writing Task:
Using the case notes, write a referral letter to Dr Victor Lau, Endodontist, Westbridge Specialist Dental Centre, 6 Elm Street, Westbridge. Request assessment of tooth 26 and advice on further treatment for Ms Benton.
In your answer:
- Develop the relevant notes into complete sentences.
- Write in paragraphs rather than note form.
- Use an appropriate letter layout.
The body of your letter should be approximately 180–200 words.
After your attempt: identify the recipient, the purpose, three essential facts and two details you deliberately left out. Then compare your decisions below.
Reveal the model letter
6 November 2026
Dr Victor Lau
Endodontist
Westbridge Specialist Dental Centre
6 Elm Street
Westbridge
Dear Dr Lau,
Re: Ms Leah Benton | DOB: 27 May 1987
Please assess tooth 26 in Ms Benton, who has persistent chewing discomfort following root-canal treatment. She wishes to retain the tooth if possible and would appreciate advice about retreatment before considering extraction.
In August, recurrent caries beneath a large restoration caused spontaneous pain, prolonged cold sensitivity and percussion tenderness. Root-canal treatment was completed on 28 August, with three canals located and obturated. A definitive coronal restoration was placed, and symptoms initially improved. Cuspal coverage was discussed but has not been provided.
Intermittent chewing discomfort developed in October. A minor occlusal interference was adjusted, but discomfort persisted. Today, tooth 26 remains tender to percussion, and the latest radiograph shows an apical radiolucency at the mesiobuccal root. There is no swelling, sinus or isolated deep periodontal pocket. Adjacent teeth are asymptomatic and respond to sensibility tests.
Persistent apical disease is suspected, possibly involving untreated anatomy; the cause remains uncertain. Ms Benton is generally well, takes no regular medication and has no known drug allergies. The relevant radiographs are enclosed. She accepts possible retreatment costs and understands that retention is not guaranteed. Further cuspal coverage has been deferred pending your opinion, and deterioration advice reinforced.
Yours sincerely,
General Dental Practitioner
Model body: 192 words using a space-separated editorial count. This is one possible response; it is not an officially scored letter or a sentence template to memorise.
Why these details were selected
What the reader needs
- Correct tooth and notation, treatment date and initial response.
- Persistent symptoms after occlusal adjustment and current clinical/radiographic findings.
- Uncertain cause, assessment request, patient preference and enclosed images.
What can be omitted or condensed
- The unrelated crown, alcohol intake and appointment preference are lower priorities in this clinical referral.
- Condense routine procedural details; preserve the number of canals as it relates to possible untreated anatomy.
Accuracy traps
- Do not claim a missed canal or fracture has been proven.
- A radiolucency is not evidence that antibiotics are automatically required.
- Do not change tooth 26 into a lower molar or say a crown is already fitted.
Accuracy repair: a fresh exercise
A draft says: A missed canal has been confirmed as the cause of the symptoms.
Correct it using the case notes before opening the answer.
Check the repaired sentence
Persistent apical disease is suspected, possibly involving untreated anatomy; the cause remains unconfirmed.
The correction preserves what is known, what has happened and what remains outstanding. Compare the changed words with the relevant dated note.
Review the six Writing criteria
| Criterion | Use it to review your attempt |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Can the reader identify the action or explanation needed from the opening? |
| Content | Are essential facts accurate, including dates, status and remaining needs? |
| Conciseness and clarity | Have you selected and combined information without losing necessary meaning? |
| Genre and style | Does the wording suit this recipient’s role and knowledge? |
| Organisation and layout | Do paragraphs help the reader locate the problem, evidence and next step? |
| Language | Are grammar, vocabulary, spelling and sentence links clear and accurate? |
Choose one factual correction and one language improvement for a second draft. This checklist is for learning; it does not calculate an OET grade.
Speaking · One paired role play
Practise the professional conversation
Use 3 minutes to prepare the professional card, then about 5 minutes for the conversation. The candidate stays in the professional role. A partner plays the patient, parent or animal owner. This is one role play; the OET Speaking sub-test contains two.
Read only your own card before starting. The partner should open their card privately and reveal information in response to the conversation. These cards are a separate scenario from the Writing case.
Candidate card · Dentist
Setting: General dental clinic
You have examined Gemma, aged 37, who has a deeply decayed upper molar. Your assessment indicates that root-canal treatment or extraction should be discussed. There is no facial swelling, swallowing difficulty or systemic illness. She is anxious about treatment and asks whether antibiotics can solve the problem instead. You have explained that a specialist opinion is available if needed. Explore preferences and support informed choice; do not guarantee saving the tooth.
Tasks
- Find out what Gemma believes about the problem and the main reason she is reluctant to have treatment.
- Explain the problem inside the tooth and the broad purpose of root-canal treatment in accessible language.
- Discuss tooth-preserving treatment and extraction as options requiring individual assessment, including possible further appointments/restoration.
- Respond to the request for antibiotics: they do not replace treatment of the underlying dental problem; address pain-management questions within an agreed clinical plan.
- Check understanding, explore her preference and agree the next appointment or specialist discussion without pressuring her.
Partner card — Patient only
Role-player card · Patient
You are Gemma, 37. A relative described a painful dental treatment years ago, so you dread being awake. You want to keep the tooth but are worried about cost and time off work. You assume a strong antibiotic might avoid dental procedures.
- Say: “Can you just give me tablets?”
- If asked about fear, explain your relative’s story and fear of feeling pain.
- Ask whether root-canal treatment guarantees that the tooth will last for life.
- If options are explained, ask how many visits might be needed and whether costs can be clarified.
- Express a wish to preserve the tooth but ask for time to consider the information.
Respond naturally to what is asked. Do not give every detail at once or create an unrelated medical quiz. If the explanation is unclear, ask for clarification.
Review selected exchanges and explanations
These are selected teaching exchanges, not a full five-minute transcript. Compare how the response changes with the concern. Several different responses could work.
Patient: “Can you just give me tablets?”
Dentist: “You would prefer to avoid a procedure if possible. Could you tell me which part of treatment worries you most? Tablets do not remove the damaged or infected tissue inside the tooth, so we still need to discuss how to treat that problem.”
Why this helps: Explores the reason behind the request while clearly explaining the limitation of medication.
Patient: “Will I feel everything?”
Dentist: “We normally use local anaesthetic to numb the area. We would check that you are comfortable and agree a signal if you need us to pause. What has your previous experience of dental anaesthetic been?”
Why this helps: Offers a practical control strategy rather than an absolute promise of no discomfort.
Patient: “Will the tooth last forever?”
Dentist: “Keeping it is the aim, but I cannot promise that outcome. The assessment, treatment and final restoration all matter. We can explain the likely benefits, risks, visits and costs before you decide.”
Why this helps: Supports informed choice and keeps prognosis appropriately qualified.
Repeat with a changed response
Partner’s main concern becomes cost, not pain. Shift from repeated reassurance about anaesthetic to explaining how a written estimate and discussion of options can support the decision.
Keep your professional role, listen to the changed information and adapt the next step. Do not repeat a memorised answer when the situation has changed.
Review all nine Speaking criteria
| Criterion | Use it to review your attempt |
|---|---|
| Intelligibility | Can your partner follow your speech without repeated effort? |
| Fluency | Can you keep the exchange moving while allowing natural pauses? |
| Appropriateness of language | Does the register and explanation suit this person? |
| Resources of grammar and expression | Can you express time, uncertainty, reasons and choices accurately? |
| Relationship building | Do you show attention to the person’s particular concern? |
| Understanding and incorporating the patient’s perspective | Does the plan respond to their priorities and constraints? |
| Providing structure | Do you signal changes of topic and explain information in manageable stages? |
| Information gathering | Do you ask, listen and clarify rather than assume? |
| Information giving | Do you explain clearly and check what the person has understood? |
Ask your partner for one example of something clear and one moment that needed clarification. If you record yourself on your own device, review only with everyone’s agreement. The website does not record speech or generate an OET score.
Format and clinical background references
Exam format: OET test handbook. These original cases were written for language practice after reviewing official task formats. The following sources inform clinical plausibility; the fictional patient records are not copied from them.