Cavity Prep
Class II Amalgam Preparations
Outline, depth, axial & pulpal wall form, proximal box design, margins — molars & premolars.
Live on Zoom · Flexible Cohort
Mastering Bench Test Preparation with Dr. Kaur
A flexible, faculty-led course built around U.S. bench-test grading reality — every session targets preparations only, taught with live demos and individualised feedback, so you walk into your exam prepared, calm, and confident.
Preparations only
Bench-test-aligned, no restorative steps.
Live demos + feedback
Dr. Kaur walks you through every step.
Flexible pacing
Take extra practice days when you need them.
Competency cert
Earn it by clearing the exit exam.
Course Overview
Built around how dental schools actually grade bench tests
The course mirrors the realities of U.S. bench-test evaluation — while supporting your individual learning pace with structured flexibility.
01 · Focus
Exclusive focus on preparations
Every session targets the exact hand skills programs evaluate — no restorative steps, only precision preparation criteria.
02 · Pacing
Flexible scheduling with support
Clear sequence, fully flexible pacing. Need an extra practice day between sessions? Completely supported.
03 · Demos
Step-by-step live demonstrations
Dr. Kaur demonstrates the full sequence; you perform the prep and receive individualised, practical feedback.
04 · Outcome
Outcome-focused competency pathway
A dedicated practice-and-evaluation week, followed by a competency exam aligned to real bench-test standards.
All study materials are provided. Students arrange their own armamentarium (instruments and supplies).
DK
Your Instructor
Dr. Kaur — Faculty, The Study Boards
Dr. Kaur is a highly skilled faculty member at The Study Boards, bringing extensive bench-exam expertise guiding international dentists into U.S. dental schools. Her approach: each program grades differently — true confidence comes from structured learning + deliberate practice.
U.S. Bench-Test SpecialistFaculty · The Study BoardsLive Zoom Instruction
Mentored alongside Dr. Stevenson · Dr. Trehan · Dr. Duggan
What You Will Learn
A curated sequence — foundational to advanced fixed preparations
Each unit is taught in a bench-test practical format: outline, depth, finish-line, taper, and grading criteria.
Esthetic Prep
Class II & III Composite Preparations
Axial depth, bevel rationale, contact management, proximal & gingival clearance, exit angles.
Fixed Prosth
Full Gold Crown Preparation
Functional cusp bevels, occlusal reduction, taper, axial wall height, finish lines, path of insertion.
Fixed Prosth
PFM Crown Preparation
Metal-ceramic design, shoulder-chamfer transitions, porcelain support, taper.
Fixed Prosth
All-Ceramic Crown Preparation
Material-specific reduction, internal line angles, finish-line selection, fracture prevention.
Fixed Prosth
Bridge Preparation
Abutment alignment, path of insertion, parallelism strategy.
Course Structure
Day-by-day, with room to breathe
Each day includes live demonstration, guided execution, and realistic bench-test coaching. Add practice breaks anytime.
Day 1
Mandibular Molar — Class II Amalgam
Live Demo & Guided PracticeOutline form, depth control, proximal box design, and grading checklist.
Practice GuidanceRefine walls, box form, and proximal integrity.
Day 2
Maxillary Molar — Class II Amalgam
Live Demo & Guided PracticeOcclusal anatomy considerations, box extension strategy, common rejection errors.
Practice GuidanceMarginal precision, wall integrity, controlled divergence.
Day 3
Premolar — Class II Amalgam
Live Demo & Guided PracticeDovetail principles, contact preservation, proximal refinement.
Practice GuidanceSmooth walls, precise outline, predictable proximal box form.
Day 4
Full Gold Crown Preparation
Live Demo & Guided PracticeOcclusal reduction sequence, functional cusp bevels, taper, finish-line continuity.
Practice GuidanceTaper control, line-angle smoothness, occlusal reduction accuracy.
Day 5
PFM Crown Preparation
Live Demo & Guided PracticePorcelain support, shoulder-chamfer transitions, thickness planning, margin execution.
Practice GuidanceConsistent facial reduction, margin clarity, ideal taper.
Day 6
All-Ceramic Crown Preparation
Live Demo & Guided PracticeMaterial-specific reduction, rounded internal angles, margin design for fracture resistance.
Practice GuidanceUniform reduction, smooth internal geometry, clean finish lines.
Day 7
Bridge + Class II/III Composite
Live Demo & Guided PracticeParallelism strategy, composite prep overview, amalgam vs. composite Class II differences.
Practice GuidancePath of insertion, parallelism, ideal composite preparation.
Flexible pacing: students may take additional practice days between sessions. The goal isn’t completion — it’s confidence, consistency, and bench-test readiness.
After the Course
One week of unlimited evaluations + competency exam
A dedicated week to convert learning into performance — then a competency exam designed to reflect real bench-test standards.
One Full Week of Practice
After live demonstrations conclude, you receive one full week dedicated to independent practice — refining speed, accuracy, and confidence.
Unlimited Evaluations
During this one-week period there is no limit to how many preparations you can submit for evaluation.
Competency Examination
End of week: a competency exam simulating real bench-test expectations — reinforcing prep quality under realistic conditions.
Certificates & Continued Support
Clear the exam to receive a Competency Certificate + Participation Certificate. Additional evaluations available for an extra fee.
Interactive
Is this course right for you?
Pick the line closest to your situation and see how the course handles it.
Choose the line that fits you.
Start at day one
The sequence was built for exactly this
Days 1 to 3 are Class II amalgam preparations, where outline form, depth control, proximal box design and smooth walls are built. The crown days assume those, and candidates who skip them struggle later.
Pacing is flexible, so you take extra practice days between sessions until the preparation comes out the same way twice.
This is a feedback problem
Inconsistency is nearly always an unseen fault
A result that changes week to week is usually being produced by chance rather than method: a reference point that moves, an angle that drifts, a margin finished differently each time.
Every preparation you submit comes back marked, so you find out which step is the variable one instead of guessing.
Day seven, and it is its own skill
Abutment alignment and path of insertion
A bridge is not two crowns. The common failure is going too parallel while chasing a result that looks perfect, and that fails as surely as over-taper.
Day 7 covers the bridge, plus Class II and Class III composite and how they differ from amalgam.
Tell us your date first
The pacing can be compressed around it
The sequence stays the same, but the plan narrows: only the preparations your school has actually set, and every session rehearsed under time.
Message the Admin Team with your interview date and the exercises on your invitation and we will tell you honestly whether the runway works.
Read this before you enrol
Those are not taught here
This course is preparations only. We do not teach wax-ups, wax carving or temporary crown fabrication, and we would rather say so than have you find out later.
The preparations are still the bulk of what most schools grade. Plan separate practice for anything else your programme sets, and for the USC onlay there is a separate add-on.
How the course runs
Three phases, start to finish
Seven live days, then a practice week with unlimited evaluations, then the competency exam.
1A live demonstration of the full sequence before you cut anything.
2Your own guided attempt at the same preparation.
3Individual feedback against the criteria programmes grade on.
4Practice guidance to work on before the next session.
5Extra practice days between sessions whenever you need them.
6A revision and doubt-clearing session at the end if the group needs one.
1A dedicated week after the live sessions, for practice only.
2No limit on how many preparations you submit for evaluation in that week.
3Photographs of your preparations reviewed by US-licensed faculty.
4Feedback aimed at consistency now, not at first attempts.
1A competency exam built to bench test standards.
2A Participation Certificate for every student.
3A Competency Certificate for everyone who clears the exam.
4Further evaluations available afterwards for an additional charge.
Want it all written out? Read the bench test course blueprint, or the self-study plan in how to prepare for the dental bench test. Still unsure? Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp and our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.
FAQ
Key details at a glance
Is the course focused only on preparations?
Yes. This course covers preparations only — no restorative steps — aligning with bench-test evaluation priorities.
Is the schedule rigid?
No. The course follows a structured sequence but is flexible. Take a break or extra practice days as needed.
What do I need to bring?
Study materials and checklists are provided. You supply your own armamentarium — handpieces, burs, typodont, mounted teeth, and mounting pole.
Is there a limit on evaluations after the course?
During the one-week post-course practice period there is no limit on the number of preparations you may submit for evaluation.
Do I receive a certificate?
Yes. Students receive a Participation Certificate. Those who clear the competency exam also receive a Competency Certificate.
Can I request additional evaluations after the course ends?
Yes. After the course concludes, you may request further preparation evaluations for an additional charge.
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Ready to build bench-test-ready hand skills?
Train under a structured sequence with supportive flexibility — and a clear competency pathway built to match real program grading.
Curriculum
- 7 Sections
- 6 Lessons
- 7 Days
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Day 1 - Mandibular Molar, Class II AmalgamLesson 13
- Day 2 - Maxillary Molar, Class II Amalgam2
- Day 3 - Premolar, Class II AmalgamLesson1
- Day 4 - Full Gold Crown Preparation0
- Day 5 - PFM Crown Preparation0
- Day 6 - All-Ceramic Crown Preparation0
- Day 7 - Bridge, plus Class II and III Composite0
