The task
Assume that today's date is 12 November 2026. Mr Celik was seen as an emergency at your clinic this morning.
You are a dentist at a public emergency dental clinic. Mr Celik is temporarily working in your area. Using the information in the case notes, write a letter to his regular dentist, Dr Lindiwe Khoury, updating her on today's emergency treatment and requesting a full periodontal assessment and ongoing management. Address the letter to Dr Lindiwe Khoury, General Dental Practitioner, Family Dental Practice, 22 Market Street. In your answer: expand the relevant notes into complete sentences; do not use note form; use letter format. The body of the letter should be approximately 180–200 words.
Length: the body of the letter should be about 180–200 words. You have 45 minutes in the test: 5 minutes to read, 40 to write. Letter type: Update letter.
Case notes
Patient details
- Name: Mr Emre Celik
- DOB: 03/05/1979 (47 yrs)
- Home address: 8 Elm Grove
- Seen: 12/11/26, walk-in emergency appt
Social background
- Electrician; working away from home on 6/52 contract → returns home 20/11/26
- Smoker 15/day × 25 yrs
- Enjoys fishing at weekends
- States regular dentist 'charges too much' — reason for missing recalls
- Last dental visit approx. 2 yrs ago
Medical history
- Type 2 diabetes dx 2019; poorly controlled — HbA1c 9.6% (GP, 08/26)
- Meds: metformin 1 g BD, gliclazide MR mane
- Hypertension — ramipril daily
- Appendicectomy 2004
- Allergies: NKDA
Presenting complaint
- 3/7 ↑ pain & swelling lower R posterior; bad taste
- Feverish, unwell since yesterday; eating ↓
- Complained to reception about 2 hr wait
Examination
- T 38.1°C; R submandibular lymph nodes enlarged, tender
- No trismus; swallowing & breathing normal; no spreading facial swelling
- Localised fluctuant swelling buccal gingiva 46; pus on probing
- 46: PD 8 mm distobuccal; mobility grade I; normal response to cold (vital); no caries
- Generalised plaque & subgingival calculus; widespread BOP; PD 5–7 mm at several posterior sites
- PA radiograph 46: vertical bone loss distal root (approx. ½ root length); no periapical radiolucency
- Random BGL 13.8 mmol/L (own meter)
- Crown 36 (placed by regular dentist 2023) intact
Treatment
- Dx: periodontal abscess 46 with systemic signs
- LA; drained via pocket; gentle debridement & irrigation of 46 pocket
- Amoxicillin 500 mg TDS 5/7 (systemic involvement)
- Chlorhexidine 0.2% mouthrinse BD 1/52; paracetamol PRN; warm salt-water rinses
- OHI given; smoking cessation advised — Quitline info provided
Plan
- Advised: seek urgent medical care if swelling spreads, difficulty swallowing/breathing or ↑ fever
- Review here 15/11 (before return home)
- Advised to see GP re diabetes control
- Letter to regular dentist: full periodontal assessment, non-surgical periodontal therapy, assess prognosis 46, regular recalls
Who is reading, and what do they need?
Dr Khoury is Mr Celik's regular dentist and has not seen today's presentation. She needs to know what happened, what was done, what he was prescribed and what is expected of her. She knows the practice setting, so the letter should be concise and focus on findings that guide ongoing periodontal care.
What to include
Selection is the skill the Content and Conciseness criteria reward. These notes earn their place:
| Case note | Why it belongs |
|---|---|
| 3/7 pain and swelling lower right posterior; feverish, unwell since yesterday | Gives the presentation and shows why this was an emergency visit with systemic involvement. |
| T 38.1°C; right submandibular nodes tender; no trismus, swallowing or breathing normal | Systemic signs and the absence of airway or spreading features justify the treatment chosen and show severity. |
| Fluctuant swelling 46, pus on probing, PD 8 mm, mobility grade I, vital | Key local findings for the tooth she will need to assess for prognosis. |
| Radiograph 46: vertical bone loss distal root, about half root length; no periapical radiolucency | Supports the periodontal origin of the abscess and informs her prognosis assessment. |
| Generalised plaque, subgingival calculus, widespread BOP, PD 5–7 mm posteriorly | Basis for the request for full periodontal assessment and non-surgical therapy. |
| Drainage via pocket, debridement, irrigation; amoxicillin 500 mg TDS 5/7; chlorhexidine 0.2% BD 1/52 | She needs to know exactly what was done and prescribed, with the stated reason for the antibiotic (systemic involvement). |
| HbA1c 9.6% (GP, 08/26); random BGL 13.8 mmol/L own meter; smoker 15/day × 25 years | Diabetes control and smoking are relevant to periodontal management; give the source of each value and the advice given (GP review, Quitline). |
| Review here 15/11; returns home 20/11; requests: full assessment, non-surgical therapy, prognosis 46, recalls | Tells her the timing of his return and exactly what is being asked of her. |
What to leave out or compress
| Case note | Why it goes |
|---|---|
| Regular dentist 'charges too much' as reason for missed recalls | Trap: it explains missed recalls but is a criticism of the recipient's fees. Note only the last visit about 2 years ago if needed. |
| Complained about 2 hr wait | An administrative complaint at the emergency clinic, irrelevant to her ongoing care. |
| Fishing; electrician; appendicectomy 2004 | No bearing on periodontal management. |
| Crown 36 intact (placed 2023) | A normal finding unrelated to the abscess; at most a very brief mention, not needed for the requests. |
| Patient's red-flag advice (swelling spreads, difficulty swallowing/breathing, or increased fever) | Given to the patient, not needed by his dentist; if mentioned, state all three items in the notes, never a partial set. |
| Medication list: metformin, gliclazide MR, ramipril | Compress or omit individual drug detail; the poorly controlled diabetes and HbA1c matter more to her. NKDA can be stated briefly. |
A paragraph plan for this case
Begin with why he attended today and the diagnosis, then give examination findings and treatment in the second paragraph. Use the third for diabetes and smoking, his temporary location and review/return dates, and the specific requests.
Where candidates slip on this task
- Do not state that diabetes or smoking caused the abscess; the notes record them as findings and risk factors. Report HbA1c as GP-measured in 08/26 and the BGL as a random reading on his own meter.
- Make the request explicit and complete: full periodontal assessment, non-surgical periodontal therapy, prognosis of 46 and regular recalls. Missing one leaves the ongoing plan unclear.
- Give dates precisely: seen today 12 November, review at the emergency clinic 15/11, return home 20/11. State the antibiotic as amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily for 5 days.
No model letter is published here. Write for the named reader from the case notes in the timed editor, then get it marked.
Write it in the timed editor and get marked on the 6 criteria
More Dentistry letter tasks
- Orthodontic assessment for increased overjet referral letter
- Persistent white patch on the tongue referral letter
- Impacted lower wisdom tooth in a patient on warfarin referral letter
Your profession's guide: OET Dentistry. Layout and structure: OET letter format.
Questions about this task
Should the letter mention why he missed recalls?
Leave out his comment about fees. It is a criticism of the reader and not needed for clinical care. You can still ask for regular recalls, and may mention that his last dental visit was about two years ago.
How should I handle the diabetes information?
State what is on the notes with its source: HbA1c 9.6% from the GP in 08/26, a random BGL from his own meter, and the advice to see his GP. Do not interpret beyond that or imply cause.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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