Dental Degree is one of the top courses across the globe in the Medical Science field after MBBS. Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine that provides the theoretical as well as practical knowledge about the treatment of diseases and other conditions that affect the teeth and gums, especially the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones. This professional also has to perform computer and magnetic resonance imaging, implants, tissue grafts, trauma, and laser surgery.
Career in Dentistry is changing rapidly, creating many opportunities and challenges for job seekers. At present, there are 315 dental colleges in our country, so nearly 30000 graduates per year. With an increasing awareness of oral health and the introduction of new fields like oral pathology, periodontics, and orthodontics have all enhanced the scope in this field.
Dental Courses
Dental or Dentistry offers courses not only for the students seeking admission in the field of undergraduate but also for the students who want to pursue their careers of dental in postgraduate and doctoral degrees too. BDS and MDS are some of the top courses provided by the Dental field and colleges/universities.
BDS: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is the only approved and recognized professional dental course in India with a duration of 5 years. It is one of the most hankering courses in the health sector after MBBS. BDS course contains the fundamental subjects like human anatomy, physiology & biochemistry, dental material, prosthodontics, microbiology, embryology & histology, general & dental pharmacology and pathology, periodontics, pedodontics, orthodontics, and dentistry.
Syllabus for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
BDS Syllabus | ||
General Human Physiology, Biochemistry | General Human Anatomy including Embryology, Osteology and Histology | General Medicine |
Nutrition and Dietetics | Microbiology | Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics |
General Surgery | Periodontics | Oral Surgery, Local Anesthesia, and General Anesthesia |
Dental materials | General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics | Oral Medicine and Roentgenology |
Oral Pathology and Microbiology | Pedodontics | Community Dentistry |
General Pathology | Oral and Dental Anatomy, Physiology and Histology | |
Orthodontics | Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge |
MDS: Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) is a professional postgraduate degree in medical science that comes up with a duration of 2 years after BDS. It deals with the study of development, anatomy, and diseases of the teeth. Students who want to do research related to teeth can choose for MDS after BDS. After completing MDS, students can do surgeries such as dental implants, artificial replacements, treating Jaw and Gum related diseases and surgeries, correcting misaligned/dispositioned teeth and jaw, treating dental tissues, facial disease diagnosis and surgeries and also, cosmetic treatments.
Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) Specialisations
MDS Specialisations | ||
Prosthodontics | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Oral Pathology |
Periodontics | Conservative Dentistry | Community Dentistry |
Orthodontics | Oral Medicine and Radiology | Paedodontics |
Eligibility of Dental Courses in India
Eligibility for all the courses provided by the Dentistry are as follows:
Courses | Eligibility |
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | Candidates must have passed the 10+2 or equivalent exam from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate marks criteria provided by the examining authority of government, universities/institutes, etc. |
Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) | Candidates must have a degree Bachelor of Dental Science with a minimum aggregate marks criteria provided by the examining authority of government, universities/institutes, etc. |
Dental Courses Entrance Exams
For admission in Dental Courses, almost every other institute or university in India select candidates according to the merit list prepared on the basis of entrance exam scores and ranks. Formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) and Pre-Medical Test (PMT) is an entrance examination in India for students who wish to study dental courses in government or private dental colleges in India. But now there is only a single entrance exam for admission in the Dental field, i.e., NEET conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
NEET: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate dental courses, which is a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) across India.
NEET MDS: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Master of Dental Surgery (NEET MDS), is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for admission to postgraduate dental courses across India.
Top Dental Colleges in India
- Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi
- Faculty of Dental Sciences King George’s Medical University, Lucknow
- Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak
- Nair Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai
- Faculty of Dental Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore
- Mahatma Gandhi PG Institute of Dental Sciences, Puducherry
- Government Dental College, Kottayam
- Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur
- Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital, Tamil Nadu