BDS

BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is the undergraduate degree programme in the dental field. BDS is one of the most sought after courses after MBBS. The duration of the course is 5 years including one year of internship. In India, BDS is regulated by the Dental Council of India where all dentists have to register to practice after the completion of their study. In BDS course, students are taught about dentures, dental problems and surgery. After completing the course, students become eligible to use the title of ‘Dr’ before their name. They can practice dentistry after getting a license from DCI.

BDS is the professional degree programme which offers a range of job opportunities to candidates. After finishing the degree, they can work in government or private hospital as a dentist. In addition, they can make a career in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing industries. They can also start private practice as a Dental surgeon. For admission in BDS, candidates have to appear for the entrance test. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the national level exam to apply for BDS admission. A total of 26,000 seats are available in BDS courses as per the Dental Council of India records. These seats are available across 315 colleges inclusive of Govt, private colleges as well as central and deemed universities.

Candidates have to fulfill certain requirements to get admission to BDS course offered by institutes/colleges. Some of the eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Candidates should have passed 10+2 with subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and Biology

• They must have scored at least 50 percent marks in 12th standard

• Must not be less than 17 years old

• Qualifying NEET is compulsory

Candidates who want to get admission to BDS course have to qualify the entrance test. The National Testing Agency releases an online application form. Candidates have to fill the form in the given deadline and appear for NEET exam for admission to undergraduate dental programme. The exam is held once a year in computer-based mode. Scoring the minimum cutoff is one of the criteria to participate in NEET counselling. Seats are allocated on the basis of rank, choice filled by candidate, availability of seats, and reservation criteria.

The top colleges offering BDS course along with the course fee has been enlisted in the table below:

BDS Bachelor of Dental Surgery is divided into 5 years.

Break up: 4 years of academics + 1 year of internship

1st year

1. Anatomy
2. Physiology + Biochemistry
3. Dental Anatomy + Dental Histology

2nd year

1. Pharmacology
2. Microbiology + Pathology
3. Dental material

Total 4 subjects. But 3 papers of 70 marks each.

3rd year

1. General Medicine
2. General Surgery
3. Oral Pathology

Final year (4th year)

1. Oral Medicine and radiology
2. Oral and maxillofacial Surgery
3. Prosthodontics
4. Periodontics
5. Public health and community dentistry
6. Conservative and endodontics
7. Pedodontics
8. Orthodontics
9. Human Physiology
10. Materials used in Dentistry
11. Human Oral Anatomy, Physiology, Histology and Tooth Morphology
12. Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology
13. Orthodontics
14. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Paradigm of healthcare is expanding due to an increase in diseases which has led to the demand for quality and hassle-free medical services. Healthcare professionals who have in depth knowledge of the field are always in demand. Oral health is one of the primary concerns of people especially in urban areas. As BDS is a professional degree programme, it offers a wide range of options to the professionals. Graduates in BDS can choose to work in both the government or private sector.

In the government sector, these professionals can work in Defence Service, Indian Railway or opt for state government jobs. In the private sector, BDS professionals are easily recruited by hospitals, dental clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and dental product manufacturers. After finishing a 5-year degree programme, some of the BDS graduates open their own clinic too. They can even go for higher studies, i.e pursue master's course in dental field (MDS). They can also choose related courses such as Master in Health Administration or MBA in Healthcare Management.

As BDS graduates have thorough knowledge of dental related problems, they are easily recruited by hospitals and dental clinics. Those who go for higher study can later opt for teaching profession as lecturer. Dental professionals are recruited at different posts as per their skill and qualification. Initially they are offered INR 30,000 to 40,000 salary but it increases as they gain experience under expert hands. Some of the job profiles for BDS graduates along with their average salaries have been mentioned in the table below:

Job profiles for BDS graduates

Q. Is NEET mandatory for admission to BDS?

Q. What is the fee for the BDS course?

Q. Can a BDS student do MS after completing the course?

Q. Is Indian BDS degree recognised worldwide?

Q. Can a BDS doctor perform surgery?

Q Is BDS equivalent to MBBS?

Q What would be the average course fee for BDS?

Q. What is the average salary of BDS graduates?

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for admission to a BDS course?

Q. What are the job options for BDS professionals?

• Dentist
• Dental surgeon
• Researcher
• Lecturer
• Consultant