BDS full form Bachelor of Dental Surgery, is a 5-year course that helps candidates become dental surgeons. It comprises 4 years of classroom education and 1 year of mandatory rotating internship. Aspirants have to successfully complete class 12 exam or hold an equivalent degree with at least 85% from a well-known, recognized institute. The programme covers various aspects of dental problems, denture, and surgery in the same fields. BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery is the most popular medical course after MBBS. Candidates who successfully complete this course are awarded the title of ‘Dr’ and can practice dentistry once they have acquired the license. To secure admission into the BDS course, aspirants have to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (NEET). This is the only entrance that acts as a gateway to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme.
Candidates have to attend offline/in-person classroom lectures during their course duration since distance education or online setup is not supported for BDS courses. The programme is managed by the Dental Council of India (DCI), and the top colleges to pursue BDS course are Faculty of Dental Sciences, IMS BHU, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Sciences King George's Medical University, Government Dental College and Hospital, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Government Dental College and Hospital, etc. The college fee for BDS programmes ranges from between INR 80,000 to INR 25 LPA, depending on the type of institution chosen. Moreover, pursuing BDS successfully opens up various opportunities for candidates in the government as well as the private sector of medicine. Students can work as Dentists, lecturers, Researchers, Dentists in Indian Railways, Dental officers at Indian Defense Services ( Army, Navy, Air Force), Territorial Army officers, and more.
Here are the highlights for the BDS course for reference.
| Course Name | BDS |
| BDS Full Form | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Course Type | Degree Programme |
| Course Duration | 5 Years (4 Years for Academic Education + 1 Year for Internship) |
| Internship | Mandatory |
| Course Mode | Full Time/ Part-Time |
| Minimum Qualification Required | 10+2 |
| Selection Process | Entrance Exams |
| Course Fee | INR 50,000 per month - INR 12 LPA |
| Relevant Field | Medical |
| Starting Salary | INR 4 LPA - INR 6 LPA |
| Employment Sectors | Private Clinics, Educational Institutions, Dental Clinics, Hospitals, Dental Products Manufactures, Pharmaceutical Companies |
Candidates may choose to pursue a BDS course to study the discipline of Dental Surgery, which is known for its vast scope in the field of medical sciences, and in terms of brighter career prospects. BDS course graduates may expect a salary up to INR 50,000 per month, depending on their expertise, skillset, type of employment, job roles, and theoretical knowledge. Listed below are the prime reasons for choosing a BDS course:
Bachelor of Dental Surgery is an undergraduate degree program governed by the Dental Council of India (DCI). The 5-year program educates all students about the various concepts and topics included in the theoretical knowledge of dental surgery, as well as provides practical experience of the same through the 1-year rotatary internship program included in the course, mandatory for all candidates to pursue. Once the students successfully complete the bachelor’s programme, they can opt for further studies or pursue a career:
The scope of BDS after graduation can be measured in terms of the opportunities available for BDS graduates to pursue higher studies in the field of dental surgery. Here are some of the degrees one can pursue post BDS graduation:
The eligibility criteria for the BDS course have been mentioned below:
The admission to BDS courses is usually conducted through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Every year, thousands of candidates appear for the NEET entrance exam for admission to a number of medical courses. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the NEET UG entrance exam and is responsible for conveying all the important guidelines to the aspirants through notifications published on their official website. The examination is held for 3 hours and 20 minutes, with the total marks of 720: 180 questions from each Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany) and Biology (Zoology) sections. The syllabus of the NEET UG exam is the same as 10+2 PCMB.
BDS course fee varies from one institution to another, depending on the type of institute and location. While government institutes have a decent admission fee to be submitted by the students pursuing BDS course, private institutions on the other hand have a relatively higher requisite amount for the same. The type of college one chooses is a determinant of what the BDS course fees will be. Based on the preference, BDS course fees can range anywhere between INR 50,000 to 12 LPA.
After clearing the examination, all aspirants are allowed to complete a one-year mandatory rotating internship program. Aspirants have to gain practical knowledge from the internship for a stipulated amount of time as required by the program one is pursuing. The BDS internship period of posting based on different departments is given below.
| Department | Period of Posting |
| Periodontics | 1 Month |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | 1 and a half Month |
| Oral Medicine & Radiology | 1 Month |
| Prosthodontics | 1 and a half Month |
| Conservative Dentist | 1 Month |
| Community Dentist/Rural Service | 3 Months |
| Oral Pathology & Microbiology | 15 days |
| Pedodontics | 1 Month |
| Orthodontics | 1 Month |
| Elective | 15 days |
| Total | 12 months |
Candidates often find themselves at crossroads on whether to choose MBBS as a career or to pursue BDS course. Here is the difference between MBBS and BDS for aspirants’ reference.
| Parameter | BDS | MBBS |
| Overview | BDS course is a recognized dental course in India curated especially for students who want to practice dentistry as a profession. | MBBS teaches students human anatomy, biochemistry, pediatrics, etc. |
| Average Course Fee | INR 1 to 6 lacs | INR 1 to 8 lacs |
| Duration | 5 years (4 years + 1 year internship). | 5.5 year (4.5 years + 1 year internship) |
| Average Initial Salary | INR 4 to 10 lacs (approx.) | INR 4 to 10 lacs (approx.) |
| Top Recruiters | Dental Clinics, Hospitals, Educational Institutes, etc. | Hospitals, Clinics, etc. |
| Job Opportunities | Dentist, Lecturer, Dental Research Scientist, etc. | Physician, Surgeon, etc. |
There are several renowned institutes across India that grant candidates seat to BDS courses. Based on NEET UG marks, every college has different sets of cutoffs. Here are some of the topmost college that offer admission into BDS courses.
| Name of the College | Admission Process | College Location | Average Initial Salary | Average Course Fee |
| Faculty of Dental Sciences King George's Medical University | NEET | Lucknow | INR 8-9 lacs (approx.) | INR 1.5 - 2 lacs |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences | NEET | New Delhi | INR 6-7 lacs (approx.) | INR 1 - 1.5 lacs |
| Faculty of Dental Sciences, IMS BHU | NEET | Varanasi | INR 4-6 lacs (approx.) | Below 1 lacs |
| Government Dental College and Hospital | NEET | Nagpur | INR 3-8 lacs (approx.) | INR 2 - 2.5 lacs |
| Government Dental College and Hospital | NEET | Mumbai | INR 3-8 lacs (approx.) | INR 2 - 2.5 lacs |
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences | NEET | Mangaluru | INR 4-8 lacs (approx.) | INR 25-30 lacs (approx.) |
| Dr R Ahmed Dental College and Hospital | NEET | Kolkata | INR 3-6 lacs (approx.) | Below 1 lacs |
The medical field has expanded in the past decade such that there are various job opportunities in the private sector as well. Most of the good colleges offer placement opportunities in private hospitals and dental healthcare centres. Dentists are also hired in government hospitals and other government departments on the basis of the entrance exam. Aspiring candidates can apply for these courses after completing their graduation, however, some jobs are available after pursuing MDS. Here are some of the employment areas and job profiles that students can explore.
| Employment Areas |
Research Institutes Private Practice Pharmaceutical Companies Hospitals Educational Institutes Dental Products Manufacturers Dental Equipment Manufacturers Dental Clinics |
| Job Profiles/ Types |
Private Practitioner Dental Lab Technician/ Ceramist Medical Representative/ Sales Representative Dental Surgeon Professor Oral Pathologist Public Health Specialist Dental Assistant Consultant Dental Hygienist |
To pursue a BDS course abroad, one must follow the set institute-level admission procedure. All detailed information is available on the college website. Here are general steps to secure admission in BDS course abroad:
Many aspirants wish to pursue BDS course abroad and build a career overseas. Some return to India after studies while other continue with their Master’s studies. Students who are aiming to pursue BDS course abroad can opt from these top universities.
|
University |
Country |
Cost of BDS (in USD) |
|
James Cook University |
Australia |
44,047.57/year |
|
University of Adelaide |
Australia |
Total: 46,17,795.43 |
|
University of Queensland |
Australia |
49,676.02/ year |
|
Charles Sturt University |
Australia |
38,993.78/year |
|
University of Sheffield |
UK |
47,301.74/ year *Fee increases every 2 to 5 years |
|
University of Plymouth |
UK |
47,731.44/year |
|
Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam the Netherlands |
Netherlands |
Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction: 14,497.74 Endodontology: 19,362.87 Periodontology: 26,095.53 Prosthodontics and Oral Implantology: 24,913 Paediatric Dentistry: 14,497.74 |
|
Karolinska Institute |
Sweden |
1,73,554.02 : Total (UK aspirants exempted, no scholarship offered) |
|
University of Liverpool |
UK |
47,557.24/year |
|
University of Hong Kong |
China |
5,363.80/year |
After completing the bachelors in dental surgery programme, one can take up several different professions abroad. One can kick-start their own clinic or work in a hospital. Pursuing Master’s is yet another interesting option. Find all relevant career and job opportunities given below for BDS course.
| Job profile | Annual Average Salary (in USD) |
| Dental surgeon | 238,000 |
| Dental consultant | 372,000 |
| Orthodontist | 216,461 |
| Lecturer | 154,000 |
| Clinical practice | 172,517 |
| Oral Pathologist | 194,930 |
| MDS | 372,000 |
| General Anatomy | Embryology and Histology | General Human Physiology |
| Dental Anatomy and Embryology | Oral Histology | General Biochemistry |
| Dental Materials | General Pathology and Microbiology | General Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
| Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics & Crown & Bridge | Preclinical Conservative Dentistry | Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
| Oral Pathology | General Medicine |
| Oral Microbiology | General Surgery |
| Oral Medicine | Radiology | Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics |
| Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics | Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge | Public Health Dentistry |
| Periodontology | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry |
Books comprise all the crucial components that a student needs to grasp concepts. Thus, it is of paramount importance that one refers to the right set of study materials. Here are the best BDS course book for candidates’ reference:
| Name of the Book | Name of the Author |
| Orbans Oral Histology and Embryology 14th Edition 2015 | G A Kumar |
| Phillips Science of Dental Materials 10th Edition | Kenneth J. Anusavice |
| Human Physiology for BDS Students 1st Edition | A.K.Jain |
| Essentials of Physiology for Dental Students 2nd Edition, 2016 | Sembulingam |
| Functional Histology, Churchill Livingstone, Edition 2 | Weather, Burkitt and Daniels |
Graduates also have the options to start their own dental clinic to treat patients. With enough capital and proper research, a dental clinic can help you earn decent money. After pursuing MDS the chances of earning a better salary are high as an MDS usually takes 4 to 6 lakh per annum. Salaries can also vary from city to city as medical expenses and dental charges in metro cities are more than in small cities and towns.
| Initial Salary Range at Average Organisations | INR 15,000 per month to INR 30,000 per month |
| Initial Salary Range at Top-tier Organisations | INR 6 LPA to INR 12 LPA |
BDS professionals are directly responsible for taking care of an individual’s dental issues. It is a challenging profession and therefore, one must be ready to tackle challenges head-on. Here are some of the skills a BDS graduate must possess:
| Empathy towards the patients | Ability to work under pressure |
| Excellent communication skills | Possessing insights and knowledge |
| Attention to detail | Quick decision-making |
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