BDS- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
The BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is the only professional dental course in India that is approved. It is a five-year undergraduate program. Students who want to work as dentists in public or private hospitals must take this course. Training and introducing students to dental sciences and procedures are the primary focuses of the BDS program. The five-year program consists of four years of instruction in the classroom and one year of mandatory rotating internships.
The Dental Council of India (DCI) is in charge of governing the degree. The different BDS subjects showed in the program incorporate Dental Histology, Oral Pathology, Oral Medical procedure, and so on. The Dental Council of India, which oversees the BDS program, requires students to sign up for an account in order for them to be eligible to practice after earning their degree.
Students in India must pass the 10+2 exam or obtain an equivalent degree with at least 85 percent from a recognized institution in order to be admitted to BDS programs. In most cases, there is only one entrance exam that is given all over India. The annual national-level entrance exam is known as the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET).
BDS Course Highlights
| Column1 | Column2 |
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| BDS Full-Form | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| BDS Course Duration | 5 years ( 4 years + 1 year of compulsory paid internship). |
| Examination Type | Semester Based |
| Eligibility | 10+2 with a minimum of 50% Compulsory subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam (NEET) |
| BDS Course Fees | INR 1-6 lacs per annum |
| Average Initial Salary | INR 4-10 lacs (approx.) |
| Top Recruiters | Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Educational Institutes, etc. |
| Job Positions | Dental Research Scientist, Dentist, Lecturer, etc. |
BDS Admissions Process
Here is all that you want to be familiar with BDS which incorporates BDS course expenses, selection tests, and so on.
• The national NEET exam, which is administered across the nation, is typically used to make admissions decisions to BDS.
• Since 2016, admissions to medical programs like the MBBS and BDS are now required. obligate students to take the NEET exam.
• The student must score at least 50% on the 10+2 qualifying exam to be eligible for the course.
• Candidates can only apply for admission to the college if they meet the eligibility requirements.
• The counseling sessions necessary for admission to the college can begin once the students meet the exam cutoff.
BDS eligibility
Admission to a particular college and course requires eligibility for that course. The following are the fundamental requirements for admission to BDS courses:
• The prospective candidate must have graduated from a reputable institution and passed the 10+2 qualifying exam or an equivalent degree with at least 50% aggregate.
• In their 10+2, they must have obligatory studied physics, chemistry, and biology.
• The NEET score is used in almost every college that offers this course for admission. To be considered for admission, the student must pass the exam's cutoff.
• Students must attend college-organized counseling sessions if they are successful in qualifying for the entrance exam.
• In most cases, there are three rounds of counseling sessions.
BDS Entrance Exams
In India, only the national NEET exam is used to determine eligibility for BDS courses. The following is additional information regarding the exam:
• BDS admissions are limited to a small number of entrances. The public-level test NEET is the main test led for admission to BDS courses.
• NEET is a public-level test for admissions to undergrad clinical courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSc Nursing, etc.
• Candidates must sign up for an account on the official website and provide their personal information.
• They must then complete the online application form that can be found there. Students will receive their admit cards via email. Candidates are only required to show up for the exam on the specified date. If a student passes the exam's cutoff, they can go to counseling sessions for college admissions.
• The National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) is a national exam for undergraduate medical courses such as MBBS and BDS.
• Every institute, regardless of whether it is a government college or a private college, handles BDS admissions entirely through NEET.
• The NEET, which is one of India's most competitive exams, is required for admission to reputable dental schools in the country.
What is the BDS Syllabus?
The 5-year program comprises a vast syllabus. Each year has a specified syllabus so that students can give proper time and effort to each and every subject. The syllabus for BDS courses has been mentioned below:
| Column1 | Column2 |
| 1st Year | 2nd Year |
| Biochemistry | Preclin |
| Dental Histology | Conservative |
| Dental Materials | Pharmacology |
| Law for Dental Profession | Dental Materials |
| Anatomy | Pharmacology |
| Physiology | Oral Pathology |
| Preclin | Microbiology |
| Prosthodontics | Pathology |
| 3rd Year | 4th year |
| Gen Surgery | |
| Gen Medicine | Pedodontics |
| Pedodontics | Public Health |
| Oral Pathology | Dentistry |
| Oral Medicine | Orthodontics |
| Oral Surgery | Oral Medicine |
| Public Health | Oral Surgery |
| Orthodontics | Prosthodontics |
| Conservative Dentistry | Periodontics |
| Prosthodontics | Practice Observership |
| Patient Safety Curriculum | Conservative Dentistry |
| Community Orientation Program Group Project/Research | |
| 5th Year | |
| Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Period ontology Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology Public Health Dentistry Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Pathology and Microbiology Accident and Emergency Medicine Comprehensive Oral Health Care | |
BDS Salary in India
Graduates with a degree in BDS have a wide variety of opportunities before them in terms of career and job prospects. They can choose to be dentists, researchers, lecturers, etc. at government or private hospitals or can even open their own dental clinics. However, not all graduates jump to do jobs and earn money. Some of them opt for higher studies in the field of dental sciences.
Since in India, BDS is the only compulsory course for practicing dentistry, most students usually find employment within 1 year of graduation. Some even pursue higher studies like MDS.
| Column1 | Column2 | Column3 |
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
| Dentist | The job of a dentist involves checking patients of oral health, removing tooth decay, filling cavities, etc. However, it is totally the will of the doctor if they want to serve in a hospital or open their own clinic. | INR 3.5 - 4.5 lacs |
| Researcher | BDS graduate students who are willing to do research work can perform research work in advanced dental research. | INR 3 lacs |
| Lecturer | Students with high skills, expertise and experience can work as lecturers at reputed government or private dental institutions. | INR 5 lacs |
| Dental Officer at Indian Defense Services ( Army, Navy, Air Force) | Students who want to practice their skills in the defence services need to be a Registered Dental Practitioner within India to be eligible for the job. | INR 9 lacs |
| Dentist in Indian Railways | Candidates can join the Indian Railways as a dentist when they post a vacancy for the same. | INR 7.2 lacs |
| Territorial Army Officer | One of the government jobs which can be pursued by students at the completion of BDS. | INR 10 lacs |
Therefore, in the job sector students can have employment opportunities in the following areas:
• Government Sector: Students may find lucrative job opportunities in the Defence Services of India like the Army/ Navy/ Air Force, Dentist in Indian Railways, and state government jobs as Dental Surgeons. However, jobs in these areas are available on the basis of eligibility, experience as well as vacant.
• Private Sector: The students can find worthy jobs in private hospitals or dental institutions, etc. Those who are not willing to do these jobs can open their own clinics to practice their skills in the profession.
• Dentistry Research: Students who feel like enhancing their academic background by continuing with higher studies can even opt for research in the dental science field.
• Dentists in Gulf Countries: Students who are not satisfied with their jobs in India try to go to gulf countries wherein there are huge demands for dentists and they even offer an increased salary.
DS Future Scope
Students expect a rise in employment opportunities in the near future. The reason is that there has been a fast increase in the number of dental patients as well as doctors and the government aims at providing better job opportunities to dentists by increasing employment opportunities.
• It has been noted that in India there are more dentists than the required number. This issue can be resolved if the availability of dentists in rural and urban areas is made equal.
• This is because many dentists are practising their skills in the urban areas so if some of them are sent to the rural areas to provide their services there will be an equal availability of dentists in both the regions.
• This transfer of areas will also result in increased employment opportunities and equal employment distribution in the public or government sector as well.
• It is expected that the employment rate is going to increase in the coming years.
• Due to these issues in India, nowadays some students prefer to find employment in Gulf countries due to the huge requirements and an increased salary along with additional perks provided to them compared to what is given in India.
Students who are willing to opt for higher studies can go for the following :
• Master of Dental Surgery ( MDS)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master in Health Administration
• MBA in Healthcare Management
• MBA in Hospitality Management