BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)

BDS Course stands for Bachelor of Dental Surgery, managed by the Dental Council of India (DCI) to educate students on becoming dental surgeons. The BDS Admission Process is conducted through the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) entrance examination which acts as the sole gateway to the BDS programme. The eligibility criteria for BDS admissions include completing Class 12 with 50% marks in the Science stream and qualifying the NEET UG entrance exam. Candidates must note while the BDS Syllabus may vary from one institution to another, it includes important topics such as Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Public Health Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Pedodontics, etc. across all dental colleges. The average fee for BDS course fee ranges between INR 80,000 to INR 5 LPA.

Students wishing to pursue a BDS course are required to attend offline/in-person classroom lectures only since distance education or online setup is not supported for BDS courses. BDS course is a 4-year degree with a 1-year mandatory internship. There are a total of 313 government, private, and recognised institutes across India, offering a total of 26,949 BDS course seats to deserving students. Some of the top colleges among these include IMS BHU, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, King George's Medical University, Government Dental College and Hospital, etc. Popular BDS Job roles are Dentists, lecturers, Researchers, Dentists in Indian Railways, Dental officers at Indian Defense Services (Army, Navy, Air Force), Territorial Army officers, etc., with an average BDS salary range varying from INR 2 LPA to INR 12 LPA.

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 for brighter career prospects. BDS course graduates may expect a salary of 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:

• Decent Course Fee: The BDS course fee, as compared to other medical courses, is much less expensive and more accessible to candidates from all walks of life. A BDS degree is undoubtedly very affordable for all candidates to build a successful career in the field of dental surgery. 
• Course Duration: BDS Course duration is 5 years, and therefore, students pursuing the degree are awarded their graduation significantly earlier than MBBS degrees. This enables the BDS graduates to explore job opportunities rather quickly than other medical graduates, and build up an impressive work experience over the years.
• Easy Admission: Several accredited dental institutes with connected teaching hospitals offer BDS admissions to students wishing to pursue a career in dental surgery. The admission process for the same is rather straightforward. Students need to qualify for the entrance examination to be eligible for BDS course admission. 
• Availability of Seats: The availability of seats for a BDS course admission is usually higher than other medical courses due to the low level of competition. Therefore, for students who secure the minimum required cut-off scores for admission, candidates easily grab a seat for pursuing a BDS course.
• Abundant Career Opportunities: Students pursuing a BDS course are offered a good number of employment opportunities towards the end of their course duration, at a number of reputed organizations. Therefore, the scope for career prospects after completing a BDS course is vast and fulfilling. 

Admission to BDS Course is strictly conducted through the NEET UG entrance exam. Every year, thousands of candidates appear for the NEET entrance exam for admission to several 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. A detailed insight into the important NEET Exam details has been mentioned below in the table for reference:

According to the Dental Council of India, the BDS programme must be completed in four academic years, requiring 240 teaching days annually as well as a year-long paid rotating internship at an accredited dental school with a licence. The subjects for this course and lecture durations can differ depending on the respective educational institution. Nonetheless, the following provides a broad summary of the average BDS course topics along with an estimate of the number of lecture hours that are covered. Remember that these are estimates that may change depending on the particular programme design of the college. As indicated in the table below, candidates enrolled in the fifth year of the BDS programme are required to finish their theoretical study in four disciplines for six months, or 160 lecture hours.

BDS Rotatory Internship

After completing the final BDS exam, each candidate will need to complete a one-year paid rotating internship. The BDS degree is awarded after passing the exams and completing a paid internship for a year. It is important to remember that students will be ejected from the programme if they fail to obtain the BDS in all disciplines within nine years of enrolling, including a required one-year rotatory paid internship. Candidates can refer to the following table, which highlights the BDS internships department and the posting period:

With the ongoing expansion of the medical field in India, the career opportunities for students across several medical sectors have also increased in the past years. The importance of professional Dentistry and oral health is constantly imposed from a young age, to promote Oral Hygiene and overall well-being of individuals. Therefore, with rapid changes in lifestyles due to the modernization, the need for BDS Course Graduates have also increased. 

While there are a number of good colleges and universities that offer placement opportunities in private hospitals and dental healthcare centres, there'sa wide array of career opportunities for Dentists in government hospitals and other government departments as well. Moreover, these job opportunities are also available after pursuing an MDS course. The following is a discussion about the top employment areas and job profiles that students can explore:

BDS Employment Areas 

Some common areas of employment for BDS Course graduates are mentioned below:

• Private Practice 
• Hospitals
• Dental Products Manufacturers
• Dental Clinics
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Dental Equipment Manufacturers
• Educational Institutes
• Research Institutes 

Top Job Profiles for BDS Course Graduates

BDS Job opportunities are widespread in India, as well as abroad. Dentistry is considered one of the highest paying professions in the world. Therefore, after completing a BDS course, students can find a number of good job opportunities in both private and public employment sectors. Additionally, BDS course graduates are also offered lucrative salary packages. Some of the top BDS job profiles are mentioned below for reference:

• Private Practitioner
• Dental Lab Technician/ Ceramist
• Medical Representative/ Sales Representative
• Dental Surgeon
• Professor
• Oral Pathologist
• Public Health Specialist
• Dental Assistant
• Consultant
• Dental Hygienist

Salary After BDS

Graduates also have the option to start their 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 4-6 LPA. 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. The following table outlines BDS salary for some popular job profiles:

Top BDS Recruiters in India

The need for high-quality, convenient medical services has resulted in an expansion of the healthcare paradigm due to the rise in diseases. Experts in the medical industry who possess extensive expertise are always in demand. BDS graduates have the option of finding employment in the public or private sectors.

Professionals with a BDS degree can choose to work for state governments, the Indian Railway, or the Defence Service. In the private sector, dental practices, hospitals, pharmaceutical businesses, and manufacturers of dental products readily hire professionals who have completed BDS courses. Listed below are some top BDS recruiters in India:

• ACE Surgical
• Straumann
• Dentsply Sirona
• Envista