BDS(BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY) INTRODUCTION BDS course focuses on the field of Dental Science. It is a popular undergraduate Dentistry course, which, on completion, leads to a BDS degree and title of a Doctor (Dr)! This degree is overseen by the Dental Council of India. In most states, one has to appear for an entrance test conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education, whereas some autonomous universities conduct their own entrance tests. Post graduate courses (Master of Dental Surgery. MDS) are also available in different specialties. It requires 3 years of study after BDS. Dentistry is the art and science of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions, diseases, and disorders of the oral cavity, the maxillofacial region, and its associated structures as it relates to human beings. A dentist is a doctor qualified to practice dentistry. In most countries, several years of training in a university (usually 4-8) and some practical experience working with actual patients' dentition are required to become a qualified dentist. In India, it is the second most popular medical course, trailing MBBS. BDS course trains students to become capable of carrying out dental practice independently/under supervision of hospital. Skills taught in this course are- prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting teeth, mouth, jaws and other associated tissues. Surgery is also an integral part of this course. General medicine subjects are also a part of this course. Some such general medicine subjects are- anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology and general surgery. In short, this course is a mixture of general medicine, clinical dentistry and surgery. It is a 5 years long undergraduate course. Academic program takes 4 years to complete, 1 year is dedicated towards internship. It is a job oriented medical course. 12th Science stream Biology group students are eligible to pursue this professional course after completing their 12th standard. In this article, you will be reading about BDS course details, eligibility criteria, admission process, course content, PG courses, career prospects, scope and job profiles available after graduation. The Dental Council of India - a statutory body - was constituted on 12th April 1949 under an Act of Parliament - the Dentists Act, 1948 (XVI of 1948). The amendments were made through an ordinance promulgated by the President of India on 27th August 1992. Through this ordinance, new sections i.e. section 10A, section 10B, section 10C were introduced in the Dentists Act, 1948 mainly to restrict mushroom growth of dental colleges, increase of the seats in any of the course and starting of new higher courses without the prior permission of the Central Govt., Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The amendment was duly notified by the Govt. of India in Extraordinary Gazette of India, Part II, Section I on 3rd April 1993 with effective date 1st June 1992. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Science stream Biology Group (PCB subjects) students, who have passed 12th Science board examination from a recognized board are eligible to pursue this course. Candidate must also have scored a minimum score of 50% marks in PCB subjects (most institutes do have minimum marks criteria).
The candidates need to pass entrance exam to secure their place for the course. The most common entrance for the same is AICET BDS. Other than this exam, there are exams like NEET, MU OET, DUMET, AIPMT and COMEDK. Further selection process is conducted as per the specific norms of the university. There are many universities which go for a counseling process for selection. Entrance Mode The top entrance exams conducted for BDS degree are: AICET BDS: This test is conducted for admissions in the field of dental science for admission in the private colleges for Chhattisgarh. Questions from Physics, Botany, Zoology and Chemistry NEET: NEET is a qualifying entrance examination for admission in medical courses. It is accepted by institutes like Banaras Hindu University and Armed Forces Medical College. AIPMT: Being held this year in May by CBSE, it is an entrance test accepted by most of the top universities. The syllabus for this test includes Physics, Chemistry and Biology. MP DMAT: Conducted by APDMC every July in Madhya Pradesh, it is a test that offers entry into a career in the medical field. The questions asked in entrance test are from Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Entrance Exam Pattern: There are several exams that are in place, the general format of NEET is listed here. The candidate is advised to ensure that they find the pattern of the exam that they choose. The exam will be conducted in a pen and paper-based format. Candidates will have to mark their responses in OMR answer sheet provided using a ballpoint pen. NEET will consist of 180 questions from all the three subjects. Physics and Chemistry section will consist of 45 questions each, while, Biology section will comprise of 90 questions. Each question in the NEET question paper will consist of 4 marks. For each correct response, candidates will get the marks, whereas 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect response. No marks will be allotted for any unmarked questions. The selection process varies from university to university. Some of the universities take admission only on the basis of scores in the relevant entrance exams. However, there are some universities which may go for a counseling procedure. ADMISSION PROCESS Admission process follows the merit based system. If you want admission in a dental college operated by the Central Government, you must appear for All India level entrance test. Based on marks scored in this test and board examination, a merit list will be prepared. Admission will be given to deserving candidates on the basis of this rank/merit list. There also exists a state wise dental college in India. Such colleges may be operated by State Government/Private trusts. To secure admission in such institutes, you must take part in the state
level entrance test. Based on marks scored in this test and board examination, a merit list will be prepared. Deserving candidates will be given admission based on this merit list. The admission Process for the course of Bachelor's in Dental Science is varied; there are certain central Government run exams, while a few renowned Institutes choose to hold entrance exams of their own. The requirement for a Bachelor s degree in Dental Science is that the students need to have a minimum 10+2 education at a recognized institute. But, the minimum marks for the eligibility depends on the college that they are looking at. Students are advised to ensure that they are meeting all the requirements of the college that they are considering. In India, there are many dental colleges imparting quality education. At least 292 colleges offer BDS course across India. Some of the dental colleges are listed below: Dental College & Hospital, Aurangabad Dental College & Hospital, Mumbai Dental College, Gujarat Government Dental College & Research Institute, Bengaluru Amrita College of Dentistry, Kerala Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi Faculty of Dental Science, King George s Medical University, Lucknow Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Andhra Pradesh Career After the completion of the BDS course, the dental graduates are entitled to use the term Doctor before his or her name as the prefix Dr.. There are plenty of good jobs & higher study opportunities available after getting the degree in dentistry as a doctor. It is the professional field with 100% job placement. A BDS graduate may go for the PG degree programs leading to the Domain MDS (Master of Dental Surgery). MDS is the advanced degree in dentistry field and allows the candidates to specialize in any of its discipline. Interested candidates can also go for research program by pursuing Doctor of Philosophy. Teaching career is also open for BDS graduates. Those interested in teaching can acquire teaching jobs in any of the top Dental Colleges. They are eligible to hold positions as professors or even HOD and even get promoted to Dean. This profession includes the imaging, tissue graft, implants, laser surgery and trauma. After completing this course you will be hired by the medical college, hospitals, nursing home, health corporations, health ministry, and back office medical consultancy. One can also open his/her own dental clinic or work as dentist in government and private hospitals. The Job Profiles of the BDS may be the following: Dentist Dental Surgeon Endodontic
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist Oral Surgery Orthodontics Pedodontics Periodontics Prosthodontics Some employment areas for BDS aspirants are: Dental Clinics Hospitals Educational Institutions Pharmaceutical Companies Dental Products Manufactures Private Practice Syllabus for BDS, following are the subjects to study. First-year subjects General Human Anatomy Human Physiology Biochemistry Nutrition and Diabetics Dental Anatomy Dental Embryology Oral Histology Dental Materials Preclinical Conservative Dentistry Preclinical Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge Second-year Subjects: General Pathology and Microbiology General Pharmacology Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics Dental Materials Preclinical Conservative Dentistry Preclinical Orthodontics Oral Pathology and Microbiology Preclinical Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge Third-Year Subjects: General Surgery General Medicine Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics Oral Pathology and Microbiology Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral Medicine and Radiology Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge Periodontology Public Health Dentistry Fourth-Year Subjects Oral Medicine and Radiology Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics Periodontology Public Health Dentistry Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics Books & Study Materials There are several books are available in market to study BDS. Here we have listed some most preferred books to study BDS program: Phillips Science of Dental Materials: 1st South Asia Edition 2014 Shenoy Essentials of Pharmacology For Dentistry K.D. Tripathi Textbook of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2013 Balaji General Pathology Harsh Mohan Sturdevant s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry: An Adaptation 2013 Roberson and Gopikrishna Applied Dental Materials by Anderson A Textbook of Dental Anatomy Physiology and Occlusion Rashmi G S (Phulari) Textbook of Dental Anatomy, Physiology, Occlusion and Tooth Carving Syed Khaja Aliuddin Fundamentals of Oral Histology and Physiology Arthur R. Hand and Marion E. Frank