BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Full Form, Course, Eligibility Criteria, Duration, Colleges, Admission, Syllabus
After MBBS, one of the most desirable courses in the health sector is a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, commonly known as BDS. Candidates who wish to groom their careers in dental surgery can know all about BDS from this page. To have comprehensive knowledge and skills in Dental Surgical & Training, BDS is only an undergraduate approved and recognized degree in India. B.D.S. is an undergraduate course for five years duration, of which four years will be for theory, while one year will be for a rotatory internship.
The curriculum of BDS is being regulated by the Dental Council of India (DCI). In order to get the admission to BDS course, it is mandatory for students to appear and qualify in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), for admission to a total of 26,949 BDS seats offered in 313 government, private, and deemed institutes of the nation. As no other exam will be considered for granting BDS admission, interested applicants can check the article for more information on, eligibility, admission procedure, exams, colleges, and other details below.
| Course name | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| Abbreviation | BDS |
| Type | Degree Programme |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Field | Oral Health |
| Average Fees | Rs. 50,000 to Rs.2,50,000 |
| Average Salary | Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 600,000 |
| Career Opportunities | Dental Technician, Prosthodontist, Dental Hygienist, Dental Consultant, Dentist |
Eligibility Criteria for BDS Course
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
BDS Admission Process
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 Pen and Paper 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.
Career Scope in BDS
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.
BDS: Job Profiles and Salary
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
| Dentist | 3.5 to 4.5 lakh |
| Researcher | 3 lakh |
| Lecturer | 5 lakh |
| Dental officer in Defense Services | 9 lakh |
| Dentist in Indian Railways | 7 lakh |
Syllabus for Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS)
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
Which are the Best BDS Books to Follow?
| Human Physiology for BDS Students 1st Edition | A.K.Jain |
| Phillips Science of Dental Materials 10th Edition | Kenneth J. Anusavice |
| Orbans Oral Histology and Embryology 14th Edition 2015 | G A Kumar |
| Functional Histology, Churchill Livingstone, Edition 2 | Weather, Burkitt and Daniels |
| Essentials of Physiology for Dental Students 2nd Edition, 2016 | Sembulingam |
These are some of the best books to refer to for the students of BDS. However, students can find and refer to many other knowledgeable books of the field. These books will enhance their knowledge and will provide them with more ideas and expertise of the field of study
Top Recruiters:
| 2) Educational Institutions | 3) Dental Product Manufactures |
4) Pharmaceutical Companies | 5) Hospitals | 6) Research Institutes |