Is BDS a good career option ?

BDS is a professional undergraduate degree in dentistry pursued by students who want to become a dentist. The BDS Full Form is Bachelor of Dental Surgery. The duration of the BDS course is four years; students who have completed their intermediate can opt for the BDS course. BDS is an undergraduate course of five years, of which four years will be for the theoretical part, while one year will be for a rotatory internship. BDS course is required for candidates who want to work as dentists in government or private hospitals. The (DCI) Dental Council of India regulates the BDS curriculum.

Students must appear and qualify in the NEET to be admitted to one of the country's 313 government, private, and recognized colleges offering 26,949 BDS seats.

What is BDS?

BDS is a 5-year undergraduate program for students interested in pursuing a career in Dental Sciences. Students in their final year are obliged to complete a one-year paid internship that is rotation-based and requires them to complete 2-3 rotations in several areas. During BDS, students are taught subjects such as oral Pathology, Public Health Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Dental Histology, and so on. After completing the BDS course, they will have the explicit knowledge and skill to practice dentistry as a profession due to their study of these areas. Following BDS, students typically exercise their talents in Dentistry in either government or private facilities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must have passed Class 12 with PCB (Physics et al.)
• The aspiring candidate must have passed the class 12 qualifying exam or an equivalent degree with at least 50% aggregate from a recognized institute.
• Must not be <17 years old
• Qualifying for the NEET is compulsory.

Entrance Exam

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate or NEET-UG is a national-level entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS, and BAMS degree programs. NEET-UG is the common entrance examination required for admission to all medical universities and colleges in India for admission to undergraduate degree programs.

BDS Cutoff

Bachelor of Dental Surgery or BDS cutoff is required to determine the student's merit for admission in the BDS degree program in various medical colleges in India. For BDS degree programs, the NEET cutoff is the main criterion every medical college accepts for the BDS admission process. BDS cutoff is based on the number of students appearing for the NEET examination, the previous year's cutoff, and the NEET question paper.

Admission Process

Admissions to BDS usually happen through the national NEET exam held nationwide.

It has been made mandatory since 2016 that admissions to medical programs like MBBS, BDS, etc., need students to appear for NEET.

In order to be eligible for the course, the candidate must attain a minimum of 50% in the 10+2 qualifying examination.

The candidates can enter the college's admission process only if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Once the students clear the cutoff set for the exam, they can move on with the counseling sessions for admission to the college

Best BDS College In India

Name of the College	College Location	Admission Process	Average Course Fee	Average Initial Salary
Faculty of Dental Sciences, IMS BHU	Varanasi	NEET	Below 1 lacs	INR 4-6 lacs (approx.)
Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences	New Delhi	NEET	INR 1 - 1.5 lacs	INR 6-7 lacs (approx.)
Faculty of Dental Sciences King George's Medical University	Lucknow	NEET	INR 1.5 - 2 lacs	INR 8-9 lacs (approx.)
Government Dental College and Hospital	Mumbai	NEET	INR 2 - 2.5 lacs	INR 3-8 lacs (approx.)
Government Dental College and Hospital	Nagpur	NEET	INR 2 - 2.5 lacs	INR 3-8 lacs (approx.)
Dr R Ahmed Dental College and Hospital	Kolkata	NEET	Below 1 lacs	INR 3-6 lacs (approx.)
Manipal College of Dental Sciences	Mangaluru	NEET	INR 25-30 lacs (approx.)	INR 4-8 lacs (approx.)

BDS Salary in India

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

Career Opportunities after BDS

The field of dentistry offers a wide range of career opportunities for individuals who have completed their BDS degree. With the ever-growing demand for dental services, there is a need for skilled professionals to cater to the oral healthcare needs of the population.

After completing BDS, graduates can choose to pursue further specialization by opting for MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) or other postgraduate courses in various dental specialties such as orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. These specializations provide in-depth knowledge and expertise in specific areas of dentistry, opening up doors to advanced clinical practice and research.

Apart from specialization, BDS graduates can also explore opportunities in private practice as general dentists. Setting up their own dental clinics or joining established dental practices allows them to provide comprehensive oral healthcare services to patients.

Additionally, there are ample opportunities in academia and research where BDS graduates can contribute towards advancing dental knowledge through teaching and conducting research studies. Many universities and research institutions offer teaching positions and research fellowships specifically for individuals with a background in dentistry.

Another avenue that BDS graduates can consider is working with government healthcare agencies or non-profit organizations that focus on providing dental care services to underserved communities. This allows them to make a meaningful impact by improving access to oral healthcare for those who may not have regular access to it.

In conclusion, a career after BDS offers a multitude of options ranging from specialization in various fields of dentistry to private practice, academia, research, and community service. It provides an opportunity for personal growth while making a positive impact on people's oral health.