Career as a Dentist: Opportunities and Salary after Pursuing BDS

BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery is the most popular medical course after MBBS for medical aspirants. Students who successfully complete this 5-year course are also awarded the title of ‘Dr’ and can practice dentistry once they have acquired the license. All admissions to this course are done on the basis of NEET Result 2022 and NEET Cutoff 2022. The candidates whose names have been mentioned in the merit list will be able to secure admission to the top BDS colleges in the country.

Completing BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) successfully will open up various opportunities for you in the government as well as the private sector of Dental Science. Following are all the details you need to know about the course.

About BDS:

Other Dental Courses than BDS:

Selection Process for Dental Courses:

BDS:

• Students who have scored at least 50% marks in class 12 with Physics, Biology and Chemistry in order to apply for courses. Different colleges may have different admission criteria.

• Admission to all dental programmes offered by Indian medical colleges is done on the basis of NEET Exam score.

Diploma and Certificate Programmes:

• The eligibility criteria for diploma courses may vary from course to course.

• You can apply for Aesthetic Dentistry, Dental Hygienist and other such courses after passing class 10.

• However, to apply for courses like Dental Ceramic Technology, you need to pass class 12 with the required minimum marks.

• Similarly, for certificate courses, you need to pass class 12 in order to apply.

Post-graduate/MDS Programmes:

• Candidates must have successfully completed their BDS in order to apply for master's programmes.

• Admission to post-graduate courses is done on the basis of NEET-PG.

Top Colleges for BDS:

• Government Dental College, Bangalore

• King George's Medical University

• Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Dental Sciences

• Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital

• Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore

• Sri Ramachandra University

• Maulana Azad Medical College

• Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences

• Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana

Also Read: Difference between BAMS and BHMS: Job Scope and Salary

Dental Career Options after BDS:

MDS (Masters in Dental Surgery)

An MDS is a masters degree in dental surgery that can be pursued after completing BDS. This degree facilitates a graduate in dental surgery to excel in a particular specialization in dental science. An MDS is the highest level of education one can pursue in dentistry. Any BDS can apply for admission to MDS through NEET PG 2022 entrance exam. The list of specializations in MDS is -

• Dento-Maxillofacial Radiology

• Endodontics

• Oral Medicine

• Oral Pathology

• Oral Surgery

• Orthodontics

Lecturer/Professor in Dental College

Being an expert in dental science, teaching other BDS/dental course students is a popular profession for dentists. If you have a flair for teaching and academia, you can pursue being a Lecturer or professor in any of the Dental colleges of your choice. Many medical colleges open entries for lecturers in dental surgery often for BDS graduates.

Dental Practice

One of the most popular career opportunities after BDS is to practice as a dentist. For this, A BDS has to apply for a practising license in the Ministry of Health and Development. A BDS doctor can work as a dentist in private hospitals, or nursing homes, or can start his/her own dental clinic.

Dentist at Government Hospital

After completing B.D.S., you can also apply for government jobs. There are many job openings for dentists in government hospitals or in rural areas. You can even apply for non-clinical roles through several government entrance exams like Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), State Public Service Commission (SPSC) or work in public sector banks. But, if you would like to continue your career as a dentist and work for the government, there are several areas of employment like

• army dental corps

• contractual dental officer in the navy or airforce

• state government dental surgeon jobs

• dental officers in the railways

Insurance Consultant/ Examiner

There are several insurance organizations that offer dental insurance as one of their products and hire qualified dentists for research, claim reviews and even administrative tasks. A B.D.S. degree can help your resume get noticed by recruiters of esteemed insurance companies. Your pay may vary depending on the type and size of the insurance company with which you work.

Job Opportunities after BDS

The medical field has expanded in the past decade such that there are various job opportunities in the private sector as well. Most of the good colleges offer placement opportunities in private hospitals and dental healthcare centres.

Dentists are also hired in government hospitals and other government departments on the basis of entrance exams. Aspiring candidates can apply for these courses after completing their graduation, however, some jobs are available after pursuing MDS.

Graduates also have the option to start their own dental clinic to treat patients. With enough capital and proper research, a dental clinic can help you earn decent money.

Salary Scope after BDS

Fresh graduates can expect their salaries to vary from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month depending on the type of jobs they have applied for and the hospitals or dental clinics where they are working.

After pursuing MDS the chances of earning a better salary are high as an MDS usually makes 4 to 6 lakh per annum. 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.

Also Read: Scope After Pursuing MBBS: Career Options and Higher Studies