Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) - Course Overview

About Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)

Master of Dental Surgery is a postgraduate degree in Dentistry. The duration of the Master of Dental Surgery is a three-years but there is a provision of a two-years MDS course for the candidates who have completed a Post Graduate Diploma course recognised by DCI.

MDS provides aspirants with training in different disciplines in dentistry. The main objective of the course is to train students to become registered dental specialists. The MDS course prepares candidates to be both practitioners and advisory consultants in their chosen areas of specialisation.

The Master of Dental Surgery course further aims to develop research skills, advanced clinical skills, and critical skills that are important for specialist registration.BDS graduates who wish to pursue an MDS course will have to clear the entrance exam conducted either by different states or by colleges. Students have to score minimum required marks to get admissions in the college of their choice. MDS degree provides a backbone to a dentist's career as it helps them to apply for higher posts such as directors in hospitals or colleges. MDS graduates get paid very well according to their job position.

Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) Highlights

Some of the important highlights of Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) course is as follows:

Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Qualification: Candidate must have a bachelor’s degree Bachelors in Dental Surgery (BDS) or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Dental Council of India.

Foreign Nationals seeking admission in the MDS course must procure a temporary registration from the Dental Council of India till the time they are pursuing postgraduate training.

Age Criteria: Candidate should be at least 21 years of age to apply for the AICET entrance test for admission to the MDS course offered by various Dental colleges in India.

Others: Candidates should be physically fit and should not suffer from any contagious disease when applying for the MDS course.

Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) Admissions

Admission to the Master of Dental Surgery Course (MDS) is strictly done on the basis of candidates' performance in the NEET MDS entrance exam. Earlier, there used to be many state-level exams for MDS admissions but from now on NEET-MDS is a single-window entrance examination for Dental PG courses. No other entrance examination, either at state or institution level, shall be valid for entry to MDS Courses.

MDS Entrance Exam

There is only one exam for MDS admissions in India which is NEET MDS.

Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can fill in the application form and appear in the entrance examination. Seat allotment is done on the basis of merit/cut off list which is released after the result is declared.

MDS Specialisations

Prosthodontics: It is that branch of dental surgery that is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment planning, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth.

Orthodontics: It is one of the branches of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are not structured well. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay, and periodontal disease and can even lead to several headaches and other related problems.

Operative Dentistry: Operative dentistry is the area of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases or trauma to teeth.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is the branch that is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of disorders affecting the facial complex and skeleton, including the jaws and oral cavity.

Conservative Dentistry: It is the branch of dentistry that is concerned with the conservation of teeth in the mouth.

Periodontics: Periodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants.

Oral Medicine and Radiology: It is that branch in dentistry that deals with diseases of oral and surrounding structures.

Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) Syllabus

Career Options and Job Prospects

The demand for professionals in Dental Surgery in the country is growing day by day, as government and private healthcare units are trying their best to provide oral healthcare services to the citizens of India. Dental care is an important aspect to maintain good health. After completing a Masters in Dental Surgery can find employment in the following areas along with job opportunities that the candidate can take up, some of the jobs that are available are listed below: