Table of Contents
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) which is a 5-years undergraduate program and the only recognized professional dental course in India. Students after the completion of BDS course become doctors . It is a mandatory course for students aspiring to do the job of dentists at government or private hospitals. BDS mainly covers the training and introducing students to the dental science and surgery. The 5-year program has 4 years of classroom education and 1 year of compulsory rotating internship.
The degree is accorded by the Dental Council of India (DCI). The various BDS subjects which are taught in the program include Dental Histology, Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery, etc. It is important for the students to register themselves in the Dental Council of India which accords the BDS course so that they become legally eligible to practice their profession after the completion of their degree.
What is Bachelor of Dental Surgery?
BDS has been one of the most sought after medical courses among students after MBBS. A brief description of the course is given below:
- BDS is a 5-year undergraduate course for the students who want to pursue the field of Dental Sciences.
- It is a mandatory course for students who wish to work as dentists at government or private hospitals.
- BDS is the most popular medical course after MBBS.
- Students in their final year are required to do one year of compulsory internship which is on rotation basis, they have to take 2-3 rotations in various departments.
- Students are taught subjects like Oral Pathology, Dental Hygiene, Dental Histology, Public Health Dentistry during the 5 years of the course.
- The thorough study of these subjects provides them with in depth knowledge and skill to practice dentistry.
- After the completion of BDS, students generally practice dentistry in government , private hospitals or in their own private clinics..
- Students who further want to enhance their academic background after BDS may opt for MDS ( Masters of Dental Surgery). This will also provide them with enhanced career opportunities.
- Apart from the given points, BDS also provides students with a variety of opportunities in terms of employment as well as higher education.
In India, for getting an admission to BDS courses, it is compulsory for students to qualify for a 10+2 exam or an equivalent degree with at least 50% from a recognized institute. Entrance to BDS is done through one common entrance exam. The entrance exam is called National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam ( NEET ) which is held as a national level exam once a year.
Based on the data of 2022, there are around 300 dental colleges in India which implies that there are a total of 26,000 seats in both government as well as private colleges. In India, the fee for BDS range between INR 1-8 lacs per year.
The Fee for private BDS colleges ranges between INR 6-9 Lakhs per year. Students may receive a monthly stipend of INR 15,000 – 40,000 (approx.) which entirely depends upon the college.
The professional application of BDS graduates includes Dentists, lecturers, Dental Research Scientists, at reputed hospitals and as faculty in various BDS colleges across the country. The average salaries of the BDS graduates ranges in INR 4-10 lacs per annum bracket. Graduates can also apply for Govt Jobs which are published regularly.
What is the Admission Process of BDS ?
Undermentioned is the brief summary of the admission process in BDS.
- Admissions to BDS is done through the national level NEET exam conducted across the country.
- The government has mandated in 2016 that admissions to medical courses like MBBS, BDS, will require students to appear for NEET.
- Students desirous of pursuing BDS as a carrier must have a score of 50% in the 10+2 qualifying examination.
- Candidates who meet all the required criteria can only participate in the BDS admission process.
- All the students who clear the cut-off set for the exam, can proceed with the counseling sessions for admission to the college.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for getting admission in BDS?
The eligibility criteria for the students who want to get admitted to BDS are as given below:
- The candidate must have passed the 10+2 qualifying exam or an equivalent degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate from a recognized institute.
- Physics, Chemistry and Biology must have been compulsory subjects in their 10+2.
- Student must have cleared the NEET qualifying exam of that particular year.
- Students who qualify the laid down guidelines like cut off marks etc can participate in the counselling process after the declaration of the NEET results.
- Three rounds of counselling are held prior to commencement of the admission.
What is the Entrance Exam for BDS?
Admission to BDS is done through the NEET exam, some of the important points for consideration are as under:
- The NEET exam is the only route for admission to the BDS program.
- NEET is conducted at all India level for the admissions to undergraduate medical courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSc Nursing etc.
- NEET aspirants need to register themselves on the official website and fill in their personal details.
- Candidates must fill out the online application form available over there.
- Admit cards are available on the official website of NTA few days prior to the conduct of exam.
- All the students who qualify the selection criteria like cut off marks etc can participate in the counselling process for admission into BDS.
- From 2016 onwards, it has been made mandatory that admissions to courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and all other medical course will take place only through the national level exam NEET.
- All the Government and Private dental colleges can take admission of students only through NEET exam.
How to Get Admission in A Top-Notch BDS College?
If you desire to get admitted to top reputed colleges offering the course then you must work really hard to get it. In Several reputed colleges in India are offering this course across different states, if some guideline are followed so as to get into these colleges:
- Admission to any good college requires a strong academic background, especially at the 10+2 level.
- The aspirants must also clear the NEET entrance exams with outstanding marks to get into these colleges.
- One year of thorough preparation is must for getting good NEET scores.
- If you clear the cut-off, then you must compulsorily attend the counseling sessions which are generally organized in three rounds.
- If you qualify in multiple colleges, pl check the college that gives you sound academic understanding and effective clinical experience.
- Plan and prepare for your professional carrier well in advance while undergoing BDS.
- Make arrangement for all the finances so that there is no hinderance on account of the same.