What is the full form of BDS?

Introduction

A Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is the most sought-after program in medical science after MBBS. Only the BDS degree is accepted and acknowledged as an undergraduate degree in India for having full knowledge and ability in dental surgery and training. B.D.S. is a five-year undergraduate course consisting of four years of theory and one year of rotational internships.

Dental Practice

Description: A dentist conducting medical practice on a patient.

About BDS

The 5-year undergraduate BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degree is India's only recognized professional dental course. Candidates who wish to become a dentist or practice dental surgery at public or private hospitals must enrol for the degree. BDS is a degree that provides students with education and exposure to dental sciences and procedures. The curriculum includes 4 years of classroom instruction and 1 year of compulsory internship.

The Dental Council of India controls the degree of DCI. Dental Histology, Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery, and other BDS courses are taught in the curriculum. In order to be eligible to practice their profession after receiving their degree, students are required to register their name with the Dental Council of India. Students wishing to apply to the BDS program in the country are required to pass the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Exam (NEET). This is a national-level exam conducted only once a year.

According to recent data, more than 300 dental colleges exist in India, meaning there are approximately 26,000 seats in both public and private institutions.

Eligibility

Students wishing to pursue BDS should fit into the eligibility criteria for sitting for the NEET exam as mentioned by the Dental Council of India. Hence, the eligibility includes −

• The prospective candidate must have earned at least a 50% overall grade point average in their 10+2 qualifying exams or a degree equivalent to the same from a recognized institution.

• Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are the subjects that must have been studied by the student in their 10+2 grade.

• The admissions process for this course in every college depends on the NEET score. To be admitted, the applicant must score above the exam's cut-off.

• Students who pass the entrance exam can apply to various colleges and appear for college-organized counselling sessions. Often, three counselling sessions are held in a row.

Course Details and Fee Structure

The Dental Council of India stipulates that the BDS degree shall be earned over the course of four academic periods, with 240 days of teaching every year and a year of compensated rotating internship in a licensed dental college. All applicants will be required to finish a one-year paid rotating internship after passing the last BDS exam. The degree is granted following successful completion of the BDS test and a one-year compensated internship. The average course fee for a BDS degree in a government institute is a maximum of 2 lakh Rupees whereas, in a private college, it may range from 30 to 50 lakh rupees or more.

In the first year, they are expected to study courses namely- General Human Anatomy including Embryology and Histology, General Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Dental Anatomy Embryology and Oral Histology, Dental Materials, Pre-clinical Prosthodontics, and Crown & Bridge.

In the second year, they would study- General Pathology and Microbiology, General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Dental Materials, Preclinical Conservative Dentistry, Pre-clinical Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology.

In the third year, the students are expected to study- General Medicine, General Surgery, Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology, Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry Periodontology, Prosthodontics, and Crown & Bridge

In the fourth year, they would study- Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Public Health Dentistry.

In the fifth and the last year, students would study- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, and Public Health Dentistry in a span of six months and in the form of 160 hours of lectures.

Career Option

After earning their BDS, students have a wide range of job options. To work as a dentist is the most common option. Some of their options are −

• Students can set up their private practice.

• They can go for higher education and register for a Master's in Dental Surgery in India or abroad.

• They can work as a consultant in a public or private hospital.

• They can also take up jobs as dentists in private or government hospitals.

• Candidates looking for jobs in the government sector can apply for dentist jobs in India's Defense Services like Army, Navy, Marine, and other important government sectors.

• They can work as a researcher under a Professor or a Doctor working under an institution.

Conclusion

BDS is one of the most competitive degree programs with a competitive entrance exam. Therefore, one must put in a lot of effort if one wishes to be accepted into one of the best institutions offering the course. This program is being offered in many states of India by numerous reputable universities.

FAQs

Q1 Which governing body regulates dental education in India?

Ans: The Dentists Act, of 1948 (XVI of 1948), which was enacted in March 1949, established the Dental Council of India and sought to regulate dental education, the dental profession, and dental ethics.

Q2 Mention one function of the Dental Council of India.

Ans: The Dental Council of India is tasked with maintaining uniform standards for dental education across the nation as well as with granting accreditation to the dental degrees granted by the various Universities.

Q3 Is it compulsory to clear NEET to register into BDS?

Ans: Yes, passing the NEET exam for registering into BDS is compulsory. It is so because only NEET-qualified candidates are allowed to study BDS.