MDS or Master of Dental Surgery is a specialized area of medical science that concentrates only on the oral, jaw, dental section and other facial. MDS is a three years long program. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree in Dental Science and in special cases, 1-year internship experience can only apply for this course.
MDS Admission is entirely entrance examination based. The prominent entrance examinations of Dental courses are NEET MDS, AIIMS PG, AIPGDEE, etc. The entrance examinations can be of state-level or national level. The average annual MDS course fee varies depending upon the type of institute the candidate is applying for. In the case of government institutes, the fee starts from INR 12,000 and in the case of private colleges, that goes up to INR 17,00,000.
Indian Medical colleges do not provide campus placement. After completion of the degree, candidates pursue their career either by joining private practice, private hospitals, government hospitals, etc. Dental departments of Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Research Centers, and Educational Institutions are popular jobs providing areas for MDS dentists for the roles of Dentists, Dental researchers, Dental Teachers, etc. Candidates can Become a Dentist after completing the MDS course. The average salary of a dentist ranges from INR 4 – 8 LPA.
Master of Dental Surgery: Course Highlights
| Course Level | Master’s degree |
| Full-Form | Master of Dental Surgery |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination type | Yearly |
| Eligibility | Minimum 50% in BDS, Entrance test score |
| Admission Process | Merit and Entrance based |
| Course Fee | Government: Approx INR 2,000 Private: Approx INR 17,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 5,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Private: Fortis Healthcare , MAX Healthcare , Care Hospitals, Apollo Hospitals, Dental clinics, Nursing Homes Government: Indian Council of Medical Research, AIIMS, State Hospitals, Health Centers, Public Health Centers |
| Job Positions | Dentist/ Dental surgeon in clinics and hospitals Dental Hygienist Academic Lecturer Clinical Research Scientist General Practitioner |
Master of Dental Surgery: What is it About?
Dental Science is a specialized section of medical science. Master of Dental Surgery is a dedicated course of specialized study.
- It concentrates on oral and dental hygiene, anatomy, problems, cure, prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation.
- The course is curated emphasizing the in-depth knowledge of the detailed topics related to oral and dental health and hygiene extensively.
- In a country like India where oral problems and ailments are a constant matter of concern, higher studies in dentistry is clearly a good career choice. It involves the population and public health aspects as well as children.
- This vast field of study involves several specializations due to the elaborate nature of the study.
- Candidates must choose from the list of specializations according to their choice. He or she will be progressing his or her future study on this specialization only.
Why Study Master of Dental Surgery?
Master of Dental Surgery is the final level of professional study that involves gaining professional knowledge and skills that are important for the medical branch of dentistry.
- Aspirants get in-depth knowledge as well as hands-on experience in solving real-life medical problems associated with oral and dental ailments through various specializations.
- This is a vast field of study, so to start your career as an expert on this topic, a student needs to achieve professional proficiency by undergoing laboratory training, OPD duties, internship, practical classes, seminars, lectures, etc.
- Candidates, who wish to build a career in the medical field of dental and oral specialty, should pursue this course to be affiliated as an expert.
- At the final examination, students have to sit for a written test, submit a thesis, clear practical exams, and give a viva-voce.
- After completion of the study, candidates get to start their career as the experts in Dental Surgery, with specialization of their choice.
- Job opportunities like Dental Surgeon, Dental Hygienist, Academic Lecturer, Clinical Research Scientist, General Practitioner are the most popular options available for an Master of Dental Surgery candidate.
- In the future, Ph.D. in Dental Surgery is a promising step for MDS candidates. It will help in increasing the value and the extent of career prospects to a great extent.
Master of Dental Surgery: Admission Process
Admission to the master’s degree program of Dental Surgery is purely based on entrance examinations.
- Colleges can conduct different examinations or can rely upon the scores achieved in any all India entrance examinations.
- Entrance examinations can be of either state or national level depending upon the consideration and rules of any college.
- After securing a valid mark or score, you will have to choose their choice of colleges at the time of counseling.
MDS Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for admission to the MDS course are as follows:
- Have passed Bachelor of Dental Science from an MCI affiliated and recognized Dental college of India.
- Have scored a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate.
- Candidates with a 2 year long PG Diploma in Dental Surgery, as recognized by the Dental Council of India, are also eligible to apply for this course.
- As additional criteria, colleges like Manipal College of Dental Science also demand a one-year internship after successful completion of BDS as their prerequisite to admission in the Master of Dental Surgery course.
Top MDS Entrance Exams
Colleges, Universities, or national agencies conduct entrance examinations for admission into the Diploma course in Pharmacy.
- NEET MDS: NEET MDS is an all India entrance examination held for admission to the MDS course across India. For the year of 2024, the NEET MDS dates are yet to be declared.
Important dates regarding the above mentioned entrance exams for MDS:
| Exam Name | Exam Details |
|---|---|
| NEET MDS | Check NEET MDS Dates |
How to Prepare for MDS Entrance Exams?
The entrance examination is conducted in centers all over India. To prepare for this entrance examination, you must start preparing at least 1.5 years ahead.
- The syllabus will be of Bachelor of Dental Sciences standard. The syllabus consists of topics like: Orthodontics, Oral anatomy, Pedodontics, Oral medicine and Radiology, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral pathology, Pharmacology, Public health, Human anatomy, Human physiology, Dental materials, Oral surgery, Conservative Dentistry.
- The above-mentioned entrance exams would include 200 multiple-choice questions.
- Each question is of 1 mark. There are negative markings in this examination.
- The duration of the examination is 2.5-3 hours.
Know more about: MDS Syllabus
How to get Admission in Top MDS Colleges?
The entire admission procedure is based on the counseling session of the MDS entrance.
- The counseling session is completely dependent upon the score you achieved in the all India dental entrance.
- Hence, to increase your chance by the greatest level, do prepare well for the entrance examination.
- Some colleges also emphasize on the result of the BDS examination, so, scoring excellent marks in your BDS examination also secures your place in getting admitted into your choice of the college.
- After giving the MDS entrance examination, do have an idea of your tentative score.
- Now shortlist your choice of colleges as per previous years’ cut-offs.
- Maintain this list while appearing for the counseling and opt for the best college as per your choice.
See more: Top MDS Colleges in India
How to Apply for MDS?
Follow the steps to apply for the entrance examinations:
- Visit the official website of the entrance examination conducting authority
- Register yourself to get a valid ID and password.
- Re-log in using these credentials and fill-up the form accordingly.
- Carefully review the form and upload scanned copies of essential testimonials, signature, the impression of left thumb, and photographs.
- After reviewing, submit the application.
- Retain a printed copy of the same for future correspondence.
- Visit the website regularly for updates regarding the admit card.
MDS Syllabus
The syllabus of MDS covers extensive studies regarding each specialization subject.
- Students choose a specialization according to their preferences. The course of study involves lectures, seminars, clinical and laboratory techniques, and many more.
- Students who wish to gather detailed knowledge regarding the pattern and subjects included in the MDS syllabus can refer to the following table for better understanding.
- The basic structure of the MDS syllabus has been described below. Universities can alter or curate this structure according to their rules and study design.
| Didactic Lectures | Joint Clinical Meetings with Allied Specialties |
|---|---|
| Seminars | Weekly Journal Clubs |
| Demonstrations | Submission of Dissertation Thesis, Models, Radiographs and Photographs |
| Laboratory Techniques | The students will work on patients in the clinics under the supervision of teachers |
| Clinical Case Conference | The students will undertake the laboratory work for the patients who are under their treatment |
| Structured Lecture Programs | Training in Methodology of Teaching – Candidates will attend the undergraduate classes to learn the methodology of teaching and will be encouraged to teach undergraduate students. |
MDS Top Colleges
BDS is a popular stream of study that is taught by various colleges across India. Aspirants wishing to pursue Master of Dental Surgery from any specific college must secure an appropriate rank in Entrance, so that at the time of counseling, they can opt for the college of their choice.
| College Name | Location | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi | New Delhi | INR 2,027 |
| Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi | New Delhi | INR 2,809 |
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore | Mangalore | INR 17,60,000 |
| AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore | Mangalore | INR 10,08,000 |
| Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata | Kolkata | INR 18,000 |
| BHU | Benaras | INR 22,860 |
| Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth | Pune | INR 14,00,000 |
| SBBDC | Ghaziabad | INR 8,00,000 |
| SPPGIDMS | Lucknow | INR 8,00,000 |
| Babu Banarasi Das University | Lucknow | INR 6,49,000 |
| Educare Institute of Dental Sciences | Malappuram | INR 8,50,000 |
After completion of the degree, candidates pursue their career either by joining private practice, private hospitals, government hospitals, or higher studies.
MDS College Comparison
| Parameter | AIIMS | Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi | Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Established in 1956 in Delhi, AIIMS is an autonomous University. Ranked as 1 in Medical by NIRF 2020 ranking, this institute is the medical nodal entity for the Government of India and ICMR. | Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences is a Delhi-based Dental college under the affiliation of the Medical Council of India. This Dental institute is ranked 17th by NIRF 2020. | Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore is a private college ranked 6th in Dental in NIRF 2020. Established in 1987, this DCI affiliated college is situated at Mangalore. |
| Average fee | INR 2,027 | INR 2,809 | INR 17,60,000 |
| Course Duration | 3years | 3years | 3years |
| Admission Type | Merit+Entrance | Merit+Entrance | Merit+Entrance |
Course Comparison: MDS vs DDS
MDS is a master’s degree program whereas DDS is a doctoral degree program in Dental specialization. Both degrees have their utilities and plus points but that entirely depends upon the choice of the candidate. Candidates wishing to precede their career entirely based on India, should opt for MDS as DDS is not recognized here.
| Parameters | MDS | DDS |
|---|---|---|
| Course Level | Masters | Doctorate |
| Course duration | 3 years | 2 years |
| Examination | Yearly | Yearly |
| Minimum Eligibility Criteria | BDS + Entrance | MDS+ |
| Admission | Merit+Entrance Exam | Merit |
| Course Fee | INR 2,000 - 17,00,000 | INR 13,00,000 |
| Recognized in | India/Gulf | USA |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 5,00,000 | INR 13,00,000 |
MDS Specialization
Specialization in MDS does not mean separate courses but students can choose from a wide variety of courses to choose one specific subject as the specialization. The candidate may refer to the following list of subjects, offered as a specialization in Master of Dental Surgery.
- Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge- Restoration and maintenance of oral function, health, comfort, and appearance.
- Periodontology- health and diseases of teeth supporting structures and mucosal membranes.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery-Surgical interpretation of jaws, teeth, and surrounding areas of the mouth.
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics- Treatment and care of hard tissues and internal structure of teeth.
- Orthodontics- Rectification of oral misstructure
- Oral Pathology and Microbiology-Detailed knowledge regarding the causes, types, remedy, and pathology of oral diseases and ailments.
- Public Health Dentistry-Community based approach to prevent and cure oral problems of the public.
- Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry- Identification, treatment, and prevention of oral and dental problems of children.
- Oral Medicine and Radiology-Diagnostic study of techniques and treatments of dental and oral ailments.
MDS Job Profiles
Aspirants who wish to pursue their academic study in Dental Surgery may refer to the following table to understand the possible career opportunities, job profiles, and average salary of different job profiles of a fresh Master’s candidate.
| Job Profile | Description | Average salary |
|---|---|---|
| General practitioner | Work independently as an expert in either individual practice or get attached to any clinic to examine, treat, and perform surgery on the patients if needed. | INR 5,40,000 |
| Clinical Research Scientist | Work as a professional in the field of research by working as a clinical research scientist. Research on the different specialization topics of Dental Science to discover newer methods, pathology, treatments, distinguishing factors, methods of prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation. | INR 3,00,000 |
| Dental Surgeon | Work as an integral part of any hospital. The main responsibility of any Dental Surgeon would involve observing, examining, and treating dental and oral ailments in-house as well as OPD patients and performing operation accordingly. | INR 7,50,000 |
| Academic lecturer | Teach bachelor's and master’s degree students of Dental colleges about the detailed course. Guide them in theory as well as in-depth practical classes. Conduct standard research and get involved in the progress of dental science by contributing to contemporary dental research. | INR 6,80,000 |
MDS Future Scope
It is needless to say that in the Medical profession, career growth is always uprising due to ever increasing demand. Additionally, due to the poor oral health condition with several oral addictions of common people, this country always needs potent and qualified Dental professionals. In addition to the master’s degree, an Master of Dental Surgery candidate can further improve his or her career in two broad ways:
- Academic Scope: Doctoral degree is one of the finest academic qualifications that help in securing bright future options in the fields of Dental Surgery. After MDS, interested students can opt to pursue research with subsequent Ph.D. degrees in MDS with a fellowship.
- Professional Scope: After acquiring higher degrees and gaining experiences, candidates can apply for higher ranking positions in different colleges, hospitals. Private practice is another prosperous future scope. With experience and degree, he or she can prosper in private practice efficiently.
- After successful completion of MDS, graduates can find career opportunities in the Private Dental Clinics, Dental Departments of Hospitals, Dental Clinics of Government Health Clinics, Academic Institutions, Pharmaceutical Research Centers for Oral care products sectors and many more.
MDS FAQs
Ques. What about the campus placements of MDS offered by the colleges?
Ans. Indian medical colleges and universities do not provide campus placement opportunities. Any medical degree has impeccable demands of talented doctors, hence, after completing the degree, there are plenty of vacancies and the candidate can easily join in any private or government job opportunities around the country.
Ques. What is the selection procedure of MDS?
Ans. Students seeking admission to the MDS program are selected entirely based on their merit. The colleges, either completely rely on the entrance examinations and the score obtained in it, or a combination of the score secured in the entrance examination along with the marks scored in the BDS program.
Ques. What is the cut AIIMS PG cut off for MDS?
Ans. All India Institute for Medical Science conducts the AIIMS PG entrance test for the admission to its post-graduate programs such as MD, MS, MDS, etc. AIIMS has restricted its AIIMS PG cut off for postgraduate program Masters In Dental Surgery to be 76.
Ques. What are the popular specializations related to Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)?
Ans. There are nine specializations offered in the MDS program in India. Among those, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Conservative Dentistry, Public Health, Oral Pathology, and Microbiology are some of the most popular choices having brighter prospects.
Ques. What is the average course fee of the MDS course in Government College?
Ans. A number of excellent government or public colleges offer MDS programs in all the specializations to the candidates. The course fee in these colleges is very reasonable, starting for INR 2,000 per year for a three years degree course.
Ques. Is there a hostel facility, provided for the students of MDS?
Ans. Yes, all the colleges have separate hostel wings for girls and boys. MDS students get allocation into these hostels on a sharing basis depending on the distance of the college from their homes. Out stationed candidates get the highest priority.
Ques. Is it essential to pursue MDS after BDS?
Ans. Bachelor's degree in Dental Science is a basic medical degree. Students with a BDS degree can get a job as a Dentist, but the scope of work and the pay scale will be very less. To increase the subject knowledge, exposure as well as pay scale, candidates may pursue an MDS degree.
Ques. How many seats are there in each college for the MDS course?
Ans. The number of seats each college provides an MDS degree depends upon the college itself. Generally, each college has nearly 50 seats for MDS for all the specializations combined.
Ques. I wish to apply for the MDS course at Manipal College of Dental Science and Research. What are the eligibility criteria?
Ans. You must possess a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate in your BDS examination, you must have appeared in the NEET examination and scored a valid rank that is at par with the college cut off, and thirdly, you must have completed a yearlong internship to be eligible to apply for MDS course in any specialization in Manipal College of Dental Science and Research.
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