Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] Course Details - Admissions, Eligibility, Duration and Course Fees

BDS or Bachelor of Dental Science course is a 4 years bachelor's dentistry course. Course duration can be extended up to 5 years if the student wishes to opt for an internship. BDS focuses on dental health and hygiene. Bachelor of Dental Science is the only course recommended in India for dental healthcare. BDS is the most sought medical course after MBBS.

Students who are interested in BDS can get admissions by writing entrance exams of different states or universities. Students can also write NEET to get admissions in BDS colleges. Dental care is very much important and so are BDS doctors or dentists as they are called, help the patients to maintain good hygiene. BDS graduates can find jobs very easily as they have the opportunity to start their own clinic or to work in hospitals. Dentists get paid well and with the experience, they can earn a lot. Dentists also have opportunities in government sectors.

BDS Fees in India:

BDS course fees may vary from different institutions with respect to college/university standards. The average BDS course fee is INR 50,000 to 4 Lakh per annum.

BDS Salary in India:

The average BDS salary is INR 3.05 Lakh per annum. This valuation varies based on the sector of employment of the aspirant as well as his or her diligence, dedication and seniority.

BDS Course:

The full form of BDS course is Bachelor of Dental Science. It is an undergraduate dentistry course. The BDS course duration is four years without an internship. If a candidate chooses for an optional internship, then the duration will increase to 5 years.  The Dental Council of India is the regulating body of the BDS course under the conduit of the Department of Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and this is the only course that is offered in India dealing with dental healthcare. Top BDS colleges and universities in India offering the BDS course include:

1. SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur
2. Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal
3. University School of Management Studies, New Delhi
4. Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, etc.

Dental science is focused on the rehabilitation of the teeth and its other functions. Oral Medicine and Radiology are the new areas of dental science which are increasingly being targeted on as the limelight while offering lucrative job opportunities to aspirants of the course.

The Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] course curriculum incorporates a large number of important and essential topics as part of the BDS course syllabus, they are:

• General Medicine
• General Surgery
• Oral Pathology & Microbiology
• Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics
• Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery, etc.

The course, while providing some significant attributes to the professional regarding oral care, also enables them to work on the oral genesis of other species. The most lucrative job opportunities available to the professionals of the BDS course are:

• Dental Clinics
• Dental Equipment Manufacturers
• Dental Products Manufacturers
• Educational Institutes

BDS Course Quick Links:

• Introduction to BDS Course
  
• Reasons for opting for BDS
  
• Entrance Exams for Admission into BDS Course
  
• Preparation Tips for BDS Course
  
• Subjects in the BDS Curriculum
  
• Fees of BDS Course
  
• Syllabus of BDS Curriculum
  
• Eligibility Criteria for Admission into BDS Course
  
• Admission Procedure for BDS Course
  
• Job Opportunities for BDS Course
  
• Salary Package for BDS Course
  
• Top BDS Colleges in India
  
• Difference between MBBS and BDS
• BDS Course FAQs

What is BDS Course?

Bachelor of Dental Science, abbreviated as BDS, is one of the most sought-after courses in the field of medical science, after Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS].

The Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] course enables an aspirant to pursue their career as a dentist. The syllabi of the BDS course comprises group discussions, seminars, clinical work, academic lectures, demonstrations, and conferences. Candidates are educated in the fields of dental treatment, including dental anatomy and oral histology, oral pathology, community dentistry, surgical procedures, dental materials, Pedodontics, oral medicine & radiology, etc.

Why Choose BDS?

The field of Medicine is always evergreen and full of opportunities. The scope of employment and a large number of jobs for a Bachelor of Dental Science in this sector are rising. The most sought-after medical course, after MBBS is the Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS]. BDS course grants the aspirants an opportunity to serve society and opens up a broad scope of employment for a noble profession. 

An aspirant training to serve as a dental surgeon is expected to possess excellent mental faculties, patience, and a calm mind. Aspirants of this field are faced with an array of exciting opportunities to serve as dental doctors and surgeons in both the private sector, as well as the government sector.

BDS Entrance Exams:

A large number of entrance exams are available for securing admission to the aspirants of Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] course:

1. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test [NEET]
2. Madhya Pradesh Dental/Medical Admission Test [MPDAT]
3. All India Common Entrance Test Bachelor of Dental Surgery [AICET BDS]
4. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test [IPU CET]
5. Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research [JIPMER]
6. Goa Common Entrance Test [GCET]
7. Siksha O Anusandhan University Admission Test [SAAT]
8. Rama University Entrance Test [RUET]

BDS Course Preparation Tips:

• Scrutinisation of the syllabus: The foremost step in preparation for BDS exams is the scrutinisation of the curriculum. As most of the entrance exams cover the NCERT syllabus, an aspirant should make a proper list of the topics required to be included additionally and should lay primary focus on the same.

• Develop your focus points: While scrutinising the syllabus, understand your weak points and lay particular emphasis on the same while preparing. Maintain composure and study ethics.

• Adhering to a set routine: Building a self-made timetable and adhering to it is mandatory as it sets the candidate a target to attain each day or week.

• Go through previous year question papers: It gives the aspirant an idea of the type of paper pattern and the level of difficulty while allowing the aspirant hands-on practice and experience.

Some of the reference books which should be referred to by an aspirant of BDS are listed below:

• Anatomy for Dental Students
• Textbook of Histology
• Human Embryology
• Atlas of Anatomy
• Human Physiology for BDS
• Essentials of Medical Physiology
• Principles of Physiology
• Concise Textbook of Physiology for Dental Students
• Manual of Practical Physiology for BDS
• Practical Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Essentials of Biochemistry
• Textbook of Biochemistry for Dental Students
  

BDS Subjects:

The course subjects pursued widely in the Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] curriculum are listed below. While minor variations in the subject structure may be noticed in some colleges, universities or institutions, the crux of the subject composition is maintained throughout.

1. General Human Anatomy
   
2. Embryology
   
3. Histology 
   
4. General Human Physiology
   
5. Biochemistry
   
6. Nutrition
   
7. Dietetics
   
8. Dental Anatomy
   
9. Embryology
   
10. Oral Histology
    
11. Dental Materials
    
12. Preclinical Prosthodontics
    
13. Crown and Bridge
    
14. General Pathology
    
15. Microbiology
    
16. General and Dental Pharmacology
    
17. Dental Therapeutics
    
18. Preclinical Conservative Dentistry
    
19. Oral Pathology
    
20. Oral Microbiology
    
21. General Medicine
    
22. General Surgery
    
23. Conservative Dentistry And Endodontics
    
24. Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery
    
25. Oral Medicine And Radiology
    
26. Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics
    
27. Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry
    
28. Periodontology
    
29. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.
    
30. Public Health Dentistry

BDS Course Fees:

The average course fee of Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] course for an aspirant is INR 50,000 - 4 lakhs per annum. This valuation varies based on the college or institution as well as government and management quotas where the aspirant has taken admission.

BDS Course Syllabus:

The course syllabus followed according to the Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] curriculum are tabulated below. Minor deviations may be noted in the curricula of individual colleges or universities, but the core of the syllabus is maintained in most institutes, colleges and universities throughout the nation.

BDS Course Eligibility:

The eligibility criteria to gain admission into a dental school include a pass certificate in 10+2 with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects and a minimum of 50% marks. Admission to BDS is granted through a national competitive examination called NEET.

The entrance examination is conducted in a large number of centres in all the major cities all over India. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test [NEET] conducted by the CBSE is common for both the MBBS and the Bachelor of Dental Sciences [BDS]. The allocation of institutions is based on merit.

Apart from the central government-administered medical examinations, each state government conducts a state-level exam, where admission is governed by domiciliary status. To be eligible to practise dentistry, one must ensure that the Dental Council approves the course chosen of India. 

BDS Course Admission:

The admission process for the course of Bachelor in Dental Science [BDS] is varied, wherein specific central government-run exams are conducted throughout the nation for admission into most government-affiliated colleges across the country. A few renowned private institutes choose to conduct entrance exams of their own.

BDS Job Opportunities:

The BDS job opportunities as an enormous scope of employment are available for graduates of BDS course with lucrative assignments in the public and private sector primarily in the medical industry:

1. Oral Pathologist
2. Dentist
3. Dental Surgeon
4. Dental health Consultant
5. Lecturer
6. Medical Writer

BDS Course Salary:

The average course salary of a graduate of Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] course is INR 3.05 lakhs per annum. This valuation varies based on the sector of employment of the aspirant as well as his or her diligence, dedication and seniority/ experience at the workplace.

List of BDS Colleges:

The top Bachelor of Dental Science [BDS] colleges in India are tabulated below:

Difference between MBBS and BDS:

MBBS:

• Full form: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
• Focal point: The MBBS course focusses on all the anatomical aspects of the body except the dental issue including gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, orthopaedics, cardiology, urology, oncology, endocrinology, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, anaesthesiology.

BDS:

• Full form: Bachelor of Dental Science
• Focal point: The BDS course focusses on the dental aspect of human anatomy as well as dental treatment including surgical procedures, dental materials, dental anatomy and oral histology, oral pathology, community dentistry, Pedodontics, oral medicine & radiology.

BDS Course FAQs:

1. Is BDS course eligible to become a doctor?
   -Yes, a graduate of the BDS course is eligible to practise dentistry as a certified doctor.

2. Is BDS equivalent to MBBS?
   -The BDS course is focussed on the dental aspect of the human anatomy along with the rehabilitation and treatment of the same. It confers on the graduate the title of Doctor just like MBBS. While it doesn't have the same respect or job opportunities as an MBBS, BDS is better than an MBBS without specialisations. 

3. Is BDS a good career option?
   -Yes, BDS is a very prospective career option with a large number of potential job opportunities in a large number of hospitals, dental clinics and nursing homes.

Other Related Courses in India:

• MBBS Course
• BAMS Course
• BHMS Course