MDS (Master of Dental Surgery): Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Duration: 3 Years
Avg Fees: INR 1,50,000-7,00,000 Per Year
Thasleen Mohideen
Thasleen Mohideen

Updated on - Feb 23, 2024

Latest Updates for MDS

  • 18 March 2024 :

    NEET MDS Result 2024 is expected to be released by Apr 18, 2024.

MDS or Master of Dental Surgery is a three-year postgraduate degree course that deals with teeth development, anatomy, physiology, diseases, diagnosis and treatment. The core subjects under MDS course syllabus include topics such as Etiopathogenesis Of Periodontal Diseases, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Diagnosis, Treatment, Preventive Periodontology and Implantology, etc.

MDS eligibility criteria are that the candidate must have graduated with a BDS degree with at least 50% aggregate marks from any institution recognized by the Dental Council of India. Additionally, the students must also appear for entrance examinations such as NEET MDS and INI CET to be eligible for admission into the MDS courses. 

The average MDS fees in India range from INR 1,50,000 - 7,00,000 per year based on the type of Institution and specialization. The MDS fees in private colleges range from INR 3,00,000 - 7,00,000 per year whereas the fees in government colleges range from INR 1,50,000 - 4,00,000 per year.

Table of Contents

MDS Course Details

Degree Masters
Full Form Master of Dental Sciences
Duration 3 Years
Age Minimum age limit is 20 years.
Minimum Percentage 55% aggregate marks in BDS.
Average Fees INR 1,50,000-7,00,000 Per Year
Similar Options of Study MS, MD, DDS
Average Salary INR 3 - 8 LPA
Employment Roles Dental Assistant, Dental Hygienist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Periodontist, Orthodontist
Top Recruiters Apollo Hospitals, Manipal Hospitals, Sascan Meditech, Cipla, Pfizer

What is MDS Course?

MDS Full Form stands for Master of Dental Surgery, which is a postgraduate dental degree designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required for diagnosing and treating dental problems and diseases. There is a huge demand for dentists in India due to the increase in the elderly population, changes in lifestyles, awareness about dental health, etc.

India's dental market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% between 2021 and 2028, according to a report by Grand View Research. MDS graduates are employed in various job roles such as Assistant Dentist, Periodontist, Orthodontist, Maxillofacial Surgeon, etc based on their area of specialization. The MDS salary ranges from INR 3-8 LPA. 

MDS Eligibility Criteria

The candidates seeking MDS admission must fulfil certain eligibility criteria such as merit score, undergraduate requirements, age limit, etc. Listed below are the MDS eligibility criteria:

  • Candidates must have graduated from BDS with at least 55% aggregate marks from any institution recognised by the Dental Council of India. The candidate must also appear for entrance examinations such as NEET MDS and INI CET to be eligible for the MDS admission
  • The candidate must have completed their internship after completion of the BDS course at least for 6 months.
  • The minimum age limit for admission into the MDS course is 20 years.

Why Choose a Master of Dental Surgery Course?

MDS Course graduates are in huge demand across the country due to factors like increasing awareness about dental health, changes in lifestyle, growth of the industry in the global market, etc. Given below are the important pointers on why choosing an MDS course can be the right choice,

  • As per the report by Research and Markets, the dental education market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.6% between 2020 and 2025
  • According to the Insights 10 survey, India's dental care market was valued at $653 Mn in 2022 and is estimated to expand at the rate (CAGR) of 9.40% from 2022 to 2030 and will reach $1339 Mn in 2030.
  • The employment outlook for MDS course graduates or Dentists is projected to grow at the rate of 4% between the year 2022-2032 as per the report by the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

MDS Admission Process 2024

The MDS course admission process is mainly done through the merit score obtained in the undergraduate program and based on the entrance examination score. Listed below is the step-by-step MDS admission process:

  • Step 1: The candidate must fulfil the eligibility criteria as mentioned above to be eligible for MDS admission.
  • Step 2: They should appear for the entrance examination as per the requirements of the college of their choice
  • Step 3: The candidate can submit the application form either in online or offline mode 
  • Step 4: Once the merit list is out, the candidate must appear for a counselling session in the college
  • Step 5: The candidate must submit their documents such as mark sheets, certificates, registration with DCI, etc for the verification process
  • Step 6: Upon successful document verification, the candidate can proceed with fee payment to confirm their MDS admission

MDS Entrance Exams

The MDS admission is done based on the entrance examination score in colleges such as AIIMS, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, etc. 

Listed below is the MDS course entrance examination and their registration details:

MDS Entrance Exam

Registration Details

Accepting Colleges

NEET MDS

Jan 30 - Feb 19, 2024

SRM Dental College, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, 

Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences

INI CET

Sep 15 - Oct 05, 2023

AIIMS, NIMHANS, JIPMER, PGIMER

Top MDS Colleges in India with Fees

The MDS course fees in India range from INR 1,50,000 - 7,00,000 Per Year based on the type of institution, infrastructure, placement opportunities, clinical exposure, etc. Top private colleges such as Saveetha Dental College, Christian Dental College, and Manipal College of Dental Science offer the MDS course. Government colleges such as AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER, etc also offer MDS courses in India.

Listed below are the top dental colleges offering MDS courses in India as per NIRF Ranking 2023 and their fee details:

NIRF Ranking 2023

Name of the College

Admission Fees

MDS Tuition Fees Per Year

Miscellaneous Fees

1

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences

INR 1,50,000

INR 6,00,000

INR 3,70,000

2

Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal

INR 1,400

INR 3,60,000

INR 2,00,000

3

Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth

INR 25,000

INR 6,00,000

INR 3,05,000

4

Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences

INR 1,500

INR 30,000

-

5

A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences

INR 1,00,000

INR 5,75,000

-

6

SRM Dental College

INR 1,60,000

INR 4,50,000

INR 75,000

7

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

INR 5,000

INR 8,00,000

INR 2,50,000

8

Manipal College of Dental Sciences Mangalore

INR 45,000

INR 2,10,000

-

9

Siksha `O` Anusandhan

INR 20,000

INR 12,00,000

INR 2,00,000

10

Jamia Millia Islamia

INR 100

INR 31,100

INR 3,500

Top City-Wise MDS Colleges in India

Listed below are the city-wise colleges in India offering MDS course and their average fees details:

Cities

Average Fees Per Year

MDS Colleges in Bangalore

INR 6,20,000

MDS Colleges in Bhopal

INR 4,80,000

MDS Colleges in Pune

INR 1,50,000

MDS Colleges in Lucknow

INR 6,50,000

MDS Colleges in Patna

INR 7,00,000

MDS Colleges in Jaipur

INR 3,40,000

MDS Colleges in Delhi

INR 6,67,000

MDS Colleges in Mangalore

INR 5,90,000

MDS Colleges in Mumbai

INR 1,25,000

MDS Course Syllabus and Subjects

MDS syllabus is divided into six semesters with an extensive focus on providing students with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the various disease conditions, diagnoses and treatments. 

MDS subjects focus on topics such as Oral Pathology, Oral Microbiology & Forensic Odontology, Laboratory and Histopathological technique, Growth and Development, Basics in orthodontics, Diagnosis & Radiology, etc. 

Listed below is the semester-wise MDS syllabus:

Semester-I 

Semester-II

Applied Basic Science

Branch I Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Diagnosis, Treatment, Preventive Periodontology and Implantology

Minor Oral Surgery and Trauma

Recent Advances in Periodontics

Branch I Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Etiopathogenesis Of Periodontal Diseases

Maxillofacial Surgery

-

Recent Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Semester-III

Semester-IV

Oral Pathology, Oral Microbiology & Forensic Odontology

Conservative Dentistry including Preventive dentistry and Dental Materials

Recent Advances In Oral Pathology

Endodontics

Laboratory And Histopathological Techniques

Applied Basic Sciences

Applied Basic Sciences

Recent Advances in Conservative Dentistry

Semester-V

Semester-VI

Applied Basic Sciences

Seminars

Recent Advances in Orthodontics

Demonstrations

Growth and Development, Basics in Orthodontics, Diagnosis & Radiology

Didactic Lectures

Bio-Mechanics & Various Orthodontics Tissue Changes, Techniques & Treatment Planning

Structured Lecture Programs

Submission of Dissertation Thesis, Models, Radiographs, and Photographs

Clinical Case Conference

Training in Methodology of Teaching

-

Read More: MDS Course Syllabus and Subjects

MDS vs DDS

MDS is a three-year postgraduate program aiming at equipping students with knowledge related to dental science through various topics such as Orthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics, etc whereas DDS is a two-year doctoral program enabling students to work in countries like the US, UK, and Canada, etc. 

Listed below is the comparison between DDS and MDS based on various parameters:

Course

MDS

DDS

Full Form

Master of Dental Surgery

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Course Duration

3 Years

2 Years

Course Overview

MDS course covers subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, Applied Oral anatomy, etc

DDS course focuses on topics such as Basic Mechanism of Disease, Dental Morphology, Gross Anatomy of the Head, Neck and Trunk

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum of 55% aggregate marks in BDS 

Minimum of 50% marks in MDS

Course Fees Per Year

INR 1,50,000 - 7,00,000

INR 7,00,000 - 13,00,000

Entrance Exam

NEET MDS, INI CET

Merit Based

Top Colleges

AIIMS, Saveetha Dental College, JIPMER, PGIMER

Saveetha Dental College, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Manipal College of Dental Science

Job Roles

Assistant Dentist, Orthodontist, Dental Specialist

Prosthodontist, pediatric Dentist, Oral and maxillofacial surgeon

Average Salary

INR 3-8 LPA

INR 6-15 LPA

Courses After Master of Dental Surgery

Master of Dental Science is one of the most in-demand professions on the job market. Those aspirants who have completed a Master of Dental Science have a wide range of job opportunities. 

Higher education will allow pupils to advance in their careers and earn more money. Master of Dental Science aspirants can work in various medical fields, and industries as most careers have become health-conscious. Listed below are some of the courses that students can opt for after MDS:

  • MASLP
  • MPhil Dentistry
  • MPhil Audiology
  • MPhil Dental Hygiene
  • MPhil Dental Technology
  • Diploma in Radiology and Maxillofacial
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery
  • Master of Science in Forensic Dentistry

Also, Check: PhD After MDS

Career Options After MDS Course

MDS graduates are employed in various job roles such as Assistant Dentist, Orthodontist, Dental Specialist, General Dentist, etc in top healthcare firms in India like Apollo Hospitals, Manipal Hospitals, Cipla, Pfizer, etc.

Listed below are some of the career options after MDS course and their details:

Job Designation

Job Description

Hiring Companies

General Dentist

Responsible for examining the patients and finding dental problems through various diagnostic tests, designing and fitting the dental prosthetics, and educating patients on oral hygiene.

Tattva Home Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals,  Dr.Kamakshi Memorial Hospital

Pediatric Dentist

Responsible for examining the newborns and infants for their oral health and developmental milestones and treating any diseases that have been diagnosed in infants and children.

GC Dental World, Wesa Healthcare, Clove Dental

Dental Hygienist

Responsible for assisting the patients with conducting initial patient screenings, cleaning teeth and advising patients on the importance of oral health. 

Phillips, Apollo Hospital, Max Healthcare, Abbott

Top Recruiters for MDS Graduates in India

Listed below are top recruiters hiring MDS graduates in India:

Max Healthcare

Apollo Hospitals

Phillips

Abbott

Cipla

Pfizer

Clove Dental

Fortis

Manipal Hospitals

Paras Healthcare

Narayana Health

Dr Lal Pathlabs

Salary of an MDS Graduate

The MDS salary in India ranges from INR 3-7 LPA based on experience and skill set. MDS graduates with 0-1 years of experience earn around INR 3-5.5 LPA and the salary range can go up to INR 12 LPA with 3+ years of experience.

Listed below are the MDS salary details based on the experience:

MDS Jobs

Entry Level Average Salary

Salary After 3 Years of Experience

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

INR 5.2 LPA

INR 7.6 LPA

Periodontist

INR 4.2 LPA

INR 10.0 LPA

Orthodontist

INR 6.3 LPA

INR 11.0 LPA

Dental Hygienist

INR 3.6 LPA

INR 9.3 LPA

Prosthodontist

INR 5.0 LPA

INR 10.5 LPA

Pediatric Dentist

INR 4.0 LPA

INR 8.2 LPA

Read More: Salary of an MDS Graduate

Top 5 Cities to Pursue MDS Course in India

Students can opt to pursue MDS courses in top cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, etc as it has the most renowned institutions such as SRM Dental College, AIIMS, Saveetha Dental College, etc.

Below listed are the top 5 cities to pursue an MDS course based on industry exposure, and reputation, infrastructure, placement opportunities, affordability, cost of living in the city, etc.

City

Top Colleges Offering MDS Course

Average Living Expense (INR)

Average Starting Salary (INR)

Top Recruiters

Bangalore

The Oxford Dental College and Hospital

40,000 - 45,000 Per Month

20,000-22,000 Per Month

Apollo Hospitals, Max Healthcare, Clove Dental

Mumbai

Government Dental College and Hospital,Mumbai

30,000 - 60,000 Per Month

20,000-35,000 Per Month

Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, Ceramco Dental Clinic, Ceramco

Hyderabad

Government Dental College- Hyderabad 

INR 15,000 - 25,000 Per Month

INR 15,000 - 25,000 Per Month

Galaxy Dental Care, Vista Dental Studio, Apollo hospitals

Chennai

Sri Ramachandra Dental College

INR 20,000 - 25,000 Per Month

16,000-25,000 Per Month

MIOT International Hospital, Apollo Speciality Hospital, SIMS Hospital

Delhi

Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences

INR 70,000 - 75,000 Per Month

INR 12,000 - 20,000 Per Month

Max Super Speciality Hospital, SCI International Hospital

MDS Scholarships

MDS graduates can avail of scholarships from various government organizations, educational institutions, and NGOs. etc based on various criteria such as the merit score, quota, etc. Listed below are the MDS Scholarships offered by organizations to students and their eligibility criteria and benefits:

MDS Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

Amount

Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Fee Reimbursement Scholarship Scheme

The candidate must belong to Maharashtra’s Economically Backward Class with at least 50% marks in BDS. Family Income should be less than 8LPA

50% of the total course fees.

Indian Dental Association Scholarship

The student must be amongst the first three rank holders in the respective BDS academic years and also a member of IDA

Full Tuition Fee Waiver

Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship

Interest-free loan to all graduates pursuing the postgraduate and undergraduate program and must be under the age of 30. 

Up to INR 75,000

Skills Required for Master of Dental Surgery Postgraduates

A Master of Dental Science aspirant should possess problem-solving, leadership, and technical skills. In addition, at its foundation, dental science necessitates applied dexterity, a hands-on understanding of the work and strong interpersonal skills such as networking, leadership, and conflict resolution.

Listed below are the skills required for MDS graduates:

  • Compassion: The job role of a dentist involves working with people from diverse backgrounds, hence candidates need to demonstrate compassion and empathy while on the job.
  • Attention to Detail: Right from history collection to treatment, it is essential for MDS graduates to have active listening and observation skills in order to deliver care properly.
  • Dexterity: Dental procedure often involves working with tiny tools and objects and the candidate must show utmost care and attention in performing the procedures.

MDS Fee Structure

See Various MDS Colleges in India

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