ABOUT

BDS

BDS Course Overview

BDS full form Bachelor of Dental Surgery, is a 5-year course that helps candidates become dental surgeons. It comprises 4 years of classroom education and 1 year of mandatory rotating internship. Aspirants have to successfully complete class 12 exam or hold an equivalent degree with at least 85% from a well-known, recognized institute. The programme covers various aspects of dental problems, denture, and surgery in the same fields. BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery is the most popular medical course after MBBS. Candidates who successfully complete this course are awarded the title of ‘Dr’ and can practice dentistry once they have acquired the license. To secure admission into the BDS course, aspirants have to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam ( NEET ). This is the only entrance that acts as a gateway to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme.

BDS Course Types and Specialization

BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is a UG course that candidates study for five years. During this time period, aspirants learn topics and concepts for four years while one year is dedicated towards rotatory internship. The Dental Council of India (DCI) is the official body governing the course. Once aspirants clear the bachelor’s programme, they can opt for further studies or pursue a career.

Here are some of the specializations offered post-BDS studies:

Why Choose BDS course?

BDS courses allow candidates to study the art of dental care, wherein graduates who clear this course enjoy tremendous benefits, both professionally and personally. Some of the common reasons to opt for BDS Course are bright job prospects, high demand, starting salary can be up to INR 40,000 a month depending on the expertise, opportunities to pursue study abroad, op companies hire skilled graduates, candidates can start their own practice, etc. Listed below are the prime reasons for choosing a BDS course:

1. Course Fees

Unlike MBBS, BDS courses are far less expensive and more accessible to candidates belonging from all walks of life. A BDS degree is affordable and ensures a successful career with lucrative job opportunities.

2. Course Duration

BDS Course duration is five years and students pursuing the degree are awarded their graduation significantly earlier than MBBS degrees.

3. Easy Admission

The demand for BDS admission is not very popular, however, numerous accredited dental institutes with connected teaching hospitals offer BDS admission.

4. Availability of Seats

The availability of seats for BDS programme is much simpler due to the low level of competition, and any student with the basic minimum required cut-off can be deemed eligible to grab a seat for pursuing BDS course.

BDS Course Entrance Exams

Entrance exams are responsible for granting candidates admission to national as well as state-level colleges. These tests are mostly MCQ based to assess aspirants’ logical thinking and subject understanding. Similarly, to secure admission into the BDS course, aspirants have to clear the NEET UG exam. It is held every year pan India.

NEET UG is the biggest medical exam where lakhs of students appear to compete for AIQ seats. Based on the marks secured, the final merit list is curated. Those aspirants who clear the minimum cutoff criteria are allowed to appear for counselling rounds and secure admission in the college of their dreams.

BDS Course Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the BDS course have been mentioned below.

Minimum Qualification Required for BDS: 10+2 (Chemistry, Biology & Physics)

Minimum Marks Required for BDS (Aggregate): 50% (for General category students) and 40% (for reserved category students)

Minimum Age Required for BDS: 17 years

Upper Age Limit for BDS: 25 Years

Skills Needed to Become a BDS Professional

BDS professionals are directly responsible for taking care of an individual’s dental issues. It is a challenging profession and one must be ready to tackle challenges head-on. Here are some of the skills a BDS graduate must possess:

Time Duration

Ideally, securing a BDS degree will take up to 4-6 years for completion. Most often, this also includes the internship tenure as well. The time duration of opting for the BDS degree depends from one country to another.

Core Subjects Taught under BDS Course

BDS Course Admission Process

The admission process for BDS course is through the NEET UG entrance exam. Candidates have to register online and appear for the test. Every year, NTA and MCC conduct this entrance test for all students. The syllabus of the NEET UG exam is 10+2 - PCMB. Aspirants must study all the concepts in-depth if they wish to secure higher marks. The test is held for 3 hours and 20 minutes. The total mark is 720 where 180 questions are asked under Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany) and Biology (Zoology) sections. Those who clear this entrance test are able to secure admission in the BDS course at a renowned university/ college.