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Bachelor of Dental Surgery – BDS

Bachelor of Dental Surgery is an Undergraduate Degree granted for a course or curriculum in the Dentistry field. It is known as B.D.S, which is an acronym form of Bachelor of Dental Surgery. The course duration is 4 years in addition to an internship of one year, as stated by the regulations of Dental council of India. There will be a total of eight semesters in the B.D.S course.  B.D.S permits one to become a Dentist.

Candidates who are passionate about helping humanity should go for B.D.S. The course is not intended for candidates who cannot tolerate ghastly sights and smells. It is the responsibility of a dentist to take care of different patients who could have harsh problems in their teeth.  For identifying various problems, one required to conduct physical assessment. This physical examination will depict one to loathsome smell from both medicine and patient’s mouth. Therefore, candidates should keep all this in their mind before decide on this course. An additional area is surgery, which needs endurance and peaceful mind. Some surgeries need physical power also.

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Top Dental Colleges in India

Eligibility Criteria for BDS


As to join a BDS Schools, a candidate requires having 50% marks from students of H.S.C (10+2) with PCB subjects and English. The admission of B.D.S course is done through National wide competitive examination. These Entrance Examinations are carried out in all major cities in India. Most of the advertisements for the BDS entrance exams are notified through leading newspapers of India about the issue of the application forms and main dates for general Entrance Examination.

There is common dental exam for those who are applying for M.B.B.S and Dental Sciences (BDS) named All India Pre-Medical or Pre- Dental Entrance Exam. CBSE is the concerned authority which carries out the exam.  Merit based listing is followed by most of the Institutions. The number of dental colleges are very few in most states, where admission is governed by domiciliary status, excluding the centrally run medical institutions. Candidates should choose the course and institution, by making sure that the Dental Council of India has approved it.

BDS Entrance exams in India


  • Amrita University Medical Entrance Exam

  • Association of Managements of Unaided Private Medical and Dental Colleges Exam

  • Banaras Hindu University  Medical Entrance Exam

  • Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical Entrance Exam

  • Christian Medical College Entrance Exam

  • Delhi University Medical/Dental Entrance Test

  • Dr. D.Y. Patil All India Common Entrance Test

  • Jamia Millia Islamia BDS Entrance Exam

  • Maharishi Markandeshwar University MBBS/BDS entrance Exam

  • Mahatma Gandhi Dental College and Hospital – Joint Entrance Test

  • Rajasthan Pre Medical Test - RPMT Entrance Exam

  • SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Center Entrance Exam

  • University of Delhi Medical Dental Entrance Test DUMET Exam

  • Uttar Pradesh Common Aptitude Test

  • Uttaranchal Pre Medical Test - UPMT Entrance Exam

  • Vinayaka Missions University All India Common Entrance Examination AICEE

Reference Books for BDS Entrance Exam

BDS exam follows the 12th standard syllabus. These are objective type questions. Candidates have to select the right answer from the provided set. No negative marking is there for the BDS entrance exams. Each correct answer carries one mark each. Additionally the students can write the paper in either English or Hindi.

  • ABC Chemistry
  • AC Dutta for Botany

  • HC Verma for Physics

  • NCERT- Biology Part 1 and Part 2

  • NCERT- Chemistry Part 1 and Part 2

  • NCERT- Physics Part 1 and Part 2

  • Organic Chemistry by Arihant

  • Organic Chemistry by Morrision Boyd

  • Physical Chemistry by Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula

Job and Career options for BDS

As there is no dearth of people having dental troubles, Dentistry is a beneficial profession. The major causes behind outcome of damage in teeth are due to inactive lifestyle and busy times that will compel to visit a dentist. This profession is rapidly changing as well as expanding which creates lot many openings and challenges. Another scope is that the film artists and models need cosmetic dentistry to make better their looks.

After completing the BDS course can work in Central and State Government hospitals as well as Medical colleges for teaching and dispensaries under the guidance occupy dental Surgeons.  Different sectors like railways, defense public as well as private units occupy dentists in medical centers and hospitals. General and specialized handling like orthodontics is having more scope in private perform. Salaries in Public division are ruled by scales existing to all 1st Class officers private sector practice salaries are very high.

                         Employment Areas

  • Dental Clinics

  • Dental Equipment Manufacturers

  • Dental Products Manufacturers

  • Educational Institutes

  • Hospitals

  • Individual practice

  • Pharmaceutical Companies

  • Private Practice

  • Research Institutes
  1. Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, ManipalManipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal was established in 1965 and was formerly known as the College of Dental Surgery. It is the first self-financing dental college in the private sector of India. Academically, the College of Dental Surgery, Manipal was affiliated to...Website: www.manipal.edu
  2. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, New DelhiMaulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), New Delhi was originally called as Maulana Azad Medical College. Later the dental wing was separated from MAMC as Maulana Azad Dental College and Hospital and was a granted an independent status under the government of NCT of Delhi....Website: maids.ac.in
  3. Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, MumbaiGovernment Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai was established in 1938, is one of the premier institutes of India imparting Dental education and services to the country as well as abroad. The Institute has been named in the top three Dental Colleges in India by the Outlook Magazine...Website: www.gdcmumbai.org
  4. S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad, DharwadS.D.M. College of Dental Sciences (SDMCDS), Dharwad was established in 1986, is a self financing, non profitable organization with a vision of excellence in knowledge, skills and service. The College is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and is...Website: www.sdmcds.org
  5. Bapuji Dental College & Hospital, Davangere, DavangereBapuji Dental College & Hospital (BDCH), Davangere was established in 1979 by Mr. Shamanur Shivashankarappa. It is one among the very few Indian colleges doing research projects for US based international companies like GC International, 3M ESPE (USA), Biohorizons (USA) and the...Website: www.bapujidental.edu
  6. Government Dental College & Research Institute, Bangalore, BangaloreGovernment Dental College & Research Institute (GSCRIB), Bangalore was established in 1958, is one of the first few dental colleges in the country post independence and the first dental college in Karnataka. The college is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences,...Website: www.karunadu.gov.in/gdcrib/Pages/home.aspx
  7. Government Dental College, Rohtak, RohtakGovernment Dental College, Rohtak is affiliated to Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences. The college was started in 1981. It is recognized by Dental Council of India (DCI) for offering courses in dental science. Government Dental College Rohtak was incepted with...Website: http://pgimsrohtak.nic.in
  8.  Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College & Hospital, KolkataDr. R. Ahmed Dental College & Hospital (RADCH), Kolkata is affilaited to the West Bengal University of Health Science. The college is approved by the Dental Council of India (DCI), Government of India and Government of West Bengal. Five years of undergraduate degree level...
  9. SRM Dental College, Ramapuram, ChennaiSRM Dental College, Ramapuram was established in 1996 under Valliammai society. It was the first among dental colleges to earn a deemed university status in 2002. The college was rated by the Outlook Magazine as the 11th best dental college in the whole of India and the best college...Website: srmdentalcollege.ac.in
  10. Government Dental College & Hospital, Aurangabad, AurangabadGovernment Dental College & Hospital, Aurangabad offers five years of Bachelor’s of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree course at undergraduate level along with postgraduate level Master’s of Dental Surgery (MDS) course in various specialties. 
  11. Tamil Nadu Government Dental College & Hospital, ChennaiTamil Nadu Government Dental College & Hospital (TGDCH), Chennai was established in 1992 with the prime objective of providing effective & efficient education in dental sciences. The college is affiliated to The Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai and is...Website:http://www.tamilnadudentalcollege.com/
  12. Saraswati Dental College & Hospital, Lucknow, LucknowSaraswati Dental College & Hospital, Lucknow was established in 1998 under the Chairmanship of Lt.Col.(Dr.)T.S.Mathur is an ISO 9001:2008 certified college and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity to all in every aspect of its operations. The college is committed to  Website: www.sdclucknow.com
  13. Faculty of Dental Sciences-Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, VaranasiFaculty of Dental Sciences-Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was established in 1972 under Institute of Medical Sciences. At the moment the department offered only post graduate training in Prosthodontics and in Operative Dentistry, which later in...Website: www.imsbhu.nic.in/hospital/units/dental/index.htm
  14.  A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences , Mangalore, DeralakatteA.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (ABSMIDS), Deralakatte was established in 1985 with the objective of making available up-to-date training facilities to become dental professionals and to help meet the coutry's growing health-care requirements. The college is..Website: www.absmids.org
  15. Army College of Dental Sciences, Secunderabad , SecunderabadArmy College of Dental Sciences (ACDS), Secunderabad was established under the aegis ofArmy Welfare Education Society as a center of excellence for Dental education, for the children of Army personnel and war widows. It is a unique institution being the only Dental college of its...Website: acds.co.in

BDS course curriculum

What after BDS?

Seminars, displays, Didactic lectures, group discussions, clinical tasks and conferences are integrated in BDS courses.  Those who are interested can learn on various portions of dental science, which encompasses of different forms of treatment including the surgical procedure.  There are certain general teaching topics like, Dental anatomy & Oral histology, Community Dentistry, Pedodontics, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Oral Pathology & Dental materials.

  • Human Oral Anatomy, Physiology, Histology and Tooth Morphology

  • Human Physiology

  • Materials used in Dentistry

  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

  • Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology

  • Orthodontics

Options of going for either a job or higher studies are available. Lots of options are available in higher education. The BDS students can decide on any one of the specialization based on their interest.  Some of the master’s courses are as follows,

  • M.D.S. (Community Dentistry)

  • M.D.S. (Oral Medicine)

  • M.D.S. (Oral Pathology & Microbiology)

  • M.D.S. (Oral Pathology)

  • M.D.S. (Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics)

  • M.D.S. (Pediatric Dentistry)

  • M.D.S. (Pedodontia & Preventive Dentistry)

  • M.D.S. (Preventive Community Dentistry)

  • M.D.S. (Public Health Dentistry)

  • Ph.D. (Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics)

  • Ph.D. (Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology)

  • Ph.D. (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)

  • Ph.D. (Oral Medicine and Radiology)

  • Ph.D. (Orthodontics)

  • Ph.D. (Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry)

  • Ph.D. (Periodontics)

  • Ph.D. (Prosthodontic)

  • Ph.D. (Public Health Dentistry)

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