What is the MDS Course: Duration and Fee Details

The Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) course is an important medical field in India. The individual who holds this degree specializes in diagnosis and treatment. They also study the prevention of various health issues relating to the teeth and mouth. These dentists are usually responsible for teeth cleaning. They treat other restorative procedures, like crowns and bridges.

Aspirants get in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in solving several real-life medical problems. It especially happens during the MDS course duration. The teachings associated with oral and dental ailments happen through various specialisations. It further helps them achieve professional skills. They do this by undergoing internships, practical classes, and laboratory training. Candidates wishing to build a career in the oral and dental fields can pursue this course.

After the MDS program, all graduates gather specialised knowledge and skills. These specialities open doors to several career opportunities in various fields of dentistry. Several MDS graduates choose to start their own dental practice. They may join some of the established private dental clinics. A few others can further widen their scope with super speciality courses after MDS.

What is a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)?

Master of Dental Surgery is a specialized area of medical science. It focuses on oral, jaw, dental, and other treatments. The MDS duration in India is three years. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Science can apply for this course.

MDS admission happens based on entrance examinations. The prominent entrance examinations for dental courses in India include

• NEET for MDS
• AIIMS PG
• AIPGDEE

These examinations happen at the state or national level. The average annual MDS course fee varies. It depends on the institute the candidate is applying to.

The MDS course in India offers several career benefits, including:

• MDS provides a safe and secure career path for candidates. These individuals pursue courses from top-notch colleges in India. Many of these institutes offer a 100% job guarantee to students.
• Upon completion, candidates can choose to specialise in a particular area of practice.
• Super speciality courses after MDS enable students to gain further expertise in dentistry. It increases their chances of securing higher-level positions in healthcare institutions.

MDS Course Details and Duration

As mentioned earlier, the MDS course duration is three years in India. It is a full-time program offered by various educational institutes across the country. Post-graduate diploma students in dentistry can complete this course in two years.

The MDS program offers various specialisations. It includes

• Periodontology
• Oral and maxillofacial Surgery
• Radiology, Orthodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
• Oral Medicine

The MDS syllabus is categorised into six semesters. It emphasises comprehensive knowledge acquisition for students. This facilitates understanding of various disease conditions, diagnoses, and treatments.

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

Popular MDS Specializations in India

The students studying MDS in India can choose from different specialisations. These are:

Specialisation	Subjects	Details
Oral Pathology and Microbiology	Applied Anatomy and HistologyApplied OralanotomyOral HistologyOral Physiology and BiochemistryApplied PharmacologyApplied General and Oral Pathology and Microbiology	An  Oral Pathologist can join a government or private dental college. They can teach oral history, applied anatomy, and pharmacology.
Periodontology	Oral AnatomyOrthodonticsPedodonticsOrthodonticsOral Medicine and RadiologyPharmacologyDental materialsOral surgeryConservative surgery	A Periodontist can teach periodontology. This includes topics like periodontal anatomy, aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases.
Oral Medicine and Radiology	Oral MedicineClinical pathologyFusospirochetal infectionsGingival enlargementsDiseases of salivary glandsHistory of RadiologyForensic Odontology	This professional can teach oral medicine, oral diagnosis, and oral radiology.
Prosthodontics	Applied Anatomy and HistologyEmbryologyApplied Oral AnatomyOral HistologyApplied General and Oral Physiology and BiochemistryApplied PharmacologyRemovable Prosthodontics	This professional can teach topics such as complete dentures and removable partial dentures. It includes fixed prosthodontics and implant prosthodontics.
Preventive Dentistry	Applied AnatomyPreventive DentistryCommunity DentistryEpidemiologyClinical Paediatric DentistryDental Plaque	This dental specialist can work in dental public health and community dentistry. They can teach preventive measures for dental caries and periodontal diseases.
Oral and Maxillofacial surgery	Prosthodontics and Crown & BridgeOral and Maxillofacial SurgeryConservative Dentistry and EndodonticsPublic Health Dentistry	Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons contribute to teaching dentoalveolar surgery. It includes maxillofacial trauma, orthognathic surgery, and oral pathology.
Orthodontics and Dentofacial surgery	Orthodontic HistoryConcepts of Occlusion and EstheticsAetiology and Classification of MalocclusionCephalometricsMyofunctional orthodonticsCleft lip and palate rehabilitationBiology of tooth movement	Clinical Orthodontists can join a dental college to teach orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics. These subjects include diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of malocclusions.

Eligibility Criteria for MDS Programs

The candidates must know the eligibility criteria for the entrance exam for MDS. The criteria for the course are as follows:

• The candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Science. It can be from any MCI-affiliated and recognized dental college in India.
• The person must have scored a total of 50% marks in their bachelor’s degree.
• Candidates who have completed a two-year PG Diploma in Dental Surgery can also do the course.
• A few institutes ask for a one-year internship certificate from candidates for MDS.
• Candidates who want to practise after MDS must register with the Dental Council of India (DCI).

MDS Admission Process

The MDS admissionprocedure in India may vary among different institutions. Candidates should note that specific details may vary. They must check with dental colleges and examination authorities for up-to-date information.

The admission procedure is as follows:

1. Check Eligibility

• Qualifying Examination: Candidates must have a BDS degree from any institute. It should come under the Dental Council India
• Percentage: Candidates must score 55% marks in total of all subjects in the BDS course

2. Choose Entrance Exams

These exams include:

• NEET MDS
• INI CET
• AIIMS PG
• AIPGDEE

3. Appear for and Pass Entrance Exams

• Attend the MDS exam on the scheduled dates and venues.

• Adhere to the specific exam guidelines and instructions.

4. Take Part in the Counseling or Admission Process

The counselling process involves seat allotment. Candidates need to submit their documents for verification and confirm their MDS admission with fee payment.

Entrance Exams for MDS Admissions

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for MDS is also known as NEET MDS. It is an entrance exam for admission to postgraduate dental courses. Several medical institutions in India offer NEET PG for MDS. Itis an eligibility-cum-ranking examination conducted annually in online mode.

You can find many Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) seats that fall under these categories:

• 50% All India Quota (AIQ)
• 50% state quota seats
• 100% seats in private colleges and central or deemed universities

NEET MDS Question Paper Details
Total Number of Questions	240
Number of Parts	2
Questions in Part A	100
Questions in Part B	140
Total Time Allotted	3 hours

Scoring well on the NEET PG exam is important for securing good ranks and getting MDS admission. Other associated benefits include:

• The number of MDS seats available in India is less than in other countries. Better marks increase your chances of getting a seat in a preferred institute.
• Several reputed dental colleges and institutes have higher cut-off scores. Scoring well ensures you can seek admission to the institute of your choice.
• A few educational institutes also offer scholarship opportunities. These scholarships go to meritorious students who have scored well on their NEET entrance exams.

Super Specialty Options after MDS

Super specialization refers to an advanced level of training and specialization. Any professional can pursue it after completing their MDS degree. You may find several super specialty programs in MDS specialization’s. These include but are not limited to:

• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery: The specialization involves craniomaxillofacial surgery. It covers defects, injuries, and hard and soft tissue diseases in maxillofacial areas.
• Orthodontics (e.g., Dentofacial Orthopedics):The specialization includes topics such as dentofacial orthopedics. It involves putting on braces and molding teeth and then removing retainers.
• Endodontics: This specialisation is also known as operative dentistry. It often includes processes like microsurgery. These cover the development and composition of tooth enamel in certain cases.

Pursuing super speciality courses after MDS offers several benefits for dental professionals:

• Enhanced career prospects with lucrative job opportunities. It involves leadership roles, academic positions, and specialised practice settings.
• Intensive training and hands-on experience to improve clinical skills.
• Networking and collaboration with experts and peers from the same field. This helps garner further in-depth knowledge.

Career Opportunities with an MDS Degree

Students can get lucrative job opportunities after completing their respective MDS courses. The salary for these individuals ranges from INR 6,00,000 to INR 50,00,000 LPA. Students can find employment in the following sectors after completing the dentistry course:

• Dental Departments of Hospitals
• Dental Clinics
• Academic Institutions
• Pharmaceutical Research Centres for Oral Care Products
• Private Dental Clinics

The Final Word on Pursuing MDS in India

Students preparing to become dentists must prepare themselves for MDS admission. They can do this after completing their respective bachelor’s degrees. They must know “what is MDS course” before preparing for the entrance exams.

The MDS course fees are reasonable, and it is a safe and secure option. The program is for those aspiring to become successful healthcare professionals. That is why they must prepare themselves well to appear for the entrance exams. This will help them seek MDS admission at an educational institute.

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