What is MDS (Masters of Dental Surgery)?
Master of Dental Surgery or MDS is a postgraduate course for admission to 6377 MDS courses offered by 259 dental colleges of India. The admission to MDS courses and colleges are regulated by Dental Council of India (DCI). BDS graduates who wish to study development, anatomy and diseases of the teeth can opt for MDS for their post graduation. M.D.S. course is a three years duration course, but candidates with a postgraduate diploma can complete their MDS degree within the two years of span. Through MDS aspirants can improve the skills of critical analysis, research and advanced clinical skills.
For admission to MDS course across the country, aspirants need to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Masters of Dental Surgery (NEET MDS), which is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). However, separate entrance exams of AIIMS and JIPMER are conducted, as the institutes were established under Institute of National Importance (INIs) under Parliament Act.
What is MDS Full form?
MDS full form is Master of Dental Surgery. MDS is a three-year postgraduate degree programme. Candidates who want to pursue a Career as a dental surgeon or want to advance their career after becoming a dentist can pursue the BDS course. Students should pass the bachelor’s degree to be eligible for the MDS course. Many higher education institutes offer MDS courses to students.
MDS Highlights
Particular
|
Value
|
Name of Degree
|
Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)
|
Level
|
Postgraduate
|
Duration
|
Three years
|
Semester/Yearly
|
Semester
|
Admission Process
|
Entrance test followed by counselling by the authorities
|
Eligibility Criteria
|
Bachelor's degree
|
Course Fee
|
Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,200,000
|
Top Recruiters
|
Dental Clinics, Government hospitals, Dental Institutions, Pharmaceutical Companies, Dental Products Manufactures, Private Practice
|
Types of Careers
|
Dental Technician, Prosthodontist, Dental Hygienist, Dental Consultant, Dentist
|
MDS Fees Structure
MDS fees vary based on the medical college or university in which students take admission. Before taking admission in a particular MDS college, students should check the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) fees structure. BDS fee in both the private and government colleges is Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,200,000 lakhs.
Skills Required for MDS Degree
Students who want to pursue Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) degree programme must possess certain skills. After earning MDS degree programme, student need the following skill sets to advance in their career:
Communication Skills
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Physical Strength
|
Patience
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Empathy
|
Critical Thinking
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Attention to Detail
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MDS Cut off
Masters of Dental Surgery or MDS cut-off is required to determine the student's merit for admission in the MDS degree programme in various medical colleges in India. For MDS degree programmes, NEET MDS cut off is the main criteria that every medical college accepts for the BDS admission process. MDS cutoff is based on the number of students appearing for the NEET MDS examination, previous year’s cutoff, NEET MDS question paper.
MDS syllabus
The MDS syllabus includes both Applied Basic Sciences and subjects of concerned specialty. The syllabus in Applied Basic Sciences varies according to the particular specialty, also aspirants need to acquire adequate knowledge in other subjects related to their respective specialities. The topics that are covered in the MDS syllabus are mentioned below:
Periodontology |
Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
|
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery |
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
|
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology |
Public Health Dentistry
|
Pediatric Dentistry |
Oral Medicine & Radiology
|
Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge |
- |
Also Read:
- BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery)
- BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery)
- BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery)
- MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery)
MDS Specialisations
The course of MDS includes both Applied Basic Sciences and subject of concerned specialty. The specialisation of MDS courses are mentioned in the table below.
Oral Pathology & Microbiology |
Paedodontics & Preventive Dentistry
|
Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics |
Oral Medicine & Radiology |
What after MDS?
The scope of MDS in India and in other countries is extremely good because oral health is one of the main issues for everyone in today's world. For an oral examination every month or two, people prefer to go to the dentist. In India, the Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) degree has a huge scope and is expanding quickly every day. The relevant skills, qualifications, and practise location all play a major role in this. After pursuing MDS (Masters of Dental Surgery) degree, students will have many career options. They can also further study in a similar field and join research programs or can practice in private and government hospitals. Students can also join various
Careers Opportunities after MDS
The job opportunities available for MDS graduates have been mentioned below. One can earn a better income through the below available jobs.
Dental Surgeon: Dental surgeons are medical professionals who identify and treat oral and dental conditions. Dental surgeons diagnose and treat gum, tooth, and other oral disorders as well as create dentures. They assist the patients by educating them on oral hygiene practises and ways to preserve healthy teeth and gums.
Lecturer: Senior doctors with an MD or MDS degree who have professional experience teaching in medical colleges. Most of the time, the physicians affiliated with government hospitals serve as consulting instructors for the students at the affiliated colleges. However, after obtaining some experience working as a dentist, dentists who have an interest in it can choose to become teachers.
Top Recruiters
Some of the top recruiters that hire MDS graduates are mentioned below:
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences
- Apollo Group
- Indian Nursing Council
- Fortis Hospitals
- Manipal Group
- Medica
Salary after MDS Degree
The salary of dental graduates depends upon their caliber and experience. Aspirants can earn a handsome salary both in the private and government sector. Below, we have mentioned the salary after MDS degree:
Job Profiles
|
Average Salary
|
Dental Surgeon
|
Rs. 7 LPA
|
Lecturer
|
Rs. 9 LPA
|
Note: These salary figures may vary depending on various factors, such as designation, experience, skills, job location.
Employment Areas
MDS (Masters of Dental Surgery) graduates can join hospitals, other healthcare facilities, and universities. Students who have pursued MDS (Masters of Dental Surgery), can also practise individually. Below, we have mentioned some of the employment areas after graduating with MDS degree programme:
- Dental Clinics
- Government hospitals
- Dental Institutions
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Dental Products Manufactures
- Private Practice
Top Private MDS Colleges in India
In India there are a number of private NDS colleges. Private university education is significantly more expensive than public university education. Some of the top private MDS Colleges and also MDS fees are discussed below:
Colleges
|
Fees
|
ABSMIDS Mangalore
|
Rs. 30.08 Lakhs
|
ACDS Secunderabad
|
-
|
ADC Ahmedabad
|
Rs. 20.97 Lakhs
|
BDCH Davangere
|
-
|
BIDSH Patna
|
-
|
CDCRI Rajnandgaon
|
Rs. 4.65 Lakhs
|
CIDS Coorg
|
Rs. 11.54 Lakhs
|
HCDSH Hazaribagh
|
-
|
IGIDS Pondicherry
|
Rs. 27.22 Lakhs
|
KIMS Karad
|
Rs. 33.50 Lakhs
|
Top Government MDS Colleges in India
Attending a government-run college is less expensive than attending a private college. These colleges are well known for their high academic standards throughout India. The following are some of the best government MDS colleges and also MDS fees:
Colleges
|
Fees
|
AIIMS Bhubaneswar
|
Rs. 5,730
|
AIIMS Jodhpur
|
-
|
AIIMS Patna
|
-
|
KGMU Lucknow
|
Rs. 1.67 Lakhs
|
GDC Indore
|
-
|
NTRUHS Vijayawada
|
Rs. 70,500
|
UPUMS Saifai
|
Rs. 1.02 Lakhs
|
Dharmsinh Desai University, Faculty of Dental Science, Nadiad
|
Rs. 26.73 Lakhs
|
Dr BR Ambedkar Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Patna
|
Rs. 18 Lakhs
|
Dr R Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata
|
Rs. 30,000
|
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MDS Future Scope
It is needless to say that in the Medical profession, career growth is always uprising due to ever increasing demand. Additionally, due to the poor oral health condition with several oral addictions of common people, this country always needs potent and qualified Dental professionals. In addition to the master’s degree, an Master of Dental Surgery candidate can further improve his or her career in two broad ways:
- Academic Scope: Doctoral degree is one of the finest academic qualifications that help in securing bright future options in the fields of Dental Surgery. After MDS, interested students can opt to pursue research with subsequent Ph.D. degrees in MDS with a fellowship.
- Professional Scope: After acquiring higher degrees and gaining experiences, candidates can apply for higher ranking positions in different colleges, hospitals. Private practice is another prosperous future scope. With experience and degree, he or she can prosper in private practice efficiently.
- After successful completion of MDS, graduates can find career opportunities in the Private Dental Clinics, Dental Departments of Hospitals, Dental Clinics of Government Health Clinics, Academic Institutions, Pharmaceutical Research Centers for Oral care products sectors and many more.
The admission process for the Master of Dental Science in India is carried out either from the college premises or online. The admission process for the course is undertaken strictly based on the scores from graduate degree courses corresponding to that of Dental Science or any science-related courses. Listed below are the various procedures to get admission for the Master of Dental Science course details:
How to Apply?
The aspirants eager to study Master of Dental Science can either apply online or offline for the course. The applicants are shortlisted for the course based on the marks scored in the graduate degree course in Dental Science and the scores obtained in the entrance exams corresponding to any respective discipline related to science. The aspirants can apply for the Master of Dental Science course by downloading an admission form available online at the university or on the college website.
Selection Process
The selection process for the course is carried out based on the entrance exam score relating to science or any other discipline. Additionally, the Dental Science undergraduate degree marks scored at the university or college play an important role in the final selection.
MDS Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for admission to the MDS course are as follows:
- Have passed Bachelor of Dental Science from an MCI affiliated and recognized Dental college of India.
- Have scored a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate.
- Candidates with a 2 year long PG Diploma in Dental Surgery, as recognized by the Dental Council of India, are also eligible to apply for this course.
- As additional criteria, colleges like Manipal College of Dental Science also demand a one-year internship after successful completion of BDS as their prerequisite to admission in the Master of Dental Surgery course.
Top MDS (Masters of Dental Surgery) Exams
The following are the MDS entrance exams conducted by respective authorities for admission to Masters of Dental Surgery. As mentioned above, aspirants need to qualify in these exams to take admission to MDS courses. Also, it is advised to be clear about the specialisations they wish to take before applying for admissions.
NEET MDS: NEET MDS is the computer-based test conducted by NBE for eligible candidates. The regulatory authority conducts NEET MDS for admission to 6228 MDS courses for admission to 50 per cent All India Quota (AIQ), 50 per cent state quota, all seats deemed/central universities and ESIC. 50 per cent AIQ seats will be reserved in government dental colleges, while remaining 50 per cent seats will be reserved for state quota seats. NEET MDS is conducted once a year with 240 multiple-choice questions for which only one response is correct. The duration of NEET MDS exam was three hours and the total marks will be 960. As per the exam pattern, four marks will be awarded for every correct response, while 1 mark will be the wrong answer.
AIIMS MDS: AIIMS MDS entrance exam is conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi for admission to 147 seats offered by seven institutes located at Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh. AIIMS MDS is conducted twice a year in January and July session. The duration of the exam will be three hours with 200 objective-type questions. The marking scheme has been mentioned below.
JIPMER MDS: JIPMER MDS is conducted by Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, twice a year in the January and July sessions for admission to 2 seats. Candidates need to secure JIPMER MDS cutoff percentile to qualify the entrance examination. As per the exam pattern, JIPMER MDS will be held for one hour thirty minutes with 100 multiple-choice questions. For every correct response, four marks will be awarded, while one mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer.
Quick Glance At the Master of Dental Science Entrance Exams
The Master of Dental Science eligibility criteria for entrance exams depends entirely on the colleges and universities that conduct the exam. The entrance examinations conducted for the Master of Dental Science course details include various questions related to reasoning and knowledge, qualitative and quantitative reasoning, programming, and some topics from the class science stream of 11th, 12th. The test includes:
- MCQ with objective-type questions with a negative marking system.
- The entrance exam is conducted in English, and the total time to complete the exam is 3 hours.
- Most of the questions in the entrance exams are merely related to oral surgery, medicines, dental anatomy, biochemistry, dentistry, and some topics from the basic BDS curriculum.
How to prepare?
The entrance examination is conducted in centers all over India. To prepare for this entrance examination, you must start preparing at least 1.5 years ahead.
- The syllabus will be of Bachelor of Dental Sciences standard. The syllabus consists of topics like: Orthodontics, Oral anatomy, Pedodontics, Oral medicine and Radiology, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral pathology, Pharmacology, Public health, Human anatomy, Human physiology, Dental materials, Oral surgery, Conservative Dentistry.
- The above-mentioned entrance exams would include 200 multiple-choice questions.
- Each question is of 1 mark. There are negative markings in this examination.
Why Study Master of Dental Surgery?
Master of Dental Surgery is the final level of professional study that involves gaining professional knowledge and skills that are important for the medical branch of dentistry.
- Aspirants get in-depth knowledge as well as hands-on experience in solving real-life medical problems associated with oral and dental ailments through various specializations.
- This is a vast field of study, so to start your career as an expert on this topic, a student needs to achieve professional proficiency by undergoing laboratory training, OPD duties, internship, practical classes, seminars, lectures, etc.
- Candidates, who wish to build a career in the medical field of dental and oral specialty, should pursue this course to be affiliated as an expert.
- At the final examination, students have to sit for a written test, submit a thesis, clear practical exams, and give a viva-voce.
- After completion of the study, candidates get to start their career as the experts in Dental Surgery, with specialization of their choice.
- Job opportunities like Dental Surgeon, Dental Hygienist, Academic Lecturer, Clinical Research Scientist, General Practitioner are the most popular options available for an Master of Dental Surgery candidate.
- In the future, Ph.D. in Dental Surgery is a promising step for MDS candidates. It will help in increasing the value and the extent of career prospects to a great extent.