Dentistry is the art and sceince of medicine dealing with the health and diseases in and around the mouth / oral cavity.

BDS ( Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is the basic degree in dentistry.

After II PUC or after 12th( with a combination of physics, chemistry and biology), with the score of 50 % and above will be eligible to take up the seat either by paying capitation ( Donation ) or by appearing for the entrance test.

BDS is a 5 year course which includes 4 years of studies and 1 year of housemanship / internshhhip/ training in the dental hospitals.

During 1st and 2nd year of BDS, students will be taught about basics and pre-clinical work ( i.e., working on dummy models ). During 3rd and 4th year of BDS ,they’ll be allowed to work on patients under the guidence of the teaching faculty ( MDS / BDS ).

During internship/ housemanship/ training period, they’ll be allowed to do all the work, but still under proper guidance. So once they complete the course, they’ll be full fledged dentists to practice.

After BDS, they can either go for parctice or can opt for post graduation for which again they should be from one of the recognized dental colleges and can take up the entrance examinations or can pay up the capitation and join for the PG course.

The post graduation in dentistry is called MDS ( Master of Dental Surgery)

Eventhough they have learnt everything about dentistry during BDS, during MDS they’ll concentrate on only one subject.

There are totally 10 specialities ( MDS courses ) in dentistry.

Out of 10, only 9 are existing. The 10th one i.e., Forensic dentistry is yet to start.