A Master of Dental Surgery is a postgraduate dental degree. The Master of Dental Surgery program is a three-year program.
MDS equips hopefuls with instruction in many specialties in dentistry. The course’s primary goal is to prepare students to become registered dental specialists. The MDS program provides students to be practitioners and advise consultants in their chosen fields of study.
The Master of Dental Surgery program also strives to enhance research capabilities, advanced clinical skills, and critical thinking abilities, all of which are required for specialist registration. BDS graduates who intend to pursue an MDS program must pass an admission test administered by either the state or the college. Students must get the minimum needed grades to be admitted to the institution of their choosing. An MDS degree is essential for a dentist’s career since it allows them to seek higher positions such as directors at hospitals or institutions. MDS alumni are well compensated for their respective positions.
Course Highlights
Some of the most essential aspects of the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) program are as follows:
| Course Level | Master’s degree |
| Course Name | Master of Dental Surgery |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination type | Yearly |
| Eligibility | minimum of 50%, entrance test score |
| Admission Process | Merit and Entrance based |
| Course Fee | Approximately INR 2,000 from the government Private: about INR 17,000,000 |
| Job Positions | Dentists and dental surgeons work in clinics and hospitals. Academic Lecturer Clinical Research Scientist General Practitioner Dental Hygienist |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Private healthcare providers include Fortis Healthcare, MAX Healthcare, Care Hospitals, Apollo Hospitals, dental clinics, and nursing homes. Government: AIIMS, State Hospitals, Health Centers, Public Health Centers, Indian Council of Medical Research |
| Average Salary | INR 5,00,000 |
Dental Science is a subfield of medical science. Master of Dental Surgery is a specialist degree of study.
- It focuses on oral and dental hygiene, anatomy, issues, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation.
- The course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of various themes connected to oral and dental health and cleanliness.
- Higher education in dentistry is a desirable career choice in a nation like India, where mouth issues and ailments are a continual source of concern. It includes topics of population and public health, as well as children.
- Because of the intricate nature of the topic, this wide field of study requires various specialties.
- Candidates must select from a selection of specialties based on their preferences. He or she will focus his or her future studies only on this specialty.
Specialization
MDS does not mean different courses, but students can pick from a wide variety of courses to specialize in one specific field. The applicant may choose from the following disciplines as a specialty in Master of Dental Surgery.
Prosthodontics
It is the discipline of dental surgery responsible for the diagnosis, treatment planning, and maintenance of patients with clinical issues related to missing or deficient teeth’s oral function, comfort, appearance, and health.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is one of the fields of dentistry that corrects poorly formed teeth and jaws. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are more difficult to clean, are more likely to be lost due to dental decay and periodontal disease, and can even cause headaches and other difficulties.
Operative Dentistry
This is the branch of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders or harm to teeth.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is the branch that is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of a broad variety of problems affecting the face complex and skeleton, including the jaws and oral cavity.
Conservative dentistry
It is the discipline of dentistry concerned with tooth preservation in the mouth.
Periodontics
This is a discipline of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, as well as the insertion of dental implants.
Oral Medicine and Radiology
Oral Medicine and Radiology is the discipline of dentistry that deals with disorders of the mouth and its surrounding structures.
Eligibility Criteria
The following are the entrance requirements for the MDS program:
- Have a Bachelor of Dental Science degree from an MCI-accredited dental institution in India.
- Have attained a minimum of 50% overall.
- Candidates having a two-year PG Diploma in Dental Surgery accredited by the Dental Council of India are also eligible to apply.
- As an extra requirement for admission to the Master of Dental Surgery program, universities such as Manipal College of Dental Science require a one-year internship following the successful completion of the BDS.
Minimum Qualification: A bachelor’s degree in Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Dental Council of India is required.
Foreign nationals seeking admission to the MDS program must get a temporary registration from the Dental Council of India while pursuing postgraduate studies.
Age Requirements: To apply for the AICET entrance exam for admission to the MDS degree offered by various Dental institutions in India, candidates must be at least 21 years old.
Others: Candidates should be physically healthy and should not suffer from any infectious condition when applying for the MDS course.
Admission Procedure
Admission to the Master of Dental Surgery Course (MDS) is solely based on performance in the NEET MDS entrance test. Previously, there were several state-level tests for MDS admissions, but NEET-MDS is now a single-window entrance examination for Dental PG programs. No other entrance test, whether at the state or institutional level, shall be accepted for admission to MDS Courses.
Entrance tests are the sole basis for admission to the master’s degree program in Dental Surgery.
- Colleges may conduct their examinations or depend on the results of all-India admission tests.
- Entrance exams can be either state or national, depending on the considerations and norms of the college.
- After obtaining a legitimate mark or score, you will be required to select your preferred universities throughout the counseling process.
How Should You Prepare for the MDS Entrance Exams?
The admission examination is held at places across India. You must begin preparing for this admission examination at least 1.5 years in advance.
- The curriculum will be at the Bachelor of Dental Sciences level. 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 are among the subjects covered in the curriculum.
- The admission tests listed above would consist of 200 multiple-choice questions.
- Each question is worth one mark. This examination has negative indications.
- The evaluation will last 2.5-3 hours.
Fees Structure
MDS Admission 2023 is totally dependent on an admission examination. The most important dental admission tests include NEET MDS, AIIMS PG, AIPGDEE, and so on. Entrance exams might be at the state or national levels. The typical yearly MDS course fee varies based on the institute to which the candidate applies. The price for government institutes starts at INR 12,000, while for private colleges, it may reach INR 17,00,000.
Subjects & Syllabus
According to Dental Council of India norms, the syllabus for MDS in Applied Basic Science is the same for all specializations. MDS Syllabus may be seen in the table below.
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | Orthodontics | Periodontics | Conservative Dentistry |
| Applied Basic Sciences | Applied Basic Science | Applied Basic Sciences | Conservative Dentistry including preventing dentistry |
| Maxillofacial Surgery | BioMechanics and Tissue Changes in Orthodontic Techniques and Treatments | Periodontology and Implantology Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention | Dentistry Material |
| Minor Oral Surgery and Trauma | Basic in Orthodontics, Diagnosis, and Radiology | Recent Advances in Periodontics | Endodontics |
| Recent Advances in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | Recent Advances in Orthodontics | Recent Advances in Conservative Dentistry |
Placement
The need for Dental Surgery specialists in the country is increasing as government and private healthcare institutions strive to deliver oral healthcare services to Indian residents. Dental care is an essential component of overall wellness. Following completion of a Masters’s in Dental Surgery, candidates can find employment in the following fields, as well as job prospects.
MDS provides students with a promising career path owing to the ever-increasing demand for maintaining oral health. Dental difficulties are one of the most prevalent issues among individuals as a result of carelessness, common addictions, and a variety of other causes. Qualified Dentists are constantly in high demand in the Department of Dentistry in private hospitals and dental clinics run by the government and private dental clinics. After finishing the MDS course, there is also a lot of opportunity in the academic sector. They can earn a Ph.D. or conduct research in this discipline. The table below lists some of the job profiles in MDS, along with their salaries.
| Job Descriptions | Salary on Average (In INR) |
| General Dentist | 3 Lakh |
| Endodontists | 5.80 Lakh |
| Periodontist | 5.52 Lakh |
| Orthodontist | 5.90 Lakh |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon | 6.70 Lakh |
| Oral Surgeon | 5 Lakh |
Course Scope
It goes without saying that career growth in the medical field is constantly on the rise due to expanding demand. Furthermore, due to the general public’s poor oral health and various oral addictions, this country is always in need of capable and qualified Dental practitioners. A Master of Dental Surgery applicant can further his or her career in two ways, in addition to the master’s degree:
- Academic Scope: A doctoral degree is one of the best academic credentials for establishing a great career in the domain of Dental Surgery. Following MDS, students with an interest in research can pursue a Ph.D. degree in MDS with a fellowship.
- Professional Scope: After acquiring higher degrees and gaining experience, candidates can apply for higher-ranking positions in different colleges, and hospitals. Private practice is another prosperous future scope. He or she can thrive in private practice with experience and a degree.
- After successful completion of MDS, graduates can find career opportunities in 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.
FAQs Related to MDS
Q. What about the MDS campus placements provided by colleges?
Ans. Campus placement chances are not available in Indian medical colleges and universities. Any medical degree has exceptional demand for competent physicians; hence, after completing the degree, there are numerous vacancies and the applicant can simply join any private or government work chances around the country.
Q. What are the best universities offering Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) degrees?
Ans. The following are some of the best dental colleges: Manipal College of Dental Sciences (Mangalore), Mamata Dental College (Khammam), Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (Delhi), Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences (Guntur), S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences & Hospital (Dharwad). You may look at these institutions on our website to see if they are a good fit for you.
Q. What is the MDS selection procedure?
Ans. Students admitted to the MDS program are chosen fully based on their merit. The colleges either solely depend on the admission examinations and the scores acquired in them, or on a mix of the entrance examination score and the marks obtained in the BDS program.
Q. What is the typical cost of the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) program?
Ans. The average annual price for a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) is INR 8,00,000.
Q. What are the most common specialties associated with a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)?
Ans. In India, the MDS program offers nine specialties. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Conservative Dentistry, Public Health, Oral Pathology, and Microbiology are among the most popular options with promising futures.
Q. Is there a hostel facility, offered for the students of MDS?
Ans. Yes, each college has distinct hostel wings for males and ladies. MDS students are assigned to these hostels on a sharing basis based on the distance between their homes and the campus. Outstation applicants are given first consideration.
Q. How many MDS seats are available at each college?
Ans. Per person. In general, each college has around 50 MDS seats for all specialties combined.