The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is the standard degree for becoming a dentist in India. BDS full form is Bachelor of Dental Surgery. This program trains students in the examination, treatment, and prevention of oral and dental issues. The Dental Council of India (DCI) ensures the program maintains quality standards for dentists.
The BDS program lasts five years. It includes four years of classroom and clinical training, combining academic learning with practical experience. After that, there's a one-year internship in dental clinics or hospitals.
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Course Name |
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) |
|
Duration |
5 years (4 years of study + 1 year of internship) |
|
Eligibility |
Pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology (50% marks; 40% for reserved categories) |
|
Admission Process |
NEET UG exam, followed by counselling by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) |
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Total Seats |
Over 28,000 seats in 320+ government, private, and deemed colleges |
|
Course Fees |
INR 1 lakh–6 lakh/year (government); up to INR 10 lakh+/year (private) |
|
Key Subjects |
Human Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Dental Materials, Oral Pathology, Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Endodontics, Orthodontics, Oral Surgery |
If you want to be a dentist in India, you'll definitely need a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. This program teaches you how to recognise, treat, and prevent dental and oral problems.
The BDS duration is five years. For the first four years, you'll be in class and practising in clinics.
Prosthodontics
Periodontology
Endodontics
Orthodontics
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral Medicine and Radiology
Pedodontics (Pediatric Dentistry)
Conservative Dentistry
Public Health Dentistry
Oral Pathology and Microbiology
The BDS syllabus is designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to become qualified dentists. The program is set to last five years. The first four years are filled with classes and hands-on training. The last year is a required internship. The tables below show which topics are covered in the first and last two years of the program.
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Year |
Subjects |
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First Year |
General Human Anatomy, General Human Physiology, Biochemistry, Dental Anatomy, Dental Histology |
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Second Year |
General Pathology, Microbiology, Dental Materials, General and Dental Pharmacology, Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics, Pre-Clinical Conservative Dentistry |
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Third Year |
General Medicine, General Surgery, Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Oral Medicine and Radiology |
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Fourth Year |
Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Endodontics, Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pedodontics, Conservative Dentistry, Public Health Dentistry |
To take this course, you must meet the Dental Council of India's (DCI) requirements.
You should pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from a recognised board. A minimum of 50% in these subjects combined is needed. If you belong to a reserved group, such as SC/ST/OBC, you must meet 40% of the requirement.
You must also pass the NEET UG exam administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). A NEET UG score is key to getting a spot via counselling through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
You must also be at least 17 years old by December 31 of the year you wish to enrol. If you meet all of these requirements, you can apply for the BDS course and begin your journey to becoming a dentist.
In general, BDS course fees in government colleges are around INR 1 lakh to INR 6 lakh per year. This covers your tuition for the four years of study and the internship year. You also need to pay extra for a hostel or books.
BDS private college fees range from INR 2 lakh to INR 10 lakh per year. The lowest private spots start at about INR 1.37 lakh per year, while some of the best ones charge up to INR 13 lakh.
The total cost of five years of private college education can range from INR 9 lakh to INR 30 lakh or more, including extras such as food and lodging.
How to apply for the BDS Course?
We have provided an easy step-by-step guide to help you enrol in the BDS course. Please take a look at them one by one.
You need to visit www.nta.ac.in between December and February. And fill the form, upload your photo and ID, and pay the fee.
Then take the National Testing Agency's (NTA) exam in May.
See your NEET UG results in June or July on the NTA website and download your scorecard.
Registered at www.mcc.nic.in for All India Quota seats or your state’s counselling website for state seats. Select BDS colleges during choice-filling.
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), or state authority, assigns you to one of over 320 colleges based on your NEET rank.
Bring your NEET scorecard, Class 12 marksheet, and ID proof to the college where you have been assigned.
|
Entrance Exam |
Conducting Body |
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NEET UG |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
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KEAM |
Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala |
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COMEDK UGET |
Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka |
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AP EAMCET |
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada (JNTUK) |
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TS EAMCET |
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH) |
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai
Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal
Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi
Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak
Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai
Government Dental College and Hospital, Hyderabad
A Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree is the best option if you want to work as a dentist in India. Alternatively, if you're interested in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, you can consider the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) program. This is the best course after BDS.
BAMS stands for Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. This course lasts 5.5 years, including 4.5 years of academic study and one year of internship. Please refer to the table below for a quick comparison.
|
Aspect |
BDS |
BAMS |
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Eligibility |
Class 12 with PCB, 50% marks (40% for reserved), age 17+ |
Class 12 with PCB, 50% marks (40% for reserved), age 17+ |
|
Entrance Exam |
NEET UG (main), some state exams like KEAM, COMEDK |
NEET UG (main), some state exams like AIAPGET for PG |
|
Total Seats |
Over 28,000 in 320+ colleges |
Over 52,000 in 300+ colleges |
|
Course Fees |
Government: INR 1-6 lakh/year; Private: INR 2-13 lakh/year |
Government: INR 20,000-1 lakh/year; Private: INR 2-4 lakh/year |
|
Key Subjects |
Human Anatomy, Dental Materials, Oral Pathology, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery |
Padartha Vigyan, Sanskrit, Rachna Sharir, Dravyaguna, Roga Nidan, Shalya Tantra |
