Career Opportunities after Pursuing BDS
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is one of the most well-known professional courses among students after MBBS. Like MBBS, BDS is a 5-year undergraduate program with one year of mandatory internship. BDS is the graduation programme to become a dental surgeon. The programme covers various aspects of dental problems, denture and surgery in the same fields.
BDS Admission eligibility
Candidates must have completed at least 10+2 level of education with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects with English.
The minimum score requirement may vary but General candidates must have scored at least 50% marks in the Intermediate examination.
For candidates belonging to the reserved category, the minimum percentage required is 40%.
The lower age limit to apply for BDS programme is 17 years and the upper age limit is 25 years
Candidates must also have qualified in National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (NEET) for the BDS admissions.
| S.No | Top Colleges for BDS |
| 1 | Government Dental College, Bangalore |
| 2 | King George’s Medical University |
| 3 | Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Dental Sciences |
| 4 | Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital |
| 5 | Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore |
| 6 | Sri Ramachandra University |
| 7 | Maulana Azad Medical College |
| 8 | Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences |
| 9 | Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana |
| 10 | Amrita College of Dentistry, Kerala |
After completion of BDS degree students are flooded with several career options.
Post-Graduation Degree
The traditional option after BDS is to pursue MDS. Masters after bachelor’s degree is a dream for most of the students. PG helps them to specialise in a particular domain and gain additional clinical knowledge. To join MDS graduates must clear NEET.
| S.No | MDS Courses after BDS |
| 1 | MDS (Community Dentistry) |
| 2 | MDS (Conservative Dentistry) |
| 3 | MDS (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery) |
| 4 | MDS (Oral Medicine & Radiology) |
| 5 | MDS (Oral Medicine) |
| 6 | MDS (Oral Pathology) |
| 7 | MDS (Oral Surgery) |
| 8 | MDS (Orthodontics) |
| 9 | MDS (Paedodontics) |
| 10 | MDS (Periodontics) |
| 11 | MDS (Prosthodontics & Crown & Bridge) |
| 12 | MDS (Prosthodontics) |
| Post Graduate Diploma Courses after BDS | |
| S.No | Name of the speciality |
| 1 | Prosthodontics |
| 2 | Orthodontics |
| 3 | Periodontics |
| 4 | Oral Surgery |
| 5 | Oral Medicine |
| 6 | Conservative Dentistry |
| 7 | Dental Materials |
| S.No | Certificate Courses after BDS |
| 1 | Post-Graduate Certificate in Oral Implantlogy (PGCOI) – IGNOU |
Employment Opportunities for freshers
After BDS, Students move on with the employment opportunities available for them based on their internship experience. There is a vast scope for freshers after the course. The few common opportunities available are,
- Lecturer
- Medical Writer
- Oral Pathologist
- Dentist
Government Jobs
There is opportunities for BDS graduates in the government sectors as well.
| S.No | Top 10 Government Job Opportunities after BDS |
| 1 | Government Service/Hospital |
| 2 | Army Dental Corps |
| 3 | Joining Indian Railways as Dentist |
| 4 | As Teaching Faculty in State and Central Government Colleges |
| 5 | Applying for Jobs in Central Government Institutes like AIIMS, Forensic Department and Agricultural Sector |
| 6 | UPSC Exam with a Chance to Join Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS) |
| 7 | Territorial Officer in the Indian Army |
| 8 | Research and Advisory Departments under Central Govt. |
| 9 | Joining Indian Navy and Air Force as Contractual Dental Officer |
| 10 | Govt. Job Opportunities in Industries Manufacturing Oral Care Products |
Private Jobs
Other job roles available for BDS graduates in private sector have been listed below.
The job profiles include;
- Dentist
- Dental Surgeon
- Endodontic
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist
- Oral Surgery
- Orthodontics
- Pedodontics
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Some employment areas for BDS are:
- Dental Clinics
- Hospitals
- Educational Institutions
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Dental Products Manufactures
- Private Practice
Other Opportunities
Students do select unique and alternate career options after BDS. Few of those unique choices of the new generation have been listed below
- Master’s in business administration
- Hotel Management
- Dietitian
- Master’s in public health
- Career in Teaching
- Own dental firm
- Dentist overseas
- Dental Blogging
- YouTube Channel
- Research
- Dental Cosmetology
Career Opportunities after Pursuing BDS
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is one of the most well-known professional courses among students after MBBS. Like MBBS, BDS is a 5-year undergraduate program with one year of mandatory internship. BDS is the graduation programme to become a dental surgeon. The programme covers various aspects of dental problems, denture and surgery in the same fields.
