Dentistry deals with prevention and treatment of disease or disorders concerned with the oral cavity or the mouth. A dentist helps us in maintaining good oral hygiene and protecting our mouth from future diseases of the tongue, gums and teeth. Apart from this

Dentists also do dentures, repair or fix broken teeth. They also help us in aligning our teeth well.  Extraction of teeth and other small surgeries are also done by dentist’s .They also help us in keeping our teeth clean.

Dentistry is a preferred subject of choice for many students. A dentist is well respected in society. Apart from good social status, he earns well .Many people prefer to take up dentistry as their subject.

Courses offered in dentistry in India:

• BDS-Bachelor in Dental science
• MDS-Master’s in Dental science

The other different types of courses are:

• Diploma course in Dental assistance
• Dental hygienist courses

Eligibility criteria for Dental courses

For admission into Bachelor of Dental science course, one should have passed physics, chemistry and Biology at 10+2 level, with minimum 50% marks. For admission into an MDS (Master of Dental surgery) course, one needs to hold a BDS degree.

Entrance Exams

There is an All India level entrance exam, for admission into a BDS course. Same holds true for MDS course. Those people with BDS degrees need to give an all India level exam. Apart from this, state level colleges conduct state level entrance examinations.

Job scope after Dental courses

There are immense career and career growth opportunities for dentists   in India. They can join any private hospital, nursing home etc. They can even start their own clinics. Apart from this, they can even do government jobs. Government  job  vacancies  are usually  filled  after  an  entrance  exam  like  the  Union  public  service  commission or the  State public  service   commission.  The  Armed  forces  conduct  tests  for  dentists  to  be  recruited  directly.  They  can  also  find  work  in forensic  departments in  identification  of  the  dead .

Apart from this, they can also work as lecturers and professors in Dental colleges.

Those  who  are  working  in  private  hospitals  and  clinics  can expect a  salary  starting  from  Rs. 10,000/-.Dentists  can  also  become  advisors to  film  stars  and  other  celebrities.

A  Dental surgeon on  the  other  hand  can  make  up to  Rs. 50,000/- per  month  depending  upon the  type  of  surgery  done.

Specializations in Dentistry

Those  candidates who  do  post  doctoral  study  can  further  specialize in  this  field. Some of the specialties are:

• Endodontics
• Oral surgery
• Orthodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Periodontics
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology

As  is  evident  from  the  list there is  immense  scope  of career  growth  in the  field  of  dentistry.