Master of Dental Surgery is a Postgraduate Degree program in Dentistry. It is also called M.D.S.  M.D.S. is an abbreviated form of Masters Degree in Dentistry. The duration of Master of Dental Surgery program is 2 or 3 years. The program develops critical analysis, research skills, and higher clinical skills that will documented for specialist registration. M.D.S. Dental Degree Course enables one to turn into a registered Dental Specialist. Dental Council of India (D.C.I) is the regulatory authority for Dental programs. Dental Schools provides graduates, training in different disciplines in Dentistry. M.D.S. degree is awarded after acceptance of the thesis and after the aspirant has cleared the M.D.S. examination. The exam is carried out at the end of 30 months which covers 4 written papers, clinical (or practical) and oral examinations.

Advantages or Benefits of Master of Dental Surger

• After the program, aspirants can obtain skills in higher techniques and methods pertaining to dental care and correction. It provides a high degree of clinical ability in the subject matter and expands a competence in research.
• Aspirants pursuing Dentistry programs can also get well-paid placement in dental hospitals abroad, treatment centers, and nursing homes. They can also set up their independent dentistry facilities in foreign cities and towns as well.
• Dentists help people to keep their health and appearance and as such are looked upon with great respect.

Eligibility Criteria for MDS

The basic qualification needed for the program is a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S) or an equivalent. The aspirants must have done their graduation from an institution recognized by Indian Dental Council. Applicant not possessing a recognized Dental eligibility for the above purpose must obtain the prior approval of his eligibilities by the Dental Council of India before they can admit to the M.D.S. program of any University in India. The applicant must have minimum 21 years of age. No upper age limit is fixed. The selection is based on the merit of All India Common Entrance Test (AICET) conducted by various Dental Colleges or by the agency specified by the University Grants Commission. Some colleges are also demand physical fitness certificate for the selection process.

Admission Procedure for MDS

Admission into the M.D.S. program depends on the ranks obtained in the entrance examinations. Aspirants holding foreign degrees must write to the Dental Council of India to get a short-term registration for the duration of the postgraduate training. Therefore, these aspirants must register as Dental practitioners in the nation from which they have obtained their basic Dental eligibility. Generally many institutes hold written test and interview for the admission process.

MDS Entrance exams in India

• All India Post Graduate Entrance Examination

How to fill in MDS Entrance Application form

An applicant eligible for the Master of Dental Surgery Degree program should fill the application form in block letters completely.  It is good to write in own handwriting. Those who are applying by post or through online can send the filled forms to the respected authority before the last date. Once the applicants fill the form completely, they must go back and check whether there are any errors. If there is any delay or mistake in the application form, it will rejected by the admission authority. The applicants must paste a photograph that should have been taken within 6 months. For further details, the applicants can contact the director of admission.

MDS Entrance Exam Pattern

The duration of the M.D.S. entrance exam is 2 hours. The question paper will have 200 multiple-choice objective questions. The applicants must attend all the questions. They can choose the right answer from the given alternatives. The questions will be asked from the areas like Oral Medicine & Radiology, Oral Surgery, and General Medicine etc.

Coaching Centers for MDS Entrance Exam

• DentaQuest
• Manya Education Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata
• Vidya Tutorials Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata
• Vidyasagar

Reference Books for MDS Entrance Exam

• Arihant AIIMS MBBS Entrance Examination (Solved Papers 1997-2008)
• Arihant AIIMS MBBS Entrance Examination Solved Papers
• CBS AIIMS MD Entrance Examination, 13e Vol. 2 Book by Bhatia M. S
• Edusys Advanced Explorer AIIMS 2008
• LP Golden Excel with AIIMS Previous Years solved Papers by by Dr. J.K. Juneja, S. Jawa, Dr. J. P. Sharma
• Mcqs in Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery With Explanations For Pg Dental Entrance Exam,2006 By Satish Chandra
• Oswaal 10 Mock test Papers for AIIMS Delhi
• Quick Review Of Pgmee For Various Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examinations: V. 1 By Sharad Chandra
• Review of All India P. G Entrance Exams For M.D.S. (2001-2006) Fully Solved With Expl. & Ref, 2006 by Vivek Kumar
• Universal Self-Scorer Biology for AIPMT, AIIMS, AFMC & Various Medical Entrance Exams

Top 10 MDS Colleges in India

• Army College of Dental Sciences, Secunderabad
• B R S Dental College & Hospital, Panchkula
• Bhojia Dental College & Hospital, Solan
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Patna
• Gitam Dental College & Hospital, Visakhapatnam
• Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Haryana
• Manubhai Patel Dental College & Charitable Dental Hospital, Vadodara
• Patna Dental College, Patna
• Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences (SIDS), Guntur
• Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery & Hospital (SSCDS), Hyderabad

Other Reputed Colleges/ Universities offering MDS program

• A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences
• A.E.C.S. Maruti College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre
• Academy of Medical Education Dental College & Hospital
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences
• Bharati Vidyapeeth University
• Darshan Dental College and Hospital
• Datta Meghe Insitute of Medical Sciences
• Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College & Hospital
• Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth
• J.S.S. Dental College & Hospital
• K.V.G. Dental College
• Madha Dental College and Hospital
• Mahatma Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences (MGPGI)
• Maratha Mandal’s Nathajirao G. Halgekar Institute Of Dental Sciences & Research Centre
• Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences
• Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences
• Pecific Dental College
• People’s College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre
• Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences  (Pt. B.D. Sharma P.G.I.M.S.)
• RajaRajeswari Dental College and Hospital
• Rajasthan University of Health Sciences
• Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
• S.D.M. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital
• Saraswati Dental College and Hospital
• Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals
• SRM University
• Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
• Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University
• University of Mumbai
• Yenepoya University

MDS course curriculum

First Year

• Applications of Molecular Diagnostics
• Biostatistics
• Clinical Laboratory Methods
• Clinical Rotation in Molecular Diagnostics I
• Method Evaluation
• Molecular Diagnostic Techniques Laboratory
• Principles of Molecular Diagnostics
• Research Methods

Second Year

• Capstone Seminar
• Clinical Laboratory Administration
• Clinical Rotation in Molecular Diagnostics II
• Educational methods and applications
• Molecular Diagnostics in the Corporate Setting
• MDS Specializations
• Community Dentistry
• Conservative Dentistry & Endodontic
• Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
• Oral Medicine
• Oral Medicine & Radiology
• Oral Pathology
• Oral Pathology & Microbiology
• Orthodontics
• Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Pedodontia & Preventive Dentistry
• Pedodontics
• Periodontics & Preventive Dentistry
• Preventive Community Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Public Health Dentistry

The program duration is two to three years. There is theory, practical and oral examinations. The medium of instruction and exam of the program is English. The students need to practice in clinics under the guidance of teachers. The program also covers lectures, seminars, case analysis, demonstrations, lab etc. Aspirants must do lab practices for the patients under treatment. Every student must attend the clinical training while pursuing the program. There is internal assessment also.

MDS Text Books

• Contemporary Implant Dentistry by Carl E. Misch
• Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery by Peterson, Ellis, Hupp, Tucker
• Dental Implant Prosthetics by Carl E. Misch
• Fractures of the Facial Skeleton by Peter Banks and Andrew Brown
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery by Jonathan Pedlar and John W. Frame

What to do after MDS?

After the M.D.S. program, aspirants can pursue higher studies like PhD, M.Phil etc. or they can work in academic institutions. The M.D.S. holders will get chances in hospitals, nursing homes etc. and after few years of experience they can start their own dental clinics.

Job and Career options for MDS

There is an increasing awareness of the significance of oral health amongst the masses, which needs the service of eligible specialist. The introduction of new areas like Periodontics, which involves straightening and aligning teeth, has improved the scope of this area. Presently People prefer cosmetic dental procedures. Therefore, the demand of specialized Dentists has raised many folds and it is evident from the expansion of Dental Clinics almost everywhere. The M.D.S. holders can get chances in health care sectors.

Employment Areas

• Biomedical Companies
• Dental clinics
• Dental equipment manufacturers
• Dental products manufacturers
• Health Centers
• Hospitals
• Laboratories
• Medical Colleges
• Medical Foundation / Trust
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Nursing Homes
• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies
• Polyclinics
• Private Practice
• Research Institutes
• Job Types
• Dental Assistant
• Dental Hygienist
• Dental Lab Technician / Ceramist
• Dental Surgeon
• Forensics
• Medical Representative / Sales Representative
• Oral Pathologist
• Private Practitioners
• Professors
• Public Health Specialists

Remuneration after MDS

Dentists can get jobs in India as well as foreign nations. Dentists who are working in foreign nations can get more pay packages when compared to India. Remuneration depends on the capability of the dentist. In the private hospitals, they can earn Rs.30000-Rs 45000 per month at the starting stage. The salary will increase up to Rs.1, 00,000 once the dentist gets experience from a reputed hospital. They can also get into the teaching field as lectures.