The road to having a successful and high-paying career in any field can seem extremely long and frustrating. The same holds true for dentists too, as the only undergraduate dental course in our country – BDS – takes 5 years to complete before a dental student can approach the DCI for certification. While the BDS course is great for getting your career in dentistry started, anyone can tell you that it is limited in its scope when it comes to career choices, no matter how many years of experience you get under your belt.
That is why most BDS graduates opt for a Master’s in Dental Surgery after completing their BDS. In this blog, we will explore this postgraduate degree in greater detail and try to find out the different potential career paths studying in MDS colleges in UP or elsewhere can take you on.
What is an MDS Degree?
An MDS degree is a three-year postgraduate program that involves both theoretical and practical training in one of the nine branches of dentistry recognised by the Dental Council of India (DCI). This course, at MDS colleges in UP or other states of India, offers you the opportunity to get exposure to different clinical cases and scenarios, enhancing your diagnostic and treatment skills in the process.
To know more about this program, by whose end you’ll be able to perform complex dental procedures with confidence and competence at dental colleges in Ghaziabad or elsewhere, check out the table below.
| Course Name | Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 3 years (2 + 1 year of internships) |
| Eligibility Criteria | 50% or more in BDS from a recognised university |
| Admission Process | Merit + Entrance Exam |
| Common Entrance Exams | NEET MDS, INI CET, NIMSEE MDS, etc. |
| Average Course Fee | INR 5 – 15 lakhs |
| Average Salary | INR 3 – 5 lakhs |
| Areas of Employment | Healthcare, Academia, Research, Administration, etc. |
MDS Specialisations
The best dental colleges in UP for MDS often offer MDS courses in all of the 9 specialities, which are:
- Oral Medicine and Radiology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
- Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge
- Periodontology
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
- Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
- Oral Pathology and Microbiology
- Public Health Dentistry
What are the Career Options after MDS?
After completing their degree from MDS colleges in Delhi NCR or elsewhere, graduates have several career options to choose from depending on their interests, goals, and preferences. Some of the most common career paths for MDS graduates from DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research are:
Private Practice
This is the most popular and lucrative option for many graduates from MDS colleges in UP or elsewhere. You can start your own dental clinic, join an existing one as a partner or associate, or work as a consultant or visiting specialist in other clinics or hospitals. Private practice gives you the freedom to set your own working hours, fees, and policies while building your reputation and clientele over time, eventually earning a high income after a few years. However, private practice has its downsides too:
- Setting up a practice requires a lot of investment, management, marketing, and risk-taking skills.
- There is also the matter of dealing with competition, changing regulations, and legal issues on a regular basis.
Teaching
If you have a passion for teaching and sharing your knowledge with others, then you can opt for a career in academics. You can join dental colleges in Delhi NCR or elsewhere as a faculty member or researcher, teaching undergraduate or postgraduate students, supervising their projects, publishing papers, attending conferences, and applying for grants.
Teaching gives you the satisfaction of contributing to the advancement of dental education and research while enjoying perks such as:
- Job security
- Flexible timings
- Holidays
- Pension benefits.
However, you’ll also require a lot of dedication, patience, and communication skills to teach in MDS colleges in UP or elsewhere. You will also have to cope with administrative work, academic politics, and performance pressure.
Government Service
If you want to serve society and the nation after graduating from MDS colleges in UP or elsewhere, you can join the government service as a dental officer or specialist. There are various government departments or organisations that accept graduates from MDS colleges in Uttar Pradesh or other states of India, such as:
- Indian Army Dental Corps (IADC)
- Indian Railways Medical Service (IRMS)
- Central Health Service (CHS)
- State Health Service (SHS)
- Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), etc.
Government service comes with its own sets of benefits perks, such as:
- Opportunity to work in diverse settings and locations
- Serve underprivileged sections of society
- Job stability
- Allowances
- Promotions
- Retirement benefits.
However, government service also requires a lot of hard work, discipline, adaptability, and compliance. You will also have to face transfers, postings, bureaucracy, and limited resources.
Corporate Sector
If you are looking for a dynamic and challenging career in the corporate world after completing your degree from MDS colleges in UP or elsewhere, you can find jobs as a dental manager or executive in various industries such as:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biotechnology
- Healthcare management
- Insurance
- Medical tourism, etc.
The corporate sector gives you the chance to work in a professional environment with modern facilities and technologies. You can also learn new skills, network with influential people, travel abroad and earn attractive salaries and incentives. However, the corporate sector also requires a lot of competitiveness, creativity, and leadership skills, and you will also have to deal with stress, deadlines, and targets.
Conclusion
All in all, the Master of Dental Surgery can be said to be a multifaceted degree – offering multiple specialisation options and career pathways in various sectors and industries. Like with any vocational course, the salary you get after graduating from MDS colleges in UP or elsewhere won’t be as high as you’d like from the get-go, rather it’ll increase over time as you gain more experience. That said, there is always room for adjustment with this degree, as you can even switch career roles midway and get a feel for which industry you’re best suited for during the internships.
FAQs
1. Which entrance exam does DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research accept for MDS?
DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research accepts the scores obtained in NEET-PG (Dental) for admission to its MDS courses.
2. Which dental specialities does DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research offer MDS courses for?
DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research offers MDS courses in all 9 dental specialities recognised by the DCI.
3. Can I teach at DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research with an MDS?
Yes, MDS graduates are considered for faculty positions at DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research.
4. How much does a dental specialist earn?
The average salary of a dental specialist in India is INR 4.5 LPA according to AmbitionBox.