Top Dentistry Colleges in India 2021

A dentist is an expert who diagnoses and treats oral problems, disorders, and takes care of your oral hygiene by treating any such issues you might have. Dentistry is also called Dental Medicine or Oral Medicine. A dental surgeon also performs surgeries and helps with prevention of oral problems, if the patient is facing any.

To achieve the goal of being a dentist, the candidate must complete their DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). The candidate must possess any of these two degrees to practice dentistry. The degree should be conferred upon the aspiring dentist by an educational institute which is affiliated to the government.

The role of a dentist is to diagnose oral problems and help the patient in getting rid of them by treating the most prominent areas of infection- gums and teeth. But a dentist is trained to look after the patient's oral health which also includes salivary glands, throat, jaw, tongue, head and neck as well.

People usually visit a dentist when they experience any pain in their teeth or have swollen gums. These visits should be replaced by monthly routine oral check-ups as oral health is as important as overall health. When you visit a dentist regularly, the doctor will clean your entire mouth with advanced dentistry equipment and will help in maintaining an optimal condition in the mouth as well as immediately diagnose problematic gums or teeth. This habit will allow you to be relaxed about your oral health and also will save you from enduring any piercing pain later.

Dentistry Colleges in India: Specializations Available

In India, education in dentistry is offered in three formats:

1. Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)

2. Master's in dental surgery (MDS)

3. PhD in Dental Sciences.

The bachelor's degree in dental medicine is an undergraduate course which is further divided into two parts, namely 4 years of academic education and one year of internship or practical training. This five-year course is approved by the government of India as a professional course in the field of dentistry. After MBBS, BDS is the most popular course opted for by the candidates who want to work as dentists in private or government hospitals.

There are many sub-branches and sub-fields in dentistry, and if you wish to study any one field, then you have to pursue MDS or master's in dental surgery or science. When the candidate opts for masters, the master's degree allows him/her to study a specific specialization of their choice. MDS is a postgraduate course offered by various universities and colleges in India which offers advanced knowledge in the field of dentistry.

The following are the popular specializations available in MDS in India: -

MDS in Public Health Dentistry:

A candidate who possesses an MDS in Public Health Dentistry has comprehensive knowledge about a specific community or group, as he/she focuses on the issues of a whole population, unlike a normal dentist who treats his patients individually. An MDS in Public Health Dentistry helps a group of people at a single time by helping them with their oral health.

MDS in Oral Pathology and Microbiology:

As the name suggests, this specialization has two sub-branches of dentistry grouped into one. Oral Pathology deals with the diagnosis and various tissues of the oral cavity and also suggests proper treatment to the patient. In contrast, oral microbiology deals with the study of microorganisms in the mouth which may cause infection and tooth decay.

MDS in Oral Medicine and Radiology:

This specialization also consists of two sub-fields in the mastery of dental medicine. Oral medicine is the non-surgical way to diagnose oral health problems and stop them from causing further infection by providing treatment. Oral medicine does not use any surgeries to treat the patient, which makes it cheaper and affordable. Oral Radiology uses modern and scientific equipment like X-rays, to identify the affected area, which is hidden in the complex structures of the oral region. Oral radiology is also called oral and maxillofacial radiology or dental and maxillofacial radiology.

MDS in Periodontology:

Periodontology is the study of supporting tissues or muscles of the teeth. An expert in Periodontology through his advanced knowledge identifies the problem in the patient's supporting structures like gingiva, alveolar bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament.

MDS in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics:

Conservative Dentistry, also known as restorative dentistry, is a highly used method to treat dental issues. In the restoration process, the doctor will remove the minimum tooth structure, which is healthy and keep the rest which will prevent the patient from losing teeth. A Root Canal procedure is the most common technique used by dental doctors on patients who want to undergo surgery to get rid of decayed teeth. In this technique, the decayed area is cleaned and is filled with dental fillers to maintain the structure of the tooth.

Endodontics is the study of the dental pulp. The dental pulp is the central part of the tooth which comprises connective tissues, blood vessels, nerves, and cells. The dental pulp often causes bad toothache as it is the softest area of the tooth and can be easily affected.

MDS in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics:

An orthodontist fixes the position of your teeth, thereby retaining the natural structure of your teeth by giving it proper alignment through surgeries and using advanced dental equipment.

MDS in Prosthodontics:

Prosthodontics is the usage of prostheses or prosthetics implants to replace a missing tooth or tissues. These prostheses or artificial implants often comprise crowns, dentures and bridges which may be used according to the purpose of the patient and can be detached or attached maintaining the patient's requirement.

MDS in Pedodontics:

Pedodontics is the study of the oral health of children. The main role of a Pedodontic is to treat oral problems of a child from birth to adolescence and to promote oral hygiene in children.

Dentistry Colleges in India: Eligibility Criteria

For studying BDS, the candidate should possess an MBBS degree. To pursue an MDS degree, the candidate must pass the NEET MDS entrance test to seek admission in any of the college or university which offers this course. Candidates who have completed their master's degree in dental sciences with 50% marks are eligible to apply for a PhD.

Dentistry Colleges in India: Admission Process

For BDS, an entrance exam is conducted to grant admission in the program as a compulsory requirement along with clearing 10+2 with science as a stream and at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In India, the most popular examination which is widely accepted across the whole country is NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). Some institutes have their entrance exams which the candidate should crack with the specified band score to seek admission.

For MDS, the student should pass the NEET examination and meet the eligibility criteria as laid down by the particular college or university. Only those students who have completed their BDS can apply for MDS. Colleges like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Maulana Azad Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi conduct their entrance examinations which the aspirant should clear with the mentioned eligibility score.

To pursue a PhD in Dental Sciences, the candidate should clear MDS with 50% marks and should pass an entrance exam if the shortlisted college or university requires it. Mostly, institutions offering PhD in Dental Sciences select candidates based on their marks in MDS.

Top Dentistry Colleges in the East Zone

The following is the list of top Dentistry Colleges in the East Zone of India:

Name of the College or University	NIRF Ranking	Exams required for admission
Siksha O Anusandhan, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa	12	NEET/NEET MDS
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa	17	NEET/MDS
Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata	Not Ranked	NEET/NEET MDS
Guru Nanak Institute of Dental And Research, Kolkata	Not Ranked	NEET/NEET MDS
Patna Dental College and Hospital, Patna	Not Ranked	NEET
Buddha Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Patna	Not Ranked	NEET
Dr BR Ambedkar Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Patna	Not Ranked	NEET
Mithila Minority Dental College and Hospital, Darbhanga.	Not Ranked	NEET
Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi	Not Ranked	NEET

Top Dentistry Colleges in the West Zone

The following are the top Dentistry Colleges in India located in the West Zone:

Name of the College or University	NIRF Ranking	Exams required for admission
Dr D.Y Patil Pune Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra	3	NEET
A.B. Shetty. Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore	5	NEET
Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai	8	NEET
Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra	14	NEET
Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore, Karnataka	20	NEET
Colleges of Dental Sciences, Devangere, Karnataka	21	NEET
KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum, Karnataka	24	NEET
Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Dharwad, Karnataka	26	NEET
Pacific Dental College, Udaipur, Rajasthan	29	NEET

Top Dentistry Colleges in the North Zone

The following is the list of top dentistry colleges in the North Zone: -

Name of the College or University	NIRF 2020 Ranking	Exams required for admission
Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi	1	NEET
Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana	15	NEET
Christian Dental College, Ludhiana, Punjab	18	NEET
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi	19	NEET
Maharishi Markandeshwar, University Ambala, Haryana	25	NEET
Punjab University, Chandigarh	28	NEET
Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	30	NEET

Top Colleges in Dentistry in South Zone

The following is the list of top colleges in dentistry in the South Zone: -

Name of the College or University	NIRF 2020 Ranking	Exams required for admission
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	4	NEET
ABSM, Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore	5	NEET
Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore	6	NEET UG/NEET MDS
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	7	NEET
SRM Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	9	NEET
JSS. Dental College and Hospital, Mysore	10	NEET
MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka	11	NEET
Amrita Vishwam Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu	13	NEET
Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Devangere, Karnataka	16	NEET
Army College of Dental Sciences, Secunderabad, Telangana.	23.	NEET

FAQ:

What are the different specializations offered in dentistry in India?

Dental Public Health
Endodontics and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral Medicine and Pathology
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Periodontics
Pediatric Dentistry
Prosthodontics
Conservative Dentistry

What is the difference between BDS and MDS?

The difference between MDS and BDS is that BDS is the abbreviated form of bachelor's in dental science or Surgery and MDS stands for Masters in Dental Science of Surgery. The BDS course takes five years to complete whereas MDS takes three years.

What is the duration of BDS and MDS?

The course duration of BDS is 4 years of academic education and one year of internship, that is five years in total. The course duration for MDS is three years.

Is NEET compulsory for BDS?

Yes, NEET is compulsory for BDS. Some reputed colleges conduct their entrance examinations, and the candidates have to attain the required score to seek admission in the particular institution.

Which companies provide placements for BDS?

PGI Chandigarh,
AIIMS USMLE,
RML- Delhi,
Endolite,
Ottobock,
AIIMS MAMC,
KGMU,
Apollo,
Apollo Munich,
HCG Hospitals

What are the professions available after BDS?

Dental Surgeon
Dental Assistant
Oral Pathologist
Ceramist
Dental Hygienist
Consultant
Dental Lab Technician
Forensics
Medical Representative
Private Practitioner
Professors
Public Health Specialist
Sales Representative

What is the average salary package of a BDS?

Rs. 0.15 lakhs to 0.30 lakhs per month is the average salary package offered to a BDS fresher.

Should I opt for MDS after BDS?

Yes, MDS offers specializations which are not available in BDS. If you are interested in a specific field, then you should opt for MDS. It also gives you a good hike in your salary package, ranging from Rs. 4.00 lakhs – 6.00 lakhs per annum.