Career Opportunities in Dental Stream

Dental health is an essential part of the overall health system. With modern lifestyle, dental problems are becoming common among all sections of the society.To become a specialist requires one to train in a residency or advanced graduate training program. Once residency is completed, the doctor is granted a certificate of specialty training. Many specialty programs have optional or required advanced degrees such as a master’s degree: (MS, MSc, MDS, MSD, MDSc, MMSc, MPhil, or MDent), doctoral degree: (DClinDent, DChDent, DMSc, PhD), or medical degree: (MD/MBBS specific to maxillofacial surgery and sometimes oral medicine).Improper dental care creates problems like early tooth falling, tooth decay, enamel loss, etc. All these problems require proper suggestions of dentists to keep teeth healthy and fit for a long time. Thus, dentistry as a profession has become more demanding and because of its promising nature, a lot of young aspirants are entering this profession.

The Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) degree programme is a five-year course that is divided into four parts each of one years’ duration followed by a year of internship. The Dental Council of India registers those who have completed the BDS to practice dentistry. After completion of this degree, graduates are ready to join a hospital for more experience. But a BDS degree alone is not considered enough to succeed in this profession so you will have to go for a Master of Dental Science (MDS) degree.

After completing BDS a graduate can choose his specialisations and go ahead with Masters for the same. There are different degrees which have been explained in detail below-

· M.D.S Orthodotist: Orthodontists correct irregularities in the teeth through the period of growth. They correct this by putting braces or other supporting devices.

· M.D.S. Periodontology: Periodontists treat diseases of the gum and tissues which support teeth. They carry out oral implants.

· M.D.S Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery: Oral surgeons are trained to conduct surgery for treating fractures, correcting facial deformities, conducting complicated extractions, and treating abnormal growth in the mouth and jaws such as tumors.

· M.D.S Paediatric: Pedodontists specialize in children’s dental treatment and care.

· M.D.S Prosthodontics: Prosthodontists are specialists who make artificial dentures according to specifications for the client.

· M.D.S Endodontic: Endodontists treat the inner structure of the tooth and are specialists for treating nerve inflammation and carry out root canal treatment.

· M.D.S. Oral Pathology & Microbiology: It is the specialty of dentistry course taught that deals with the nature, characteristics, cause, effects and diagnosis of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.