For medical professionals who have earned a degree in dental science and desire to work as dentists in India or abroad, the Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology is a post-graduate programme. After earning their BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) or a degree equivalent recognized by the Dental Council of India, they perform it. They should also have received permanent registration with the State Dental Council by this time. 

This postgraduate course, which lasts three years and focuses on the study of oral pathology, examines the causes, progression, and consequences of oral disorders. It links the physiological and anatomical changes brought on by oral illnesses to their clinical symptoms. 

The course is a full-time programme that is undertaken in numerous approved institutes and hospitals throughout the nation. The Lady Hardinge Medical College and Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital in New Delhi, the Maulana Azad Dental College and Hospital in New Delhi, the Manipal College of Dental Sciences in Manipal, Karnataka, and many more are just a few of the top accredited institutions/hospitals that offer this programme.

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Science (NBEMS) administers the NEET-MDS Entrance Exam, which is required for admission to this programme. Counseling is then provided based on the exam results by the DGHS/DCI/State and state authorities. To grant MDS admission, however, a few of institutions, including AIIMS, hold a university-level entrance exam. The AIIMS INI CET is used to determine MDS admission at the AIIMS in New Delhi. 

Dental education in India is governed by the Dental Council of India (DCI). The annual cost of earning a BDS degree can range from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 27 lakhs at authorized institutions and hospitals. Following completion of their different courses, doctors have two options: they can either seek employment or enrol in fellowship programmes approved by DCI. Candidates can open their own dental practice or serve as dentists in public or private hospitals, nursing homes, or both. Starting salaries typically vary from Rs. 9 lakhs to Rs. 40 lakhs annually. 

Aspirants to the MDS can advance their research, critical analysis, and advanced clinical abilities. One can become an authority in this sector after pursuing this degree. 

What is MDS? 

Doctors can enrol in the three-year Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programme after finishing the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme.

The Dental Council of India (DCI) recognises the MDS degree, which is available in a number of specialisations. Including:

• Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge
• Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
• Periodontology
• Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedic
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
• Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology
• Oral Medicine & Radiology
• Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry
• Public Health Dentistry

Dental science deals with preserving oral health, while MDS focuses on conditions affecting the teeth, jaw, and other facial tissues. Additionally, for procedures like dental implants, artificial replacements, the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the jaw and gums, the alignment and realignment of the teeth and jaw, the treatment of dental tissues, the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the face, as well as cosmetic procedures. 

The doctor would be better able to identify the community’s health needs thanks to the required training completed during undergrad. 

To expand their knowledge, candidates should regularly attend conferences and workshops. 

Course Highlights

Here are some of the course highlights of Masters of Dental Surgery:

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must hold a BDS degree from a recognised Indian university in a recognised dental college in accordance with Section 10(2) of the Dentists Act, 1948, or an equivalent degree recognised by the Dental Council of India to be eligible for admission to MDS.
• The state dental council should have required candidates to get permanent registration.
• Candidates holding a PG diploma in a specific speciality that has been approved by the DCI and has a duration of 2 years (proposed) are also eligible for admission to an MDS in that specialty with a duration of 2 years.
• The two-year curriculum will follow the rules established by the relevant university.

SELECTION OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS:

1. Academic merit alone shall be used to select students for postgraduate dentistry courses (MDS). 
2. For both P.G. Diploma and MDS degree courses, the university/institution may use any one of the following criteria to determine academic merit: 

• based on merit as determined by a test or competition held by the state government, a competent authority it designated, a university or collection of universities within the same state, or both; or 
• based on merit as determined by a national competition with centralised testing; or
• based on the student’s overall result in each of the first, second, third, and final B.D.S. exams, if they were taken at the same university; or 
• a combination of above mentioned points

Wherever the State Government, a university, or another authorised examining body holds the entrance exam for Postgraduate Admissions, the minimum percentage of marks required for admission to Postgraduate Dental Courses shall be 50% for General Category Candidates and 40% for Candidates Belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 

Further provided that in non-governmentalGovernmental institutions, the competent authority shall fill 50% of the total seats, and the remaining 50% shall be filled by the institution’s administration based on merit. 

Admission Process: 

The candidates for admission to the Masters of Dental Surgery program must complete a number of steps in the correct order. Candidates can view the comprehensive MDS admissions procedure listed below: 

The National Eligibility Entrance Test for MDS, or NEET-MDS, is a postgraduate examination offered at the national level by the NBE for students seeking admission to MDS programmes at accredited dental colleges, deemed universities, and institutions. 

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has given the Dental Council of India (DCI) permission to set these eligibility requirements. The following list contains the necessary qualifications to take the NEET MDS exam:-

1. Candidates must meet the NEET MDS eligibility requirements 2023 by holding a BDS degree from an accredited institution. 
2. before July 31, 2023, a temporary or permanent registration with the State Dental Council (SDC) or DCI.
3. It is required that candidates for admission complete a one-year mandatory rotatory internship by July 31 of the academic year in which they are applying.

Common Counselling:

• For the admission procedure to 50% All India Quota seats, deemed/central university seats, ESIC and AFMC seats, MCC conducts NEET MDS 2023 counselling. 
• Jammu and Kashmir does not participate in the central pool quota; as a result, the state agency in charge of allocating seats in government dentistry colleges conducts the counselling.
• For seats under the All India Quota, the authority holds three rounds of seat distribution; however, state, central, and ESIC colleges will only receive one round. Aspirants must score higher than the minimal cut-off percentage in order to participate in the NEET MDS 2023 counselling process.
• The qualified individuals can take part in the counselling process by signing up for it and indicating their preferences for both colleges and courses.
• The admission to MDS course will be granted based on the decision made, NEET MDS rank, seats available in the specific college, reservation requirements, and other variables. 
• While the state counselling council chosen by the state government would handle the seat allocation process for the 50% state quota and seats in private dentistry colleges. The counselling procedure will either be managed offline or online by the relevant regulatory organisations.
• Application forms, merit lists, and seat allocation processes are all part of the NEET MDS admissions process in the states. The qualifying candidates must, however, meet the eligibility requirements of residence, age, nationality, and other factors as established by the state counselling authorities in order to apply for state MDS admissions. 

Fees Structure 

The cost of MDS varies from accredited institute/hospital to accredited institute/hospital. In general, government institutes charge less, while private institutions charge more. The typical annual fee range for MDS is between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 27 lakhs. 

Institutions with Masters in Dental Surgery programmes 

In India, there are numerous authorized institutions and hospitals that provide programmes for pursuing an MDS. According to the Dental Council of India website, the following authorized institutions/hospitals are offering courses for the academic year 2022–2023.

Syllabus

 MDS is a three-year postgraduate course that provides training in dental surgery. According to the Dental Council of India’s MDS regulations 2017, the syllabus is as follows: 

Syllabus

Part-I

Paper-I: Applied Basic Sciences: Applied Anatomy, Physiology (General and Oral), Cell Biology, General Histology, Biochemistry, General Pathology, General and Systemic Microbiology, Virology, Mycology, Basic Immunology, Oral Biology (Oral and dental histology), Biostatistics, and Research Methodology.

Part-II: 

Paper-I: Oral Pathology, Oral Microbiology and Immunology, and Forensic Odontology 

Paper-II: Laboratory Techniques, Diagnosis, and Oral Oncology

Paper-III: Descriptive and analytical type question 

Objectives: 

•  To train a post graduate dental surgeon so as to ensure higher competence in both general and special pathology dealing with the nature of oral diseases, their causes, processes and effects.
• An oral pathologist is expected to perform routine histopathological evaluation of specimens relating to oral and perioral tissues, to carry out routine diagnostic procedures including hematological, cytological, microbiological. Immunological and ultra structural investigations.
• He/she is expected to have an understanding of current research methodology, collection and interpretation of data, ability to carry out research projects on clinical and or epidemiological aspects, a working knowledge on current databases, automated data retrieval systems, referencing and skill in writing scientific papers.
• He/she is expected to present scientific data pertaining to the field, in conferences both as poster and verbal presentations and totake part in group discussions.

Teaching / Learning Activities: Broad Outline of Theoretical, Clinical and Practical Courses