The Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics is a post-graduate course for people who have earned their Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or an equivalent degree recognised by the Dental Council of India and want to work as dentists in India or abroad. The study of oral abnormalities, malocclusion, and the harmonisation of the structures involved to enable appropriate operation of dental mechanisms are the main topics of the course. The three-year programme is pursued full-time at numerous authorised universities and hospitals across the nation.

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences in Chennai, Tamil Nadu; Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth in Pune, Maharashtra; Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences in New Delhi; and many more are top certified institutions/hospitals provide 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. Counselling is then provided based on the exam results by the DGHS/DCI/State Authorities. To give MDS admission, however, a few of institutions, including AIIMS, hold a university-level entrance exam.

From 20,000 to 25 lakhs of rupees per year, depending on the recognised institute or hospital, are the costs associated with pursuing an MDS. After completing the school, doctors have two options: they can find employment or enrol in fellowship programmes approved by DCI. Candidates may choose to open their own dental practise or serve as dentists in public or private hospitals, nursing homes, or both. Depending on expertise, the typical starting compensation ranges from Rs. 6.5 lakhs to Rs. 24 lakhs annually.

What is MDS? 

After earning their Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree, dentists can enrol in a post-graduate programme called MDS, which stands for Master of Dental Surgery. The three-year MDS programme focuses on a number of specialisations in relation to the tissues of the jaw, face, and teeth. The Dental Council of India (DCI) has granted recognition to the programme, which offers specialisations in prosthodontics, crown and bridge, conservative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, dentofacial orthopaedics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral microbiology, oral medicine & radiology, paediatric dentistry, preventive dentistry, and public health dentistry.

The MDS programme provides dentists with the knowledge and abilities they need to diagnose and treat dental-related diseases and issues, such as dental implants, artificial replacements, diseases and surgeries involving the jaw and gums, correction of crooked or misaligned teeth and the jaw, treatment of dental tissues, diagnosis and operations for facial diseases, and cosmetic procedures. Additionally, the necessary training completed during undergrad enables dentists to identify the community’s health requirements.

Following successful completion of the MDS programme, dentists may find employment in public or private hospitals, nursing homes, or open their own dental practise. Dentists should constantly attend conferences and workshops to expand their knowledge in order to stay abreast of the most recent developments in the area of dentistry.

Course Highlights

The following are some of the highlights of the orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics master’s programme courses:

Eligibility Criteria

The following requirements must be satisfied in order to qualify for the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programme:

• Candidates must possess a recognised Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from an Indian university or dental college that is accredited under Section 10(2) of the Dentists Act, 1948, or a comparable degree that has been approved by the Dental Council of India.
• Candidates with a two-year PG diploma in a specific speciality that has been approved by the Dental Council of India are eligible to apply for an MDS in that specialisation. The MDS course will last for two years, and the syllabus will follow the requirements of 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:

1. Based on merit as determined by a competitive test held by the State Government, the competent authority designated by the State Government, or the University/group of Universities in the same state; 
2. Based on merit as determined by a centralised competitive test held at the national level; or 
3. Based on the individual cumulative performance at the first, second, third, and final B.D.S. examinations,or
4. Combination of (1) and (2): (3) 

• Provided that 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, regardless of whether the entrance exam for Postgraduate admissions is held by a State Government, a university, or any other authorised examining body.
• Furthermore, it is provided that in non-governmental institutions, the competent authority will fill 50% of all seats, and the remaining 50% will be filled on the basis of merit by the institution’s administration. 

Admission Process: 

Candidates must complete a number of processes in order to be admitted to the Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) programme. The following is the MDS admissions procedure:

1. The National Board of Examinations (NBE) administers the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for MDS (NEET-MDS), a national-level postgraduate entrance exam, to candidates seeking admission to MDS programmes at accredited dental colleges, deemed universities, and institutions. 
2. The Dental Council of India (DCI) in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) establishes the requirements for NEET MDS eligibility. The following are the prerequisites for taking the NEET MDS exam:

• Candidates must meet the NEET MDS eligibility requirements for 2023 by holding a BDS degree from an accredited university.
• before July 31, 2023, a temporary or permanent registration with the State Dental Council (SDC) or DCI.
• 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: NEET MDS 2023 for the admission process

• NEET MDS 2023 admissions counselling for 50% MCC manages the All India Quota, deemed/central university, ESIC, and AFMC seats. The state agency in charge of counselling for seats in government dentistry colleges is accountable for Jammu and Kashmir because the state does not participate in the central pool quota.
• For All India Quota seats, there are three rounds of seat allocation, and a mop-up round will be held for deemed, central, and ESIC colleges. Aspirants must achieve the minimal cut-off percentile or higher in order to participate in NEET MDS 2023 counselling.
• By registering and indicating their preferences for institutions and courses, qualified candidates can take part in the counselling process. Admission to the MDS programme is determined by the decision made, NEET MDS score, availability of seats in the specific college, reservation requirements, and other variables.
• The process of allocating seats for the 50% state quota and seats in private dentistry institutions is handled by the state counselling committee, which is chosen by the state government. The counselling procedure will either be managed offline or online by the relevant regulatory organisations.
• Qualified candidates must meet particular eligibility requirements for domicile, age, nationality, and other factors as set forth by the state counselling authorities in order to apply for state MDS admissions. The cost of MDS varies from accredited institute/hospital to accredited institute/hospital. The average fee for private institutions is from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25 lakhs per year, whereas it is typically lower for government institutions and higher for private institutions.

Institutions with Masters in Dental Surgery programmes

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

Career Options 

After completing MDS, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector. They can apply for higher studies through research courses or can apply in the government or private sector for a job.

 In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include: 

• Join State Government Dental Jobs as a Dental Surgeon. 
• Join the Indian Navy as a Dental Officer. 
• Join the Indian Railways as a Dentist. 
• Join as Territorial Officer in Indian Army. 
• Join the National Rural Health Mission or NRHM. 
• Join through UPSC vacancy. 
• Join ESIC or Employees State Insurance Corporation. 
• Join ECHS or Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.

While in the Private sector, the options include: 

• Clinical practice- start your own clinic, work in a clinic associated with a hospital, or work in private clinics. 
• They can join Research organizations. 
• Join universities/colleges as lecturers. 

Courses After MDS in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics 

Master of Dental Surgery is a postgraduate course that can be pursued after finishing high school. After pursuing BDS, a candidate could pursue the following course programs, where MDS is a feeder qualification. 

These include: • Ph.D. in Orthodontics. • Ph.D. in Dental Sciences.