Dentistry is a dynamic and evolving field that offers many opportunities for career growth and development. However, this challenging but rewarding profession requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and passion as dentists not only help people maintain their oral health but also improve their appearance and confidence.
If you are a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.) graduate in India, you may be wondering what are the best possibilities in a career after dentistry. There are many options available to you, depending on your interests, goals, and qualifications. In this blog, we discuss some of the most popular and promising career paths for dentists in India, so stick around to find out.
1. Master of Dental Surgery (M.D.S.)
If you want to pursue a higher dentistry course and specialise in a particular branch of dentistry, you can opt for a Master of Dental Surgery (M.D.S.) degree. This three-year postgraduate course allows you to choose from various specialisations in dental fields of study, such as:
- Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge and Implantology
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics
- Periodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
- Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry
- Oral Pathology and Microbiology
- Oral Medicine and Radiology
- Preventive and Community Dentistry.
To get admission into an M.D.S. course, you have to clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for the Masters of Dental Surgery (N.E.E.T. M.D.S.) exam, which is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (N.B.E.). You can apply for government or private dental colleges, like DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research based on your rank and preference.
An M.D.S. degree can enhance your knowledge and skills in your chosen field and open up many opportunities for you as a specialist dentist. You can work in reputed hospitals, clinics, dental colleges, and research institutes, or start your own practice. Post-MDS career after dentistry, you can also pursue further studies like PhD or fellowship programs in India or abroad.
Check out the salary comparison of some specialist dentist opportunities in the table below.
Also Read: Things You Need to Know About a Dental College Student’s Life
2. Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
If you are interested in public health and want to work in the field of health policy, administration, management, or research, for your career after dentistry, you can consider doing a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree. It is a two-year graduate-level course that covers topics like epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, health promotion, health systems, environmental health, social determinants of health, and global health. There are many colleges in India and abroad that offer M.P.H. courses for dental graduates.
An M.P.H. degree can equip you with the skills and knowledge to address various public health issues and challenges at the local, national, or global level. If you choose this career after dentistry, you can work in government or non-government organisations, international agencies, academic institutions, or private sectors as a public health professional. You can also continue your clinical practice as a dentist after completing your M.P.H. degree.
3. Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
If you want to switch to a non-clinical or managerial role or start your own business in the healthcare sector for your career after dentistry, you can pursue a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree with a focus on hospital management or healthcare management. It is a two-year postgraduate course that teaches you the principles and practices of business administration applied to the healthcare industry.
You can get admission into an M.B.A. course by clearing entrance exams like the:
- Common Admission Test (C.A.T.)
- Graduate Management Admission Test (G.M.A.T.)
- Xavier Aptitude Test (X.A.T.)
- etc.
Different colleges may have different eligibility criteria and cut-off marks.
An M.B.A. degree can help you develop your leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills in the healthcare domain. You can work as a hospital administrator, healthcare consultant, healthcare manager, healthcare entrepreneur, or healthcare educator in various healthcare organisations or institutions.
4. Lecturer
If you have a passion for teaching and research and want to share your knowledge and experience with the future generation of dentists, one of the best dentistry career options is to become a lecturer in a dental college. You can join as a tutor or lecturer after completing dental degree courses like a B.D.S., but to become a senior lecturer or professor, you need to have an M.D.S. degree.
The salary and benefits of a lecturer may vary depending on the college management, location, and experience. You can apply for government or private dental colleges as per your preference and availability. Lecturers also have the option to pursue further studies or research projects while working in academia, so you can work on that alternate career after dentistry in your free time if you want, too.
Hence, being a lecturer can be a rewarding and satisfying career option for dentists who enjoy academic work and want to contribute to the advancement of dental education and research.
Also Read: Dental Hygiene: Everything You Need to Know
Conclusion
These are some of the best career possibilities after studying dentistry in India. However, there are many other options available to you, such as working as a general dentist, joining the defence or civil services, working in the corporate sector, starting a med-tech or med-service start-up, or pursuing other courses or degrees. The choice is yours, depending on your interests, goals, and aspirations. Whatever you choose, make sure you do it with passion and dedication, and you will surely succeed in your career after dentistry in India or abroad.
FAQs
- What to do after BDS?
After completing BDS, there are a host of options to choose from, like pursuing higher courses like MDS or MPH, starting a business or dental practice, or looking for various other jobs that are available to BDS graduates in the dental healthcare and allied sectors.
- Who earns more BDS or BAMS?
Fresh BDS graduates earn more than their BAMS counterparts, as they start earning and building up experience in their 1 year of compulsory paid internship.
- Do dentists earn a lot of money in India?
Yes, dentists earn quite a lot of money in India, with the average BDS graduate earning between INR 4 -10 LPA.
- Is BDS good for girls?
Yes, BDS is a good opportunity not only for boys but also for girls, as it can lead to successful careers irrespective of sex.
