How to Become a Dentist or Dental Surgeon?

Overview

The dentist is a medical practitioner who is specialized in curing the dental problems in human beings. They diagnose and treat the problems with a patient’s teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. Their job involves monitoring the oral health of the patients, performing surgeries and extractions, and performing other duties to ensure that the teeth and mouth are healthy.

Eligibility

The aspirants need to go through the 5 years course - Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), it includes 4 years of study and 1 year of internship. But, in today’s competitive environment, the bachelor degree is not enough for success, after graduation in dental surgery; the candidate may pursue the PG course – Master of Dental Surgery (MDS).

How to be there?

1. Pass the 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with at least 50% marks to be eligible for admission in the BDS program
2. After 10+2, you need to face the entrance exam that is conducted at all India level to get admission in BDS
3. Complete the BDS course and 1 year internship
4. Get registered with the Dental Council of India

After BDS you can start looking for jobs or can go for the MDS, the PG course
One has to be registered with the Dental Council of India to practice as a dentist anywhere in India. The Dental Council of India registers those who have completed the BDS to practice dentistry.

Skills Required

1. Good Interpersonal skills
2. Good eye sight
3. Good health to work for a long period
4. The ability to concentrate for a longer period
5. The ability to use all latest equipment
6. The ability to work with a team
7. Detail oriented
8. Manual Dexterity

Who should choose this career?

If you want to help others in living a better and healthy life and have all the above skills that are must for this career then this is a perfect career for you.

Work Hours

Well, the working hours depend on the institution you are working with like hospital, dental clinic or own practice. If you are working with any hospital or dental clinic, then you need to work according their timings. If you are doing your own practice, then you can decide your working hours.

Salary

The earning depends on where you are working, government hospital or private hospital or own practice. Beginners will get a little bit higher package in government hospitals than private. A beginner can earn between Rs. 10k to 25k and an experienced dentist can earn anywhere between 40k to 50k that depends on your experience and the location.

Career Scope

Due to the rising in the health problems and also increase in the awareness toward health in people, the demand of dentist is high and will continue in future also. They can seek job in both private and government sectors.
The dentist can seek jobs in Hospitals, dental clinics and health departments. Other than doing practice, they can also find jobs as a teacher in dental colleges, in an advisory department of pharmaceuticals and as a consultant in the companies that produced the oral care products like toothpaste, gum care products etc.
After having a good experience they can start their own private practice also.

Pros and Cons

Pros
1. Good career opportunities
2. Good earning
3. A respectful profession
4. A Self satisfaction that you help others in a healthy living

Cons
1. Need to study harder and longer period
2. High competition - a lot of hard work required in the beginning
3. Need to stay fit always
4. Need to deal with biological waste and radioactivity as X-Rays