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Bachelor of Dental Science in Oral Medicine & Radiology, is a full-time undergraduate program, designed for students successfully completing their senior secondary exam (12th) conducted by any recognized board of the country.
B.D.S in Oral medicine and Radiology deals with the study, diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of oral and orofacial diseases with the help of radiant energy.
The course is spread over a time duration of 4 to 5 years of study, with or without an internship. In India, the average tuition fee charged for the course, ranges between INR 50K to 12 Lac, varying across institutes.
Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), SRM Dental College, Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Government Dental College & Hospital, University of Delhi, etc. are some of the leading colleges and universities providing the course in the country.
Eligible candidates are provided admission on the basis of their performance in a relevant entrance exam, like AIPMT, AICTE, COMEDK, DUMET, MU OET, etc.
Successful graduates of the course can find various job opportunities, in areas like, Government & Private Hospitals, Dental clinics, Research Institutes, Private Practice, Dental Product Manufacturers, Colleges & Universities, etc. where they can expect an initial monthly salary, ranging between INR 15K and 50K, depending upon his/her expertise in the field.
B.D.S. in Oral Medicine & Radiology: Course Highlights
Classified below are some of the major highlights of B.D.S in Oral Medicine and Radiology:-
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 4-5 Years |
| Basic Eligibility Criteria | Passing 10th& 12th from a well-recognized board |
| Admission Procedure | Counseling after taking an Entrance Exam. |
| Major Entrance Test | AIPMT, AICET, NEET, MU OET, DUMET, COMEDK, MAIDS Entrance Exam, etc. |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Top Recruiting Areas/Fields | Government & Private Hospitals, Private Practice, Dental Product Manufacturers, Dental Clinics, Pharmaceutical Companies, Government Social Welfare Programs Colleges & Universities, Dental Equipment Manufacturer, Military Healthcare Services, Medical Writing (Dental), etc. |
| Job Positions | Dentist, Consultant, Lecturer, Dental Assistant, Dental Surgeon, Dental lab Technician, Private Practitioner, Dental Hygienist, Medical Representative, Public Health Specialist, etc. |
| Total Course Fee | INR 50K to 12 Lac |
| Average Initial Salary | INR 2 Lac to 7 Lac |
B.D.S. in Oral Medicine & Radiology: What is it about?
Oral Medicine & Radiology is a specialty branch of dental science, which provides eligible students a knowledge and practical experience in a wide range of techniques used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of oral diseases, with the help of X-rays and other high energy radiations.
Candidates interested in learning more about the field and going for Research & Development (R&D), can also pursue higher degree courses like, M.D.S., D.D, Ph. D., M. Phil., etc.
The program is designed to equip students with an in-depth knowledge about history, production and properties of X-rays, OPG and other techniques and their role in the diagnosis of common disorders of Orofacial region by clinical examination. They also learn about topics like, Radiation Protection, Psychosomatic aspects of oral diseases, etc.
One of the major objectives of the course is to train candidates to be highly efficient dentist and successfully operate in and contribute to the society by treating various oral diseases by using radiations, and also pursue higher degree courses in the discipline. The course’s curriculum is a blend of theoretical and practical components of the study.
B.D.S. in Oral Medicine & Radiology: Top Institutes
More than 300 dental colleges are present in India that provide a Bachelor’s degree in Oral Medicine & Radiology, but not all of them are considered to be good for the pursuance of the course. Some of the top colleges and universities providing the course in the country are mentioned below along with their corresponding location (city) and fee charged by each (annually).
Eligibility for B.D.S in Oral Medicine & Radiology
Mentioned below are all the minimum eligibility criteria that any candidate aspiring to pursue a career in Oral Medicine & Radiology are required to meet in order to be eligible to apply for the course.
A minimum aggregate percentage or equivalent CGPA of 60% for general students and 55% in case of SC/ST candidates, in higher and senior secondary examinations (10th & 12th), conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), or any other state board recognized by the country.
Students passing class 12th board examination with science stream, having Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English as compulsory subjects are eligible to apply, with a minimum aggregate score of 60% in the mentioned subjects.
B.D.S. in Oral Medicine & Radiology: Admission Process
In most of the dental colleges offering the respective course, eligible students are selected on the basis of their accomplishment in the qualifying exam (12th) and a relevant entrance examination, which is either conducted at State/ National Level (AIPMT, DUMET, etc.) or at Institutional Level (MAIDS, MCODS, etc.)
However, there are some universities that also conduct a counseling procedure before admitting students, which consists of two rounds of personal interview and group discussion, wherein candidate’s general aptitude and knowledge for the course is examined by highly qualified faculty members.
A list of names of selected candidates for admission is released by each university, based on the cut-off (minimum marks required to pass) set for all the entrance examinations.
Some institutes also give preference to students having an exceptional performance in extra-curricular activities, under the ECA and Sports Quota. Usually, 5% seats are reserved for such candidates.
Also, candidates are welcomed to fill the application forms, before the declaration of class 12th examination’s result.
List of some of the major entrance exams conducted in the country for providing admission to the course is given below:
- NEET(All India Pre-Medical Test)
- AICET (All India Common Entrance Test) BDS
- NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)
- MU-OET (Manipal University Online Entrance Test)
- MP DMAT (Madhya Pradesh Dental And Medical Admission Test)
- DUMET (Delhi University Medical-Dental Entrance Test)
- COMEDK (Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka)
B.D.S. in Oral Medicine & Radiology: Syllabus & Course Description
Tabulated below is the semester-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus.
| FIRST SEMESTER | SECOND SEMESTER |
|---|---|
| General Anatomy including Embryology & Histology | General Pathology |
| General Human Physiology | General Microbiology |
| Biochemistry | Dental Materials |
| Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Oral histology | General and Dental Pharmacology & Therapeutics |
| THIRD SEMESTER | FOURTH SEMESTER |
| Preclinical Conservative Dentistry | General Surgery |
| Preclinical orthodontics | Oral Pathology |
| Preclinical Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge | Public Health Dentistry |
| General Medicine | Periodontology |
| FIFTH SEMESTER | SIXTH SEMESTER |
| Oral Medicine & Radiology | Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge |
| Orthodontics & Dent facial Orthopedics | Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | Oral Medicine, Therapeutic & Laboratory Investigation |
| Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Patient |
| SEVENTH SEMESTER | EIGHTH SEMESTER |
| Oral Microbiology | Diagnostic Methods & Imagology |
| General Medicine 2 | Applied Oral Pathology |
| Applied Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology & Pharmacology | Communicating with the patient |
| Seminar 1 | Seminar 2 |
| NINTH SEMESTER | TENTH SEMESTER |
| Internship | Internship |
B.D.S. in Oral Medicine & Radiology: Who should opt?
Eligible students who aspire to pursue the course in Oral Medicine and Radiology, would ideally possess a sharp & strong mind, patience, good physical stamina and a genuine interest in serving the society by pursuing a career in dentistry. One who can work with the obnoxious smell and ghastly sight during physical examination and surgery is required by the course.
Candidates should have a good power of observation and an accurate judgement as in this line of work, complications are rare and usually minor, so one should be able to work for long hours, without losing interest. They should also have a friendly nature and good communication skills, as they have to deal with all age groups of patients.
Those planning to pursue further higher degree courses or a teaching career in the field are also a good match for the course, as it sets a good base.
B.D.S. in Oral Medicine & Radiology: Career Prospects
Oral Medicine and Radiology graduates are in great demand, due to the rapid growth in the field of dental surgery and an increasing awareness about oral health and oral diseases among people, which not only is related to long term dental health and oral comfort, but also a major factor in boosting up one’s personal confidence.
After completing the course successfully, such graduates can find a job in various sectors and areas like, nursing homes, government & private hospitals, military healthcare services, public health department, medical insurance, armed forces, state services, pharmaceuticals, oral care and dental clinics, educational institutes, etc.
At an initial level they can expect a monthly salary ranging between INR 15K to 50K in government sectors and INR 15K to 55K in private sectors, which like most other careers will increase with time, experience and required expertise in the field.
Other than aiming for a job, a B.D.S. degree in Oral Medicine & Radiology also enables one to be self-employed and open a private dental clinic as it is a promising avenue.
Graduates also have the option to pursue further higher degree courses in the discipline such as M.D.S (Master of Dental Sciences), Ph. D. (Doctorate of Philosophy), M. Phil. (Master of Philosophy) and other research studies, for even better career options and salary packages.
Some of the popular job profiles offered to such graduates are mentioned below along with the basic job responsibilities and salary associated to each.
 in Oral Medicine & Radiology annual salary.png)
| Job Profile | Job Description | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Surgeon | A Dental Surgeon promotes oral health and disease prevention by creating treatment plans to restore the oral health of the patients. | INR 2 Lac to 6 Lac |
| Professor | A Professor teaches and motivates students and also performs administrative duties in a medical institute, while researching in their field of expertise. | INR 2 Lac to 4.5 Lac |
| Dental Assistant | A Dental Assistant carries out a number of patient care and laboratory duties, like preparing patients for the treatment, making them comfortable in the dental chair, obtaining their dental records, and such. | INR 1.5 Lac to 3 Lac |
| Medical Representative | A Medical Representative acts as a link and pharmaceutical companies and increases awareness about a company's products, like pharmaceutical drugs, medical equipment, etc. | INR 2 Lac to 4 Lac |
| Public Health Specialist | A Public Health Specialist promotes and maintains individual and community health by presenting health education and assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. | INR 2 Lac to 5 Lac |
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