After the completion of BDS, one can prepare for the NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance test) examinations held every year in India. Candidates who clear NEET can enroll in the MDS specialization courses in various institutes across the country.
The specialty areas of dentistry are: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, and Dental Public Health.
In the recent years, many undergraduate students opt to pursue MPH either in India or abroad. This degree increases your skill set to pursue career options such as Education, Administration or Management, Policy, Community practice and Research, to name a few. This opens up uncharted avenues such as jobs in health agencies in the country and around the world.
Hospital Management / Administration
This is an excellent alternative for students looking to diversify from the conventional path of pursuing MDS. Following this professional course you can avail job opportunities in medical institutes, hospitals, nursing homes and NGOs operating in the health sector.
One of the pros of being a dentist is that you can be your own boss. This gives you perks in your professional and personal life. This is also one of the conventional options after BDS. This might demand a generous investment but eventually it becomes increasingly rewarding. Clinical practice does not always mean an individual single dentist private practice. One could venture into opening a group practice or corporate dental clinic or a hospital attached dental practice.
Fresh graduates with a passion for teaching can always go back to dental colleges, only this time as a lecturer themselves. Being an academician keeps them abreast with the subject and the advances in dentistry. Many fresh graduates take the option of becoming an academician to help them prepare for the post graduate entrance examinations.
The central and State governments have openings for dentists. These could be temporary positions or permanent positions. Any permanent Government job is certainly a secure job that provides the employee privileges in the form of insurance and pension schemes.
Government sectors that provide openings for Dentists:
I. Government Service/Hospital/Primary Health Centre
One of the most sought after options is to apply for jobs in Government Hospitals. Exams are conducted throughout India to hire doctors/dentists as a Government Employee. This is certainly one of the most preferred jobs since it offers a highly lucrative salary, job security and above all is a low-pressure job. Further, it offers great promotional avenues.
II. Army Dental Corps
It serves as a great opportunity for the BDS Graduates to join the Indian Army as a Dentist and serve the nation. It is one of the fantastic career options in terms of patient exposure, high perks, promotional avenues, job stature and exposure to challenging cases in challenging conditions.
Further, Indian Army is presently the only organization in the country to offer a large number of Dental Jobs in the Government sector. You can get entry into the Army either through SSC or DPC.
III. Territorial Officer in the Indian Army
Another option is to join the Indian Army as a Territorial Army Officer. This job offers excellent promotional avenues, high perks and is also regarded as one of the Highly Prestigious jobs.
IV. Joining Indian Railways as Dentist
Indian Railways also frequently recruits Dental Surgeons from time to time. At times, the Appointments are Part-Time and get promoted to permanent slots after fixed periods. There is a position of a Part-Time Dental Surgeon who are hired on 1-year contractual basis. Further, the contract can be extended for 2 years.
V. Joining Indian Navy and Air Force as Contractual Dental Officer
There are openings for the Dental officer posts on Contractual basis in the Indian Air Force and Navy. These jobs offer job security, high perks, high prestige, patient exposure and job satisfaction.
VI. As Teaching Faculty in State and Central Government Colleges
You can apply for Teaching Faculty jobs in both State and Central Government Dental Colleges. Both BDS and MDS can apply for Teaching jobs in Government Dental Colleges. Nowadays, teaching faculty jobs are also available on Contractual basis.
This job is one of the most preferred options since it offers lucrative perks, limited job timings, job satisfaction and less stress job.
VII. Research and Advisory Departments under Central Govt.
BDS Graduates having interest in the Research field can apply for jobs in the Research Departments. You can apply for the ‘Dental Research Assistant’ and ‘Dental Research Coordinator’ posts in the Research Department Recruitments.
It offers high perks and excellent promotional avenues.
VIII. Applying for Jobs in Central Government Institutes like AIIMS, Forensic Department and Agricultural Sector
The Top-Notch Medical Institutes of India such as AIIMS offer openings for both BDS and MDS professionals. BDS Graduates can be recruited as Senior Residents with lucrative salary. Jobs are also available for the MDS in different streams.
You can also apply for jobs in the Forensic Department and Agricultural Sector. You can join the Forensic Department as a Forensic Odontologist and apply for Dental Surgeon jobs in the Agricultural sector.
IX. UPSC Exam with a Chance to Join Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS)
One of the job opportunities, which are mostly overlooked by the BDS Graduates, are the UPSC Job openings. UPSC offers a wide range of job opportunities for the BDS Graduates. You must not overlook these options since this job offers lucrative perks and High Prestige and Power to bring about reforms in the society you reside in.
You can join Indian Civil Services as IAS, IPS, IFS or IRS.
X. Govt. Job Opportunities in Industries Manufacturing Oral Care Products
You can also apply for job openings in Industries under the Government Sector which manufacture oral care products and medicines.
Reputed National Research Institutes such as ICMR, AIIMS, National Institute of Epidemiology, Dental and .Medical Institutes with Research wings, Pharmaceutical companies call for dentists to participate in research projects as research assistants or associates. This provides them the experience needed to venture research positions abroad in International Institutes.
Forensic science is a vital instrument for the detection or investigation of crime and the administration of justice, providing crucial information about the evidence found at the crime scene. It is especially important that the training and education of forensic scientists provide a solid scientific background and a broad base in criminalistics
Fresh graduates are always thrilled at the possibility of travelling or migrating to another country. This not only gives them the prospect of experiencing a new place and culture but provides a huge boost to their budding careers.
Each country has its eligibility criteria by which they assess the graduate coming from another country.
- USA: A dentist must clear the NBDE Part 1 and 2 exams first. After clearing, he/she must join a dental college and complete the DDS program which is the accepted dental degree in the US.
- New Zealand: In order to register with the Dental Council of New Zealand, one needs to clear their qualifying exam – New Zealand Dentist Registration Exam (NZDREX).
- Canada: To be eligible for practicing in Canada, a foreign dentist must go through a series of steps/exams and pass them successfully to get legally certified as a dentist to practice in Canada.
- Australia: If you want to work as a licensed dentist in Australia, you will need to go through an assessment process that formally checks and reviews your eligibility, dental subject knowledge and clinical expertise in dentistry. This assessment is undertaken by ADC (Australian Dental Council) in three stages. You need to pass all the three stages to qualify. Only after qualifying ADC, you can apply for a dentist license with DBA (Dental Board of Australia). DBA will review and make a final decision on your application for dentist license registration.
- Singapore: To be eligible to practice as a dentist in Singapore, you must have a dental degree that is approved by Singapore Dental Council.
- UAE: To work in Dubai particularly, you must have a DOH license provided by Dubai Health Authority, UAE’s Health Ministry. You can also appear for a Dental GP exam if you have completed BDS with a one-year internship with a teaching hospital. In case, you have not interned, then 2 years of practice in a non-teaching hospital is required.
- Gulf countries: For this, the candidate must clear the MOH (Ministry of Health) exam which is relatively easy to clear. Following which, you can get placed into government or private sectors of Gulf countries.
Dentistry like any other health care profession requires determination, hard work and comes with a great responsibility. It provides us with the unique chance to give back to the community, change patient’s lives for good and improve their quality of life. As our career keeps growing from strength to strength, we as dentists must take it upon ourselves to maintain the integrity of the profession.
