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Becoming A Prosthodontist – What to Expect – II

Educational Track

The educational tracks are different in India compared to dental studies in USA or UK. In India, one must complete his/her masters or post-graduation in Prosthodontics. But for MDS, one must complete BDS.

BDS is a 5-year program: 4 years of studying and 1-year compulsory internship. One has to be eligible for entrance test as per the directives were given by the Dental Council of India (DCI). After that, the candidate needs to qualify an entrance examination conducted by state universities, private universities or The All India Pre-Medical/Dental Entrance Examination.

Following this would be the selection procedure.

MDS is a 3-year post-graduate program. There are many private, state & government-run institutions that offer the course like AIIMS and RGUHS. The standard requirements for selection are as follows:

  1. Students would be admitted based on competitive exams conducted by state/central/private institutions.
  2. For admission into a specific college, the candidate must possess a BDS degree issued by the university and recognized by the DCI.
  3. If not, then the candidate shall secure the prior approval of his/her qualifications by the DCI prior to admission.
  4. The candidate should have the certificate of internship.

After completing MDS in the field, the given certificate regards him/her as a Prosthodontist.

Job Prospects

Prosthodontists could find jobs easily as there is a huge demand of this profession. They earn a healthy salary according to the stats given by IDA & DCI. Sufficiency can’t be counted as it depends on the individual’s needs. A less experienced dentist would earn somewhere between 4-6 lakh per annum. An experienced Prosthodontist would earn a bit higher as various remunerations like rents & bills might be allowed. But pay rates always vary according to experience and sector.

Becoming A Prosthodontist – What to Expect

Prosthodontics is a major dental specialty. A prosthodontist specializes in making prosthesis and fake teeth. He/she focuses on restoring damaged and missing teeth with certain custom-made appliances like dentures, veneers, crowns, bridges. He/she is also the one to perform the popular ‘Dental Implant Surgery’. They could also help in treating facial anatomy abnormalities i.e. head & neck deformities.

Why to Visit a Prosthodontist?

A smile, healthy mouth and creating lost tooth have much value and importance, a Prosthodontist understands that. People respect & expect a great deal from Prosthodontists because of the type of surgeries they perform. Today’s world doesn’t have a shortage of look-conscious patients. It is really beneficial to consult a specialist when you have ‘reasonable doubt’ in your mind.

A general dentist could perform reconstructive work after a month-long course. But it really depends on your choice. Do you prefer a specialist with appropriate skills & knowledge or do you want a general treatment? A Prosthodontist’s experience is necessary during delicate surgeries.

What Prosthodontists Perform

A Prosthodontist performs a number of vital surgeries that are prominent in the profession. They go through a training procedure that gives them precise ways to deal with esthetic procedures. Some major services offered by them are:

  • Cosmetic dentistry
  • Replacing lost tooth
  • Special treatment of geriatric patients
  • Dental implant surgeries
  • Complex care management
  • Traumatic injuries
  • Maxillofacial prosthetic features like oral cancer reconstruction
  • Treating children with cleft palate/missing teeth
  • Treating sleep disorders and snoring
  • Complete & removable partial dentures

3 Tips To Perform Better In BDS Exams

BDS, Bachelor of Dental Surgery is one of the main dental courses in India. A good tip is not to take all the tips you find too seriously (No, that doesn’t mean that you can close this tab! Let me explain!).

There is plenty of advice for students on the internet – take a break every 45/ 40-90/ 40-50 minutes, cramming a couple of days before the exams don’t help (Not suggesting you to, but isn’t it what all students do?), and so on. You need to figure out what works for you.

Example: Whether you decide to revise till late in the night, or wake up early in the morning to do so when the exam is the next/same day depends on whether you are an owl or a lark.

Do use old examination papers (Question papers) to discover significant questions. A number of questions repeatedly appear over the years. Old question papers also throw light on important areas other questions may be asked from.

Try to keep your life sorted during exams – stress-inducing heartbreaks, arguments/ conflicts with loved ones, etc. are unbelievably distracting. During exams, try to be in a relaxed state of mind (Meditate if needed.) and approach studying with pure concentration. If you have a gymming habit, it would help, since exercise helps relieve stress.

For more tips for BDS students, read this article by our writer.