Category: Prosthodontists

How To Become A Dentist/ Prosthodontist

I came across a question on Yahoo! Answers the other day, from apparently a school student/ pupil, enquiring about the length of education one requires in order to become a ‘Prosthodontist’.

(A Prosthodontist is a dentist specializing in restoration and replacement of teeth. Patients visit them for dentures, dental implants, dental caps/ dental crowns and dental bridges.) Since the blog of the best dentist in Delhi, Dr. Deepak Bhutani (Oral & Maxillofacial Prosthodontist and Implantologist), who also provides dental courses in Delhi to improve your working skills & boost confidence, is a resource on all things dental education, I decided to address the query here.

Please note, this blog post is in context to the Indian education system.
To start, a career in dentistry requires school graduation with a medical sciences background. For CBSE students, this means, physics, chemistry, biology, and English. The 5th subject is Math but can be substituted with an option like Physical Education, or Informatics Practices. (IP) Post class 12th, one needs to apply for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). It is a 5-year course, including a 1-year rotary internship.

Then, in order to become a Prosthodontist, the BDS graduate can pursue Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge. Likewise, if one wants to be an Endodontist (Endodontists are specialists in treating dental pulp. Patients usually see these experts for root canal therapy.), MDS in Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics is to be chosen.

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.