Updated on May 20, 2025 05:58 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaAssistant Manager

The BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery is a 4 year UG degree programme to become a dentist. It is an UG level course where the students get to learn to diagnose, prevent and treat illnesses, disorders also oral cavity ailments. Students who have studied in science stream with biology in classes 11 and 12 can opt for BDS course. The programme includes 4 years of classroom study and several practicals which is then followed by a 1  year compulsory internship in hospitals and clinics.

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List of Subjects in BDS

Typical Core Subjects for BDS

Subject title

Subject Details

Human Anatomy, Embryology, Histology, and Medical Genetics

The subject deals with the introduction of anatomical terms and a brief outline of various systems of the body, Regional anatomy of head & neck with osteology of bones of head & neck, with emphasis on topics of dental importance; The regional anatomy of the sites of intramuscular & intravascular injections, & lumbar

punctures are also discussed.

Human Physiology

Students learn about the basic concept of Homeostasis, Feedback mechanisms; Blood and its components; Muscle and nerve; Digestive system; Excretory system; Endocrinology; Reproduction; Body temperature; Respiratory system; Central Nervous System

Biochemistry

Through this subject, students learn about the Biochemical basis of the life processes relevant to the human system and dental/medical practice. They understand the Chemistry of Bioorganic molecules; Macronutrients and Digestion; Micronutrients; Energy metabolism; Enzyme and metabolic regulation

General And Dental Pharmacology And Therapeutics

As future dentists, students understand the general principles of pharmacology; sources and nature of drugs dosage forms; prescription writing; pharmacokinetics; CNS drugs; General anaesthetics; Drugs acting on blood; Endocrines and Chemotherapy

Orthodontics & Dental Orthopaedics

The subject includes the diagnosis, analysis, and processes for treating orthodontic issues. It also includes Morphologic Development of Craniofacial Structures; Functional Development Of Dental Arches And Occlusion; Malocclusion and its classification, Normal And Abnormal Function Of Stomatognathic System

Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry

The subject includes the study of growth and development in Pedodontics, Prenatal and Postnatal factors in growth & development, Study of variations and abnormalities, Development of teeth and associated structures, Chronology of eruption of teeth, Indications and contraindications of extractions of primary and permanent teeth in children, Knowledge of Local and General Anaesthesia

Public Health Dentistry

The subject introduces Health & Disease: Concepts, Philosophy, Definition and Characteristics; Public Health- Definition & Concepts, History of public health; Environmental Health; Public Health Administration; Nutrition in oral diseases; Health-care delivery system

Periodontology

It is a core dental subject that teaches the definition of Periodontology, Periodontics, Periodontia, Brief historical background, Scope of Periodontics; Age changes in

periodontal structures and their significance in Geriatric dentistry; Classification of periodontal diseases, Gingival diseases, Epidemiology of periodontal diseases

Prosthodontics And Crown & Bridge

Students understand various aspects of applied Anatomy and Physiology, Diagnosis and treatment planning for patients, Components of a removable partial denture, Survey and design, Mouth preparation and master cast; Principles of tooth preparations, Preparations for full and partial veneer crowns

Typical Elective Subjects for BDS

Subject Title

Subject Details

Aesthetic Dentistry

This elective subject deals with the aspects of the smile, esthetic forms of dentistry, procedures to enhance the overall look of smile and face, and chemical procedures such as beaching to enhance visual characteristics.

Forensic odontology

Introduction to forensic dentistry, Overview of forensic medicine and toxicology, Cause of death and postmortem changes, Toxicological manifestations in teeth and oral tissues; Basis for dental identification, Postmortem procedures, Dental record compilation and interpretation

Ethics

Introduction to ethics, Ethics of the individual – The patient as a person, Right to be respected; Profession Ethics –

Code of conduct Contract and confidentiality, Charging of fees, fee-splitting; Prescription of drugs, Over-investigating the patient, Malpractice and negligence; Research Ethics – Animal and experimental research/humanness; Human experimentation

Human volunteer research-informed consent Drug trials

Behavioural Sciences

The subject helps in developing the understanding of behavioural factors of dentistry, explaining stress, learning simple counselling techniques, and improving patients’ compliance behaviour; Diagnosing and managing minor psychological problems while treating dental patients.

Oral Implantology

The subject of oral implantology introduces the concepts of implantations in the mouth, various aspects of implantology, and finding and treating related issues.

Detailed Syllabus For BDS

The detailed syllabus for BDS includes core and elective subjects over a period of four years. The fifth year of BDS is an internship that does not have a defined syllabus. The detailed syllabus is given below:

Semester/Year

Core/

Elective

Subject Title

Subject Details

1st Year

Core

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core

General Human Anatomy

Including Embryology,

Osteology and Histology

 

General Human Physiology,

Biochemistry, Nutrition and

Dietetics

 

 

Dental Anatomy and Dental

Histology

This core subject helps students to understand the general anatomy of the human body. The subject emphasises the local areas of the face and neck as they are directly associated with dentistry. Students learn about medical genetics through this subject.

 

General physiology is of great importance for dentists. Students learn about the basics of cells, nerves, and blood in this subject. They also understand the functioning of nerves, muscles, and hormones in this subject.

 

The subject includes definitions and nomenclature in Dental Anatomy, Tooth numbering systems, differences between permanent and deciduous dentition, and definition of elevations and depressions on the tooth Different Traits

2nd Year

Core

 

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core

General Pathology and

Microbiology

 

 

Dental Pharmacology and

Therapeutics

 

 

 

Dental Materials

 

Students are introduced to Pathology and its different sections, The Cell in health, Normal cell structure, The Cellular functions; Cellular adaptations and intracellular accumulations

 

In this subject, students learn about general pharmacology, the effects of drugs on the autonomic Nervous System, Central Nervous and Cardiovascular and Renal System Antimicrobial drugs

 

 

Introduction to Dental Materials; Biocompatibility of Materials; Physical Properties; Mechanical properties; Hydrocolloid impression materials; Gypsum products

3rd Year

Core

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

 

 

Core

General Medicine

 

 

 

 

 

General Surgery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oral Pathology and

Microbiology

 

 

 

Prosthodontics and Crown and

Bridge

 

General medicine emphasises the need for medicines, the aim of giving medications, and understanding the symptoms and signs to provide the right medication. It also includes the methods of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of various diseases.

 

Introduction to Surgery (History and Principles), Wounds; Inflammation, Aetiology, Pathology and Management; Carbuncle, Cellulitis, Abscess, Ludwig’s angina, Erysipelas; Tetanus; Gas Gangrene; Shock- Definition, Classification, Pathophysiology and Management

 

Developmental Disturbances of oral and paraoral structures; Developmental disturbances of hard tissues; Benign and Malignant tumours of the oral cavity; Bone and cartilage; Tumours of the salivary glands

 

Introduction to Complete Dentures: Components / Parts of a Complete Dentures Steps in the fabrication of Complete Dentures; Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Clinical History taking; Mouth Preparation in Complete Denture; Pre-prosthetic surgery

4th Year

Core

 

 

 

 

Core

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elective

Orthodontics and Dental

Orthopaedics

 

 

Periodontology

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Health Dentistry

Definition, Historical Background, aims and Objectives of Orthodontics and Need for Orthodontics care; Morphologic Development of Craniofacial structures

 

Definition of Periodontology, Periodontics, Periodontia; Microstructural Anatomy and biology of periodontal tissues in detail,

gingiva, junctional epithelium; Defensive mechanisms in the oral cavity; Classification of periodontal diseases

 

Introduction, Definition, History, Changing concepts, History of Public; Health in India Characteristic method and Technique; Clinical Dentistry and Public Health Dentistry, Survey, Biostatistics

Specialisations Offered In BDS

After completing their BDS programme, dentists can opt for an MDS course. There are several specialisations available for dentists at the PG level. These specialisations are given below:

Specialisation

Specialisation Subjects

Subject Details

Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge

Complete Dentures

Tooth Replacements

Tooth and tissue defects

Esthetic/Smile designing

Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge is a discipline of dentistry concerned with the recovery and preservation of oral function, health, safety, and aesthetics by the replacement of teeth and surrounding tissues with permanent or removable artificial alternatives.

Periodontology

Applied Anatomy

Physiology

Biochemistry

Pathology

Etiopathogenesis

Periodontology is the discipline that studies the health and disorders of the teeth's developing and sustaining elements, as well as the oral mucous membrane.

Paediatric Dentistry

Applied Anatomy & genetics

Nutrition and Dietetics

Growth & Development

Preventive Pedodontics

 

Paediatric Dentistry deals with the prevention and treatment of oral and dental ailments that may occur during childhood.

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Books and Authors Related to BDS

BDS is a professional course with direct applications in the real world. The books included in the programme are such that they focus on the practical aspects of dentistry whilst explaining the theory topics. The books in the curriculum for BDS include textbooks and reference books. Some of the books for BDS are given below:

Subject

Book Title

Authors

Physiology

Textbook of Physiology

 

Human Physiology for BDS students

Guyton

 

A.K. Jain

Human Anatomy, Embryology, Histology & Medical Genetics

Clinical Anatomy for Medical Students

 

Medical Embryology

Snell (Richard S.)

 

 

Sadler, Langman’s

Oral Radiology

Principles of Oral Diagnosis

 

Oral Diagnosis & Oral Medicine

 

Oral Manifestations of Systemic Diseases

Coleman

 

Mitchell

 

Jones

Orthodontics & Dental Orthopaedics

Contemporary Orthodontics

 

Orthodontics For Dental Students

William R. Proffit

 

 

White And Gardiner

Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry (Infancy through Adolescence)

 

Occlusal guidance in Paediatric Dentistry

 

Dentistry for the Child and Adolescence

Pinkham

 

 

Stephen H. Wei

 

 

Mc. Donald

Public Health Dentistry

Dentistry Dental Practice and Community

 

Principles of Dental Public Health

David F. Striffler and Brian A. Burt

 

James Morse Dunning

Periodontology

Glickman’s Clinical Periodontology

 

Essentials of Periodontology and periodontics

 

Preventive Periodontics

Carranza

 

 

Torquil MacPhee

 

 

Young and Stiffler

Prosthodontics And Crown & Bridge

Syllabus of Complete denture

 

 

 

Essentials of complete denture prosthodontics

Charles M. Heartwell Jr. and Arthur O. Rahn.

 

 

Sheldon Winkler

Ethics

Medical Ethics

Francis C.M.

General Psychology

General psychology

S.K. Mangal

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Table of contents
  • Popular BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India
  • Popular Private BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India
  • Most Popular Courses

Popular BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India. Learn more about these BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
118 Courses
1 K - 6.08 K
12 - 24 LPA

#1 NIRF

101 Courses
300 - 2.67 L
4.34 - 12.09 LPA

#3 NIRF

48 K - 2.14 L
8.5 - 16 LPA

#8 NIRF

109 Courses
7.11 K - 19.5 L
9 - 18 LPA

#2 NIRF

71 Courses
75 K - 63.21 L
9.5 - 15.8 LPA

#10 NIRF

Popular Private BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India

2.84 L - 27.12 L
3.15 LPA

Medicine & Health Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

19 Courses
1.3 L - 3.95 L
2 LPA
15 Courses
2.2 L - 8.4 L
4.4

Medicine & Health Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

3.6 L - 6.4 L
5.2 - 8.16 LPA

Medicine & Health Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

1.5 L - 4.4 L
4.3

Medicine & Health Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

5.4 L - 6.4 L
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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

JMI NEET UG Cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the BDS course for all categories under the All India quota till Round 4. The BDS Cutoff 2025 ranged from 32346 to 31594 for the General AI category.  Jamia Millia Islamia accepts the NEET UG Cutoff ranks for admission to the BDS programme. 

For t

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

NIMS University NEET UG cutoff 2024 was released for admission to the MBBS and BDS courses. The NIMS University BDS Cutoff 2024 was 766583 in the last round closing cutoff as per the NEET UG examination for the General Al quota. For the General HS quota, the last round closing rank was 572020 for BD

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N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Listed below is the fee range of the top BDS colleges in Tamil Nadu -

Fee Range

Top BDS Colleges

INR 1-3 lakh2  (Vivekanandha Dental College For Women and Government Dental College Pudukkottai)
INR 5-7 lakh1  (Adhiparasakthi Dental College and Hospital)
INR 7-10 lakh1  (Rajas Dental College and Hospital)
INR 10-15 lakh9  (Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Sri Venkateswara Dental College and Hospital, etc.)
INR > 15 lakh12  (SIMTS Chennai, SRM Dental College, Ramapuram Campus, Chennai, SRM IST Kattankulathur, etc.)

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

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