MDS Syllabus & Subjects 2025: Download Semester-wise PDF, Important Books

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

Parul ThapaAssistant Manager

Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) is a master’s program. It is related to the anatomy of teeth and mouth. Students studying the Bachelors of Dental Surgery (BDS) can apply for the program. The program focuses on managing oral and dental hygiene and care and provides training for handling such issues. Students wishing to take the BDS course should be at least 17 years of age with 10+2.

Syllabus: Important Facts for MDS

  • The duration of the MDS program is 3 years and is a full-time course that can be pursued through several colleges in India. However, students with a post-graduate diploma in dentistry can complete the course in 2 years.

  • The MDS program offers specialisations such as Periodontology, Prosthodontics, Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Radiology, Orthodontics, and Oral Medicine.

  • In India, there are more than 200 colleges that offer MDS programs to aspiring students and conduct entrance examinations.

  • The BDS students need to qualify the competitive examinations like NEET MDS or AIIMS PG to be admitted to the MDS program.

  • MDS syllabus in Government Dental College and Hospital. The Government Dental College and Hospital is one of the best institutes for studying the MDS program in India.

  • MDS syllabus in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi

List of Subjects in MDS

The students who aspire to study Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) must clear the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance test- Master of Dental Surgery (NEET-MDS). The National Board of Examinations (NBE) conducts the examination every year to test the ability of the aspiring candidates. The NBE was founded in 1975 and is regulated as an autonomous body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Typical Core Subjects for MDS

MDS syllabus are huge. Before you think further about whether to pursue MDS as a career option, study the typical core subjects for MDS that you can expect.

Subject Title

Subject Details

Applied Anatomy and Histology

Applied Anatomy and Histology is the study of living things. Histology is the study of the area of cell structure and discussion of the basic tissue of musculoskeletal anatomy and mammalian biology.

 

Its syllabus includes the following:

  • TemporoMandibular Joint

  • Muscles of Mastication

  • Muscles of Facial expression

  • Salivary glands

  • Tongue

  • Branchial arches

  • Muscles of Facial expression

  • Trigeminal, Facial, Glossopharyngeal and Hypoglossal nerve.

  • Lateral wall of nose

  • Paranasal sinuses

  • Anterior and posterior triangles

  • Hard and Soft palate

  • Pharynx and Larynx

 

Oral Histology

The microscopic study of Oral Mucosa is known as Oral Histology. Oral Histology also includes mechanisms of keratinisation, structure variation concerning functional requirements, clinical parts of the gingiva, Dentogingival & Mucocutaneous junctions & lingual papillae.

 

Its syllabus includes the following:

  • Oral Mucous Membrane in health and disease

  • Periodontium

  • Occlusion and contract areas

  • Pulp periodontal complex

  • Shedding and Eruption

  • Eruption of Teeth

  • Role of Epithelium in development in tooth

  • Innervation of dentin

 

 

Applied Oralanatomy

Studying about the mouth is known as applied oral anatomy. It is also called the buccal cavity or oral cavity. The boundaries of a mouth are defined by its lips, cheeks, soft and hard palates, and glottis.

 

Its syllabus includes the following:

  • Anatomy of local anaesthesia

  • Structure and relations of the alveolar process and edentulous mouth

  • Development and Growth of Jaw bones

  • Propagation of dental infections

  • Anatomy of local anaesthesia

  • Development of Teeth and Supporting structures

Applied General and Oral Physiology and Biochemistry

Applied oral physiology in its broad term means the mastication process, the role of phosphorus and calcium for normal growth and development of the teeth and the necessity of saliva for keeping the oral cavity moist.

In its syllabus includes the following:

  • Saliva

  • Mastication and deglutition

  • Metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins

  • Food and nutrition

  • Pain, Pathway and mechanism

  • Fluid and electrolyte balance

  • Blood : Clotting mechanism, Haemorrhage

  • Blood : Composition and functions

  • Pain, Pathway and mechanism

  • Cardiovascular homeostasis, Heart sounds

  • Dynamics of blood flow

  • Endocrine regulation of blood sugar Biochemistry of Oral tissues

Applied Pharmacology

Applied Pharmacology is a hard topic. It needs memorisation. It has hard components of maths.

In its syllabus includes the following:

  • Definition of Pharmacology

  • Scope of Pharmacology

  • Its relation to other branches of medicine.

  • Chemotherapy of Bacterial Infections: Antibiotics, Sulfonamides

  • Anaesthetics: Hypnotic, Tranquillisers and antipyretics, Local and General Analgesics.

 

Detailed Syllabus for MDS

The MDS program is divided into 6 semesters that are spread over 3 years. The semester-wise and year-wise breakup of the syllabus is mentioned below:

Semester

Core/ ELective

Subject Title

Subject Details

1. Etiopathogenesis Of Periodontal Diseases, Applied Basic Sciences

Diagnosis, Treatment, Preventive Periodontology, and Implantology (Elective)

Recent Advances in Periodontics

 

The most important etiological cause for periodontal disease is the bacteria. These bacteria are capable of activating the immune response including the inflammatory response.

2. The branch I Oral and Maxillo-

facial Surgery,

Minor Oral Surgery and Trauma

Maxillofacial Surgery (Core), Recent Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Core)

Recent Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The oral and Maxillo-

Facial Surgery is a part of surgery that focuses on the reconstructive surgery of the oral cavity, the face, facial trauma, mouth, head and neck, jaws and the facial cosmetic surgery.

3. Oral Pathology, Oral Microbiology & Forensic Odontology, Laboratory And Histopathological Techniques

Applied Basic Sciences (Core)

Recent Advances in Oral Pathology

It is a branch of dental science where aspirants need to study the diagnosis of mouth and jaw diseases, which is also known as the oral cavity.

4. Endodontics, Conservative Dentistry, including Preventive dentistry and Dental Materials

Applied Basic Sciences (Core)

Recent Advances in Conservative Dentistry

This specialised branch of Dentistry deals with the diagnosis and management of injured, defective, infected and decayed teeth for smoothing teeth functions.

5. Growth and Development, Basics in orthodontics, Diagnosis & Radiology, Bio-Mechanic & various Orthodontics Tissue Changes, Techniques & Treatment Planning, Submission of Dissertation Thesis, Models, Radiographs, and Photographs

 

Applied Basic Sciences (Core)

 

Recent Advances in Orthodontics

 

In this branch, aspirants need to learn about the stability of the results of orthodontics as well as orthodontic treatment for its development and growth.

6. Didactic Lectures, Seminars, Weekly Journal Clubs

 

Structured Lecture Programs (Elective)

Clinical Case Conference

An explanation is given on scientific information on oral delivery in an organised and systematic manner by an expert in this field. This is considered the most popular and oldest method of teaching.

Specialisations offered in MD

The students aspiring to take up a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) as a career choice can choose from different specialisations such as

Specialisation

Subjects

Details

Oral Pathology and Microbiology

 

  • Applied Anatomy and Histology

  • Applied Oralanotomy

  • Oral Histology

  • Oral Physiology and Biochemistry

  • Applied Pharmacology

  • Applied General and Oral Pathology and Microbiology

The students opting for this particular specialisation would learn the principle behind the routine and special techniques used for histopathology. The specialisation teaches the principles of histochemistry and Immunochemistry. The program also teaches the study of applied and special pathology of oral tissues.

Periodontology

  • Oral Anatomy

  • Orthodontics

  • Pedodontics

  • Orthodontics

  • Oral Medicine and Radiology

  • Pharmacology

  • Dental materials

  • Oral surgery

  • Conservative surgery

The specialisation teaches the treatment and management of diseases concerning the structure of teeth, including diseases of gums, periodontal membranes, cementum, and aloe vera bone.

Oral Medicine and Radiology

 

  • Oral Medicine

  • Clinical pathology

  • Fusospirochetal infections

  • Gingival enlargements

  • Diseases of salivary glands

  • History of Radiology

  • Forensic Odontology

The students opt for Oral Medicine and Radiology specialisation study and learn to identify and manage the complex diseases affecting the mouth and the jaws. The students learn the use of Radiology in the diagnosis of the disease using advanced imaging methods and equipment.

Prosthodontics

  • Applied Anatomy and Histology

  • Embryology

  • Applied Oral Anatomy

  • Oral Histology

  • Applied General and Oral Physiology and Biochemistry

  • Applied Pharmacology

  • Removable Prosthodontics

The students aiming for Prosthodontics as a specialisation learn the process of designing, manufacturing, and fitting artificial teeth, dentures, dental implants, and dental crowns. The specialisation teaches the students the management and care of the patients who require surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy for head or neck cancer

Preventive Dentistry

  • Applied Anatomy

  • Preventive Dentistry

  • Community Dentistry

  • Epidemiology

  • Clinical Paediatric Dentistry

  • Dental Plaque

The specialisation enables the students to understand the importance of good oral health. It includes the benefit of regular visits to the dentist for oral examination and to develop healthy habits like brushing and flossing.

Conservative Dentistry

  • Applied Anatomy of Head and Neck

  • Development of Teeth

  • Applied Physiology

  • Pharmacology

  • Biostatistics

  • Conservative Dentistry

The specialisation is also known as operative dentistry. It covers the development and composition of enamel.

Periodontics

  • Applied Anatomy

  • Applied Physiology

  • Biology of Periodontal tissues

  • Etiopathogenesis of Periodontal diseases

  • Therapy and Implantology

  • Preventive Periodontics

The students aiming for Periodontics will learn about the structure and function of alveolar bone and gums. It also trains the students to manage tooth decay, and oral hygiene

Oral and Maxillofacial surgery

  • Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge

  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

  • Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics

  • Public Health Dentistry

The specialisation prepares the students for a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of a disease. It covers the defects, injuries, and diseases of the hard and soft tissue of the oral and maxillofacial area.

Orthodontics and Dentofacial surgery

  • Orthodontic History

  • Concepts of Occlusion and Esthetics

  • Etiology and classification of Malocclusion

  • Cephalometrics

  • Myofunctional orthodontics

  • Cleft lip and palate rehabilitation

  • Biology of tooth movement

The specialisation provides training to aspiring students in the field of orthodontics and Dentofacial surgery. It includes topics such as putting on braces and moulding teeth, invis-aligning of teeth, and removing retainers.

Books and Authors related to MDS

Many books are available in the market that covers the MDS syllabus. But among them, the name of the best books, along with their authors’ names, are mentioned below:

Subject

Book Title

Author

Description

Dentistry Entrance examination

Dental Byte

Dr. Gowrishankar

The book is a must-have for students preparing to clear the MDS entrance Examination. It has around 20 solved question papers with detailed and explanatory answers that would benefit students preparing for the examination.

Oral Medicine and Radiology

TextBook of Oral Medicine

Ghom Anil Govindrao

The book explains the correlation between radiology and the clinical treatment of diseases. It covers many crucial topics, such as non-surgical management of temporomandibular joint disorder and dental treatment using general anaesthesia.

Oral and Maxillofacial

surgery

Peterson’s Principles of Maxillofacial Surgery

Miloro

The book discusses the topic of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The language of the book is easy to understand, and the topic is well explained

Paediatric or Pedonotics

Mcdonald and Avery- Dentistry for the Child & Adolescent

Shanthala

The book explains the concept of dental care for children, pre-teens, and teenagers. It explains the techniques to manage and care for children and adolescent dental problems.

Periodontics

Eley and Manson’s- Outline of Periodontics

J.D Manson, Barry M. Eley

The book explains the topic of periodontics. The book is an important book for undergraduates

Entrance Exams for MDS

The National Testing Agency conducts NEET MDS 2022 examination. MDS exam is conducted to pursue admission in the graduate and undergraduate medical courses in different medical institutions. The application process for NEET 2022 is conducted in two phases. Before the exam, the first phase is conducted. On the other hand, the registration for the second phase is conducted after the exam as well as before the declaration of the NEET result.

The entrance examinations for Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) have around 300 questions with multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The students need to clear the examination to become eligible for pursuing the MDS program. There are many examinations for MDS, some of which are:

  • All India Post Graduate Medical/ Dental Entrance Examination: This exam is conducted every year for the aspirants who want to pursue MDS courses in the colleges located in India. The syllabus covered in this examination is Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Prosthodontics, Preventive Dentistry, Conservative Dentistry, and Periodontics. The competition is very hard as lakhs of aspirants appear in this exam yearly.

  • All India Institute of Medical Science Entrance Exam: This is also a very hard entrance exam conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, for the MDS aspirants. The syllabus covered in this examination are Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Prosthodontics, Preventive Dentistry, Conservative Dentistry, Periodontics, etc.

  • Annamalai University MDS Entrance Exam: For pursuing an MDS degree from Annamalai University aspirants need to appear in the Annamalai University MDS Entrance exam. They also accept TANCET and NEET scores for pursuing MDS courses. This entrance exam is of a moderate level. The revised syllabus for this entrance exam includes Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Prosthodontics, Preventive Dentistry, Conservative Dentistry, Periodontics etc.

  • Bangalore University MDS Entrance Exam: Appearing in Bangalore University MDS entrance exam is necessary for pursuing MDS course from Bangalore University. This University also follows the same syllabus as other MDS entrance exam syllabi. And the level of entrance exam is of moderate level.

  • Delhi University MDS Entrance Exam: Delhi University also conducts an MDS entrance exam for pursuing admission in dental PG courses. This examination is hard as the competition level is very high. In its syllabus, topics like Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Prosthodontics, Preventive Dentistry, Conservative Dentistry, and Periodontics, etc., are included.

MDS Syllabus: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is the syllabus of NEET MDS?

A. The syllabus of NEET MDS includes General Anatomy, for example, histology and embryology. Other than that, the syllabus of NEET MDS consists of Biochemistry and General Human Physiology, Embryology and Oral Histology and Dental Anatomy, General and Dental Pharmacology, General Pathology and Microbiology, and Therapeutics, etc.

Q. Which is the best branch for MDS?

A. Among all the other branches, Endodontics and Operative Dentistry are considered the best branch for MDS. These best branches deal with different types of teeth infections, especially pulp, and their treatment for a cure by RCT. Students also need to read about smile design with laminates and veneers in this course.

Q. What are the total marks of the NEET MDS 2022 paper?

A. The total marks of the NEET MDS 2022 paper is 960. Only objective type of questions is asked in NEET MDS 2022. The total time duration is 3 hours. And a total of 240 MCQs are asked in the examination.

Q. Are the entrance exams conducted for NEET MDS tough?

A. Yes, NEET PG MDS entrance exams are considered one of the toughest dental examinations for PG aspirants. The syllabus of this examination is very vast. Apart from that, every year, a huge number of candidates appear in this examination, so the competition goes to another level.

A. Is the book Dental Pulse sufficient for appearing in NEET MDS?

A. NEET-PG MDS is an unpredictable exam. So, depending just on a single book like Dental Pulse is not enough. Study preparations must be hard as questions in the examination may be asked from anywhere.

Q. Which course is better: BDS or MDS?

A. BDS is a graduate course, whereas MDS is a postgraduate course. MDS course takes the candidate to a superior position in their academic career. After completing MDS, the aspirant can join a dental college as a staff. It is not that BDS can not join a college as a staff. BDS students can also join. But there is no promotion for the BDS candidates as their joining salary is also less. But for an MDS candidate, there is regular promotion, and the joining salary is also high.

Q. Is it worth pursuing MDS?

A. Yes, it is completely worth pursuing MDS. Having an MDS degree means earning more. The starting salary and pay scales are also high as well as it gets better with time for the MDS graduates. Not only this, but an MDS student can also choose the teaching profession and simultaneously do private practice. Many private dental colleges offer an MDS student the position of a lecturer.

Q. What is the salary range after completing MDS?

A. Freshers, after completing MDS get INR 15 thousand to INR 30 thousand monthly salaries based on their preferred job, either in a dental clinic or in the hospitals. Usually, the chances of earning a better salary are very high after completing MDS. An MDS graduate can earn over INR 4 lakhs to INR 6 lakhs per annum.

Q. Is MDS an easy or difficult course?

A. NEET MDS is a challenging PG dental examination. The syllabus of NEET MDS is vast, and every year a huge number of candidates appear in NEET MDS. And because of the many applicants, the competition goes to another level.

Q. What is the future scope after completing MDS?

A. After completing the MDS degree, students find various job opportunities in private and public hospitals. They can also work in dental clinics, clinical organisations, research laboratories, and also in medical industries. They even can start practising on their own by setting up dental clinics.

Q. Who earns more salary, MDS or BDS?

A. In some cases, BDS graduates earn ten times more salary than MDS graduates. But for this, some initial investigation and time dedication are required. If the aspirant thinks of setting up their clinic, then they should not waste money on pursuing MDS. Rather BDS is a better option for them.

Q. Write down the names of the departments of MDS.

The names of various departments of MDS are, ·  
  •  Oral Pathology and Microbiology
  • Public Health Dentistry
  • Periodontology
  • Oral Medicine and Radiology
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
  • Prosthodontics
  • Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Q. What is the average salary of an MDS Dentist in India?

A. The average salary of an MDS Dentist in India is satisfying. An MDS can work as a lecturer in dental clinics as well as in hospitals, or they can also set up their clinic and earn a good salary. The starting salary of an MDS is INR 1.50 lakhs in India.

Q. Can we say that Dentists are rich in India?

A. Dentists with an MDS degree can easily earn INR 50,000 per month. Hence, till you become 60 years old, you can earn around 1.5 crores per month. On the other hand, if you set up your clinic and attract a good number of patients, you can easily earn INR 1 lakhs per month.
Table of contents
  • Popular MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India
  • Popular Private MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India
  • Popular MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses

Popular MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India. Learn more about these MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
116 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 MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Colleges in India

19 Courses
1.3 L - 3.95 L
2 LPA
2.84 L - 27.12 L
3.15 LPA

Medicine & Health Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

1 L - 9.6 L
3.7

Medicine & Health Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

1.3 L - 3.95 L
3 Courses
1 L
3.8
10 K - 20.25 L
4.5 LPA

Popular MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Specializations

Following are the most popular MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Most Popular Courses

Following are the most popular MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in MDS (Master of Dental Surgery).
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The NIMS University Rajasthan NEET PG Cutoff 2022 ranged from 40 to 4393 in the first and last round closing cutoff ranks for the General AI category. Among all the course specialisations, MD in General Medicine faced the toughest competition according to the last round closing ranks.  NIMS Universi

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There is no single “standard” MDS fee structure that applies to all “semi-government” dental colleges in India. It depends heavily on the state, quota (government / management / private / NRI), branch (clinical vs non-clinical), and whether the college is fully government, semi-government, privat

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