Last Updated on July 30, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
Have you completed BDS education? Are you all set to pursue MDS course? If yes, this post will be of help to you. Here, I’ve listed down some of the best MDS specializations available in India.
What’s ‘specialization’, you may ask. In order to understand that, you must take a closer look at the structure of dental education in India. Come, let us take a closer look at this topic –
In India, dental education programs are available across different academic levels and course formats. For example, looking from academic level’s point of view, dental education programs can be classified into the following types – UG, PG and Doctoral Degree programs.
Looking from course format’s point of view, dental education courses can be classified into the following types – Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and Doctoral Degree courses.
BDS is a Bachelor’s Degree course. This academic program belongs to the UG (undergraduate) level. After completing BDS, dental graduates may go for PG (postgraduate) level programs.
MDS is a PG level course. The main aim of MDS course is to provide advanced dental education knowledge to students. Dentistry deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases, conditions and disorders of the oral cavity and oral mucosa.
It is a vast field and consists of multiple sub-disciplines and sub-branches. The main aim of MDS course is to help candidates specialize in any one of these sub-disciplines. These sub-disciplines usually form MDS specialization programs!
In this post, you will find the names of popular MDS specializations available in India. Apart from the names of sub-disciplines, you will also find basic details about these areas of specialization.
List of best dental specializations in India
Come, let us check out the list now. Here it is –
1 Public Health Dentistry
A regular dentist usually treats individual patients. They deal with patients one at a time. On the other hand, a public health dentist deals with community or population based dentistry. Instead of focusing on single patients at a time, they focus on entire communities or sections of population.
In order to perform the above tasks, a dentist must possess specific set of skills and knowledge. If you want to build a decent career in this sector, you may select public health dentistry sub-discipline.
2 Oral Pathology and Microbiology
This area of specialization deals with two notable sub-disciplines of dentistry – oral pathology and oral microbiology. Oral pathology deals with diagnosis of oral diseases, disorders and conditions. Oral pathology plays an integral role in identifying the disease (and chart treatment plan accordingly). Oral microbiology deals with the study of microorganisms of the oral cavity.
3 Oral Medicine and Radiology
This area of specialization deals with two notable sub-disciplines of dentistry – oral medicine and oral radiology. Oral medicine primarily deals with non-surgical treatment of oral diseases, disorders and conditions.
Oral radiology is also known as oral and maxillofacial radiology or dental and maxillofacial radiology. This branch of dentistry deals with diagnostic imaging techniques used to examine dental and adjacent structures. It helps identify diseases, conditions and disorders that exist in the dental and adjacent structures of patients.
4 Periodontology
It is the branch of dentistry that deals with the study of supporting structures of teeth. Examples of supporting tissues of teeth include – gingiva, alveolar bone, cementum and periodontal ligament. Periodontology deals with the diseases, disorders and conditions that affect these supporting structures.
5 Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that primarily deals with the study of dental pulp. It deals with the diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the dental pulp. A professional who practices this specialty is known as endodontist.
Conservative densitry is also known as restorative dentistry. As the name suggests, this specialty deals with the rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of teeth and their supporting structures to functional and aesthetic requirements of the patient/individual.
6 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
This discipline deals with the treatment of diseases, injuries, disorders and conditions that affect the mouth, dental structures, jaws and face. This branch of dentistry uses surgery to treat the disease, condition, disorder or injury that affect oral and maxillofacial regions.
7 Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of malpositioned teeth, jaws and adjacent structures. Headgear, appliances and surgery are used to correct malpositioned teeth and jaws.
8 Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics is also known as dental prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry. This branch of dentistry primarily deals with dental prostheses. You may also check – PG Diploma in Dental Materials.
This branch of dentistry deals with using biocompatible substitutes to treat, rehabilitate or restore missing teeth, deficient teeth, missing oral or maxillofacial tissues etc. Treatment methods employed under this branch include – bridge, crown, centric relation, veneer, dental surgery, partial dentures etc.
9 Pedodontics
Pedodontics is also known as pediatric dentistry. As the name suggests, this branch of dentistry deals with children from birth through adolescence. The main aim of a pediatric dentist is to take care of as well as promote dental health of children.
You may also check – Dentistry courses in India
10 Preventive dentistry
Caring for your teeth and adjacent structures can help prevent the onset of many dental diseases, disorders and conditions! Preventive dentistry is a branch of dentistry that deals with the practice of caring for your teeth and adjacent structures to keep them healthy.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.
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