Choose MDS after BDS or not?

Being at a phase when you are in the middle of your internship year, and suddenly you start planning about life after graduation, you often tend to be in a gloomy phase. Usually, because of the limited knowledge of options as well as to a fact heard quite often, “There is no scope in dentistry, it has reached the saturation level.”

A freshly graduated Dental Surgeon usually keeps thinking about the same question – What after BDS? Finally when they have the most significant predicament in their life that whether they ought to do MDS after BDS or not. They are unwilling to join MDS after finishing BDS since all their force and excitement are as of now exhausted by the rigorous five-year-long course of BDS. Besides, the seats in MDS are not too many that it requires an agonizingly excruciating work to get past the entrance tests and secure a seat.

After all the burning of the midnight oil and hours of studying, they secure a seat; and there comes another difficult question about which subject should they choose to specialize in dentistry, as the fields are:

• Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics

• Orthodontics

• Prosthodontics

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Periodontology

• Pedodontics

• Oral Medicine and Radiology

• Public Health Dentistry (Community Dentistry)

• Oral Pathology.

On the one hand, there is a gradual increase in the number of dental graduates that are suitable for the overall oral health of the country. While, on the other hand, there is a growing number of dissatisfied dental graduates, mainly because there are shallow prospects of a job.

As per the current scenario, the dentists with MDS who are working as the general dentists, often underpaid even though MDS is the highest academic record in the field of dentistry. The degree of MDS helps dental graduates to specialize in the field of dentistry, thus giving them an upgrade from the growing population of only BDS degree holders.

However, here are a few pros and cons you should consider when choosing MDS after BDS.

PROS:

Specialization:

Studying about one subject with more focus helps you understand the field thoroughly that you are genuinely interested in. Always helpful in learning more without dissipating time and energy.

More Clinical Practice:

While completing your MDS, you’ll have more opportunities with clinical practice as you get extensive hands-on training on a large number of patients in the three-year-long course.

More Priority:

MDS graduates are given more priority in terms of clinical practice and consultations. Patients are becoming aware of healthcare. As in medical fraternity, going to Paediatrician for child care and Ophthalmologist for eye care is well known soon. In a few years, all branches in dentistry will also get recognized by their specialty like for misaligned teeth; people will approach an Orthodontist; for a root canal, they may search for Endodontists.

Academic Jobs:

For those who wish to share the essential lessons of dentistry and enjoy academic teachings can carve an alternative pathway with an MDS degree instead of treating patients. The academic job may not be physically demanding; thus, the opportunities in the educational field with dentistry would be beneficial with earnings. The academic positions like Professors and Head of the Department (HOD) are only available for MDS graduates.

The Highest Degree in the Field of Dentistry:

Even though the current scenario in the dental job sector speaks more towards the saturation level in dentistry, you will always be known as a master in the field of dentistry. With the master’s degree, the ladders to the realm of Dentistry are less crowded, and you climb up. The horde with BDS degrees will diminish as you start climbing the ladder up there.

Ph.D.:

For those dentists wanting to pursue Ph.D., MDS is the way to that pathway. If your interest lies in the research field, MDS would be a great way to start with it as it builds competence and methodology for research.

Payscale:

Having an MDS degree increases your payscale up to a certain level than what a BDS graduate earns.

CONS:

Time:

Studying Masters of Dental Surgery is time-consuming as it is a three-year-long course, thus delaying your settlement period.

Competition Level:

There are only 6,228 seats for MDS at all India level in dental college and every year with more than 33,000 dental graduates appearing for the all India entrance exam. Also prepare for NEET MDS.

Money Investment:

With only around 1300 government seats for MDS in India and massive competition, the fees for studying in a semi-government or a private college takes a lot of money investment. By the time of graduating with MDS, more substantial debts are already present for you, resulting in minimum funds left to set up your dental clinic.

If you’re financially not stable, a better option would be to go for various diploma programs, although not extensive academically as compared to MDS. On a long term scale, it will be beneficial and will save your money for your further clinical practice.

If No Interest:

For those who are into dentistry because they had no choice after not getting through a medical college for MBBS. If, after five years of dental college, you’re still not in the likes of dentistry, not choosing MDS under family or peer pressure would be an ideal decision.

In the end, to consider MDS after BDS or not solely depends upon the amount of satisfaction being a dentist gives. If you’re still not satisfied after post-graduation in dentistry, MDS will not be useful because you achieve success only when you truly love your profession.

Guest post by: www.thedentalbooth.com

Author: Dr. Shrushti Shah

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