Undergraduate Dental Degrees

Bachelor-level dental programs leading to professional qualification as a dentist. Typically 4-5 years of full-time study.

3 Programs
#1

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)

Bachelor of Dental Surgery

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Colleges in India

BDS is the primary undergraduate dental degree in India and many Commonwealth countries. It covers comprehensive dental education including anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical practice. Graduates are eligible to practice as general dentists after completing a mandatory 1-year internship.

Duration

4-5 Years

Avg Fees

INR 1-10 Lakhs/year

Eligibility

10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology (min 50%)

Entrance Exam

NEET-UG

Curriculum & Subjects

General Anatomy & Physiology
Dental Anatomy & Histology
Oral Pathology & Microbiology
Conservative Dentistry
Prosthodontics
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Orthodontics
Periodontics
Community Dentistry
Clinical Practice & Internship

Career Paths

General Dentist Dental Surgeon Dental Officer (Government) Research Associate

Top Colleges

Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi
Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal
Government Dental College, Mumbai
Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai
Saveetha Dental College, Chennai
#2

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Doctor of Dental Surgery

DDS is the primary dental degree in the United States and Canada. It is a postgraduate professional doctorate requiring a prior bachelor's degree. The program combines rigorous biomedical science with extensive clinical training.

Duration

4 Years (after undergraduate)

Avg Fees

$50,000-$100,000/year

Eligibility

Bachelor's degree + DAT

Entrance Exam

DAT (Dental Admission Test)

Curriculum & Subjects

Biomedical Sciences
Dental Materials
Operative Dentistry
Oral Surgery
Pediatric Dentistry
Endodontics
Periodontics
Prosthodontics
Clinical Rotations

Career Paths

General Dentist Specialist (after residency) Academic Dentist Research Scientist

Top Colleges

Harvard School of Dental Medicine
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
UCSF
NYU College of Dentistry

Available Countries

#3

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)

Doctor of Dental Medicine

DMD is equivalent to DDS and is offered by select US dental schools. The curriculum is virtually identical; the name difference is historical. Both degrees qualify graduates for the same licensure examinations.

Duration

4 Years (after undergraduate)

Avg Fees

$50,000-$90,000/year

Eligibility

Bachelor's degree + DAT

Entrance Exam

DAT

Curriculum & Subjects

Biomedical Sciences
Clinical Dentistry
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Restorative Dentistry
Preventive Dentistry
Clinical Practice

Career Paths

General Dentist Specialist (after residency) Public Health Dentist

Top Colleges

University of Pennsylvania (DMD)
Tufts University
Boston University
Harvard (DMD)

Available Countries