Garui Chhatria
Some tortures are physical
And some are mental,
But the one that is both Is dental.
Ogden Nash
However painful the visit to the dentist might appear, one thing is certain- we cannot do without the dentist. Whether it is to get a million dollar smile, or to get rid of toothache or to take care of uneven teeth, dentist becomes a significant person of our lives. He is the one who deals with the inspection and treatment of teeth, gums and other parts of our oral cavity. Common procedures are removal, correction and replacement of decayed, damaged or lost teeth.
In today’s scenario, Dentistry has become a lucrative profession, thanks to sedentary life style and over consciousness about looks and oral hygiene. It is accepted as a professional field which includes dental care and correction.
Paradigm Shift:
Over the years,dentistry as a profession has changed rapidly, creating many new opportunities and challenges. It has come a long way from being a treatment of bad teeth and gums to corrective treatment and enhancement of beauty. It involves improvement of a person’s looks and appearance by using a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures. Gone are those days, when it was considered that if you do not get a good rank in the Medical Entrance Exam, dentistry is the option. Today, more and more students are opting for dentistry out of choice.
Getting in:
To practice as a dentist, you at least a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Science (BDS). Candidates who have passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with at least 50% marks are eligible for admission in BDS.
Besides scientific knowledge an essential skill that needs to be beefed up is a sense of art and aesthetics. The scientific cognition is needed for diagnosis, treatment of oral diseases and conditions. Apart from this, you also need to have an artistic flair to realign an entire jaw or to scale some teeth and to do a cosmetic surgery to enhance the appearance and appeal of the patients. The foremost attribute required for a good dentist is patience,stamina to work hard for long periods, good health, and power of concentration, manual dexterity and accuracy. Besides these they must have a keen eye for detail, ability to memorize and recall scientific facts, comprehensive medical cognition, cool temperament and strong interpersonal skills. The best dentists are skillful communicators and their analytical and logical reasoning skill should be above average.
Selection:
Admission to graduate courses in dentistry is through a general, nationwide competitive examination. The All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Exam conducted by the CBSE is common for both the MBBS and the Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS). The allocation of institutions is based on merit. Other than the centrally run medical institutions there is at least one dental college in most states, where admission is governed by domiciliary status. A merit waiting list up to a number of 1 to 2000 is made on the base of marks obtained in the Exam. The candidates are assigned their merit list and choice. There are also private colleges which under the management quota admit students on an all India basis.
When opting for a private college, choose the one that has an approval from the Dental Council of India.
Duration: The BDS (Bachelor of Dental Science) degree program is a 4 years course divided into 4 parts each of 1 year duration, followed by one year of rotating internship. Subjects such as basic anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology are covered in the first two years. Specialization in dentistry and hands on training are provided in the last two semesters. Those who have completed the BDS should be registered to practice dentistry by the Dental Council of India. An MDS (Masters in Dental Science) requires two years of additional training. The annual fees may range from 1 to 3 lakhs and the private institutions under management quota may charge 5 to 10 lakhs as capitation fee.
After graduation, you can go in for a specialization with a Master’s degree.The main areas of specialization are:
Orthodontics which deals with straightening and aligning teeth and jaws; Periodontics which specializes in the care of gums and the diseases that might afflict them; Operative Dentistry or Endodontics for root canal jobs, fillings and cosmetic surgery; Prosthodontics which involves the making of artificial teeth; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery which deals specifically with operations on the mouth and jaw, Pediatric Dentistry for treating children and Oral Pathology which provides the diagnosis for diseases that affect the mouth.
Institute Scape:
College of Dental Sciences, Manipal
Maulana Azad Institute, Delhi
Govt Dental Coll& Hospital, Mumbai
Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai
Dr R. Ahmed Dental College, Kolkata
Bapuji Dental College & Hospital, Dawangere
College of Dental Sciences, Dawangere
Faculty of Dental Sciences, Luck now
Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai
Govt Dental College, Bangalore
SRM Dental College, Chennai
Adesh Institute of Dental Sciences and Research,Bathinda(Private)
Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College Hospital and Research Institute,Ludhiana(Private)
Career Pathways:
Dentist:
A dentist’s job is to help the patients to maintain a healthy mouth and teeth. This requires an examination of the mouth and teeth when there is a problem, and the preparation and execution of plans for the treatment and restoration of teeth. The main work of a dentist’s involves treatment of diseased mouths and gums; extraction of teeth that cannot be saved, or might spread an infection to the rest of the mouth; fillings in the treatment of cavities; Surgery of the mouth and jaw; replacement of extracted teeth through surgery or other processes; cleaning of the patient’s mouth and teeth; corrective work to align or straighten teeth; dentures i.e. the making and fitting of false teeth and preventive work which involves routine check-ups for both adults and children. Dentists perform trauma surgery, implants, tissue grafts and laser surgery to correct them. The core function of a dentist is prevention and treatment of diseases related to the oral cavity, including the floor of the oral cavity, the ‘roof’ of the mouth, teeth, gums, and tongue His job includes educating patients about oral hygiene and ways to preserve a healthy mouth and prevent dental problems.
Problems dealing with the jaw or any invasive oral procedure are usually undertaken by an oral surgeon.
Excellent employment opportunities are available for dentists in dental departments in hospitals, nursing homes, dental clinics and health departments
Dental Assistants:
As the name itself suggests, in addition to assisting the dentist during a variety of procedures such as cleaning and scaling teeth, placing temporary fillings, dental assistant does other specific tasks including taking and developing dental x-rays, sterilizing instruments and equipment and making impressions of patients’ teeth and the like.
Teaching and Research:
There are a lot of teaching opportunities in dental colleges and you can also work in the Research and Advisory functions of a pharmaceutical and other companies producing oral care products and medicines like toothpaste, mouth wash, gum care products, etc. You can also act as adental consultant to models and film artists which could fetch a lot of money.
Entrepreneurship:
Self-employment is a promising avenue.With gaining experience, one can start his own individual practice. Many dentists prefer to be in private practice, as it provides the best financial prospects as well as greater independence. Private practitioners work either alone, often setting up a clinic on their own premises, or in partnership with colleagues, sharing resources and overheads.
Pay Packet:
In government hospitals, freshly trained dentists could begin around Rs 6,000 a month, while in private hospitals it could be from Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000. Postgraduate degree holders can expect to start on Rs 7,000 upwards.Dental surgeons can earn good money through their own practice. The consultation charges could be Rs.500 upwards for cosmetic filling and can be as high as Rs. 40,000 to 50,000 depending upon the nature of dental problem the patient is undergoing
In Europe, the dental industry needs more and more professionals. So there is good scope for Indian dentists abroad. There are a lot of career opportunities available in countries like USA and Australia.
So, for those of you who wish to embark on the journey to alleviating the pain and the agony that is physical as well as mental, dentistry is the best option…
For queries contact gauri_nagpal @yahoo.com
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