Dentist
Specialist trained to look after oral health — keeping teeth, gums and mouth healthy.
Overview
Dentist is a specialist trained to look after the oral health of human beings. They help patients keep their teeth, gums, and mouth healthy.
Where they work
- Government and Private hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Colleges and Universities
Work environment
It is a desk job. You may be required to manage a team. Local travel is not part of the job. While hospitals and clinics are often open 24X7, you may work for 6 to 7 days a week and 9 to 10 hours every day. This may, however, vary from hospital to hospital. Entrepreneurship: you can set up private practice in your own clinic.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to help others
- You can determine the procedure of your own work
- You are a careful and organised person
- You can comfortably talk to all kinds of people
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (B.D.S.) in Dental Surgery
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree (M.D.S.) in the same field.
- 2For admissions, you must qualify NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)
Forms, exams and applications
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Dentistry. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- The North Bengal Dental College, Sushrutanagar, Darjeeling, West Bengal
- U.P. Rural Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Saifai, Uttar Pradesh
- Faculty of Dental Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Government Dental College and Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Tamil Nadu Government Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Faculty of Dentistry, Rajah Muthiah Dental College & Hospital, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu
- Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Pb. Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Haldia Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Banbishnupur, West Bengal
- Uttaranchal Dental College & Medical Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- Shree Bankey Bihari Dental College & Research Centre, Masuri, Ghaziabad, Uttarakhand
- Career Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Lucknow, Uttarakhand
- Tagore Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Vyas Dental College & Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
- Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Amritsar, Punjab
- Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Intern → Junior Doctor → Dentist → Hospital/Clinic Owner
- 2Intern → Junior Doctor → Dentist → Dental Surgeon → Head of the Department → Chief Medical Officer → Dean of the Hospital
Expected income
₹18,000 – ₹1,00,000 per month and more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Periodontist
Dentist specialising in gum disease and in the placement of dental implants.
Technician - Dental
Makes and repairs dental appliances, supporting dentists through dental technology and mechanics.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Sonali Randhawa — A dentist by training who currently works as a research associate with Health Systems Governance at the Health Systems Transformation Platform, New Delhi. She has done her BDS from Government Dental College and Hospital, Patiala.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 331 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://shorturl.at/uR7Q0
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.