BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is the basic degree to become a dentist.
Class 12 (or an equivalent examination) from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Biotechnology, and English.
BDS admission is based on NEET UG, conducted by NTA. The NEET UG bulletin lists MBBS and BDS together under the same counselling system.
Overview
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) is the basic degree to become a dentist. You learn the structure and diseases of the teeth, gums and jaws, along with general medicine and surgery, and you treat patients in the dental college clinics. The degree comes after four years of study and a one-year paid rotating internship. Admission is through NEET UG, the same exam as MBBS. Seats are filled by MCC counselling for all-India, central and deemed seats and by state counselling for the rest. Dental education is moving under the National Dental Commission, so watch its notices for any change in rules.
At a glance
Eligibility
Typical pattern. The official notice for the current year is final.
- Class 12 (or an equivalent examination) from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Biotechnology, and English.
- Minimum age: 17 years completed on or before 31 December of the year of admission. The NEET UG 2026 bulletin states no upper age limit for UG medical and dental courses.
- The BDS Course Regulations 2007 required a minimum of 50% marks together in Physics, Chemistry and Biology for General category, with lower marks for reserved categories and persons with disability. These rules have been amended over time, so confirm the current figure in the counselling notice.
- You must qualify NEET UG. The qualifying mark in the 2026 bulletin is the 50th percentile for General and General-EWS, the 40th percentile for SC, ST and OBC (non-creamy layer), and 45th percentile for General candidates with benchmark disability. The Central Government can lower these for a year.
- Candidates whose Class 12 result is awaited can sit NEET UG but need the pass in required subjects by the time of the first counselling round.
- NRI, OCI and foreign candidates follow the rules of the state or institution and must upload the documents listed in the NEET UG bulletin.
Entrance exams for this course
Entrance and counselling
- BDS admission is based on NEET UG, conducted by NTA. The NEET UG bulletin lists MBBS and BDS together under the same counselling system.
- MCC conducts counselling for the 15% all-India quota, for central institutions and universities, ESIC colleges and deemed universities.
- State counselling authorities fill the state quota seats of government dental colleges and the seats of private colleges, under state domicile and reservation rules.
- A circular of the National Dental Commission says admissions to BDS in all dental institutions must be through NEET and the prescribed counselling. Colleges cannot admit students on their own.
- Private colleges can have management or NRI seats. The fee, the eligibility and the process are fixed by the state or the institution, so read their notice.
- Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and persons with disability follows the policy that applies to the seat.
- Because many students apply to both MBBS and BDS, counselling lets you list both and set your preference order.
Admission process
The usual journey, step by step. Dates and rules for the current year are on the official notice.
- 1Check eligibilityConfirm subjects, marks and age against the NEET UG bulletin and dental regulations
- 2Apply for NEET UGRegister online on the NTA site and pay the fee shown there
- 3Appear for the examTake the pen and paper test
- 4Get the score and rankCheck that you are above the qualifying percentile for your category
- 5Register for counsellingRegister on the MCC portal and on your state portal, with the fee shown there
- 6Fill and lock choicesList BDS colleges and other courses you want, in order of preference
- 7Seat allotment and reportingAccept the allotted seat and report to the college with original documents
Documents
- Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates
- NEET scorecard and admit card
- Photo ID (Aadhaar / passport)
- Passport-size photographs
- Domicile / residence certificate (for state quota)
- Category, EWS or PwD certificate, if applicable
- Migration / transfer / school-leaving certificate
- Medical fitness certificate, when asked
- Counselling registration, choice-filling and allotment letters
- Fee payment receipts
Read the document preparation guide →
What you study
- General human anatomy including embryology and histology
- General physiology, biochemistry and nutrition
- Dental anatomy, oral histology and dental materials
- General pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and therapeutics
- Oral pathology and oral microbiology
- General medicine and general surgery, as they relate to dental practice
- Conservative dentistry and endodontics (fillings and root canal treatment)
- Prosthodontics, crown and bridge (artificial teeth and replacements)
- Periodontology (gum diseases) and oral medicine and radiology
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics (braces and alignment), paediatric dentistry and public health dentistry
Year by year
- General human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry
- Dental anatomy, embryology and oral histology
- Dental materials, and pre-clinical prosthodontics and crown and bridge in the laboratory
- General pathology and microbiology, pharmacology and therapeutics
- Oral pathology and oral microbiology
- Pre-clinical conservative dentistry and prosthodontics
- General medicine and general surgery
- Clinical work begins in conservative dentistry, periodontology, oral surgery, oral medicine and radiology, orthodontics and paediatric dentistry
- Prosthodontics clinics
- Full clinical training in all dental specialties and public health dentistry
- Final BDS examination at the end of the year
- Compulsory rotating internship in the departments of a recognised dental college, in which you treat patients under supervision
- The degree is granted after the internship
Skills you build
Careers and next steps
- Dentist in a hospital, clinic or community health service
- Own dental clinic after registration with the state dental council
- Postgraduate study (MDS) in a dental specialty, through NEET MDS
- Government dental surgeon, and dental officer in the armed forces
- Teaching and research in a dental college after postgraduate study
- Public health dentistry and school or community dental programmes
- Roles in dental products, dental laboratories and clinical research
- Further study in health management or public health
Is it for you?
A good fit if
- You like working with your hands and have steady fingers
- You enjoy biology and also want a mix of medical and practical craft skills
- You are comfortable examining the mouth and speaking with patients all day
- You are open to running or joining a clinic as a small business
Think twice if
- You wanted MBBS and see BDS as a second choice. The work is different, so choose it for its own sake
- Private practice takes years to build, and the results depend on location and patient trust
- Private college fees can be high, so understand the full course fee before accepting a seat
- Specialisation needs a further entrance exam and three more years of study
- The system is changing under the National Dental Commission, so watch notices on the postgraduate and licensing exam
Common mistakes to avoid
- Locking choices without checking fees, bond and quota conditions
- Missing a reporting or registration deadline
- Ignoring state domicile and category rules
- Not keeping attested copies and a spare document set ready
- Trusting rumours or social media instead of the official notice
- Paying anyone for a "guaranteed seat"
Colleges to explore
Listings show name and location. Fees and cut-offs are shown only when verified from official sources.
AIIMS New Delhi
New Delhi, Delhi
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Bhopal
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Jodhpur
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Patna
Patna, Bihar
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Raipur
Raipur, Chhattisgarh
All Medical & Health Sciences colleges →
Official sources to check
- NTA NEET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletinneet.nta.nic.in
- Dental Council of India: BDS Course Regulations 2007 (copy hosted by a dental college)dapmrvdc.edu.in
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)mcc.nic.in
Frequently asked questions
Is NEET UG required for BDS?
Yes. Admission to BDS in all dental institutions is through NEET UG, followed by counselling.
How long is BDS?
Four years of study followed by one year of compulsory rotating internship, so five years in total, as in the BDS Course Regulations 2007.
Is BDS the same as MBBS?
No. BDS trains you for dentistry only. MBBS trains you in general medicine. Both use NEET UG and are filled in the same counselling.
Which body regulates BDS?
The BDS Course Regulations were framed by the Dental Council of India. Dental education now comes under the National Dental Commission Act, 2023, so check current notices.
What is NEET MDS?
NEET MDS is the national entrance exam for the postgraduate Master of Dental Surgery. A National Exit Test for dental graduates is provided for in the 2023 Act, with a start date to be notified.
Can I switch from BDS to MBBS later?
Not directly. You must qualify NEET UG again and get a seat through counselling as a fresh candidate, within the eligibility rules in force.
Is the internship paid?
The 2007 regulations describe it as a paid rotating internship. The amount is set by the institution or state, so ask the college.
Does Padhaidekho guarantee admission?
No. Admission depends on the official counselling authority, your eligibility and merit. We guide you, verify information against official notices and keep you on track.
How Padhaidekho helps
We review your eligibility against the current official notice, build a ranked options list, keep your documents and deadlines on track and stay with you through every round. Fees and service scope are shared in writing before you enrol.
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Content checked against the official sources above in 2026-10. Rules, dates and eligibility change every cycle: always confirm on the official notice. This page is general guidance, not legal advice or an admission guarantee.