Medical & Health Sciences
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MDS
12 Colleges
MDS Syllabus 2026
The MDS (MDS) syllabus covers a structured programme designed to build both foundational knowledge and specialised expertise. Below is the detailed semester-wise subject breakdown and programme structure.
MDS Semester-wise Subjects
MDS Specialisations
MDS offers 9 recognised specialisations, each providing deep expertise in a specific area of dental care.
| Specialisation | Focus Area | Key Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics | Teeth alignment, jaw correction, bite adjustment | Metal/ceramic braces, clear aligners, functional appliances, surgical orthodontics |
| Prosthodontics & Crown and Bridge | Tooth replacement, dental implants, crowns, dentures | Implant placement, complete/partial dentures, all-on-4, CAD/CAM crowns |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | Surgical procedures of the face, jaws, and oral cavity | Impaction surgery, fracture fixation, TMJ surgery, orthognathic surgery, tumour excision |
| Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics | Tooth preservation, root canal treatment, restorations | RCT (rotary/microscope-assisted), veneers, inlays/onlays, apicectomy |
| Periodontics | Gum diseases, bone regeneration, implant integration | Flap surgery, bone grafting, GTR, implant placement, laser therapy |
| Oral Pathology & Microbiology | Disease diagnosis through lab analysis | Biopsy analysis, histopathology, cytology, molecular diagnostics |
| Oral Medicine & Radiology | Diagnosis of oral diseases, dental imaging | CBCT interpretation, OPG, mucosal disease management, pain clinics |
| Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry | Children's dental care, preventive programmes | Pulpotomy, space maintainers, fluoride application, behaviour management |
| Public Health Dentistry | Community dental health, epidemiology, dental public health | Community surveys, health education, programme planning, biostatistics |
MDS Programme Structure & Credit Distribution
MDS Year-Wise Curriculum
Year 1 - Foundation & Applied Sciences
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Theory | Applied basic sciences relevant to the specialty, recent advances, journal clubs, seminars |
| Clinical Postings | OPD postings in the specialty, patient examination, treatment planning, assisted procedures |
| Research | Thesis topic selection, literature review, protocol preparation, Ethics Committee approval |
| Rotations | Rotations through related departments for interdisciplinary exposure |
Year 2 - Advanced Specialty Procedures
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Clinical Work | Performing specialty procedures with increasing independence, complex case management |
| Lab/Workshop | Dental lab work (prosthodontics), wire bending (orthodontics), surgical simulation |
| Research | Data collection, analysis, thesis writing |
| Seminars | Case presentations, inter-departmental seminars, guest lectures |
Year 3 - Independent Practice & Completion
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Independent Cases | Managing complex cases independently, full treatment from diagnosis to completion |
| Thesis | Thesis submission, viva voce defence, publication |
| Examination | University final exam: Theory papers + Practical/Clinical exam + Viva |
| Teaching | Teaching BDS students in clinical and pre-clinical settings |
Skills Developed in MDS
Skills Developed During MDS
Clinical & Diagnostic Skills
- Advanced diagnosis: Comprehensive oral examination, radiographic interpretation (OPG, CBCT, RVG), treatment planning for complex cases
- Specialty procedures: Branch-specific clinical skills far beyond BDS-level competence
- Materials science: Advanced knowledge of dental materials - ceramics, composites, implant materials, biomaterials
Specialty-Specific Procedural Skills
- Orthodontics: Bracket placement, wire bending, aligner treatment planning, cephalometric analysis
- Prosthodontics: Implant planning and placement, CAD/CAM design, full-mouth rehabilitation, denture fabrication
- Oral Surgery: Impaction surgery, fracture management, minor and major surgical procedures, anaesthesia administration
- Endodontics: Rotary RCT, microscope-assisted endodontics, retreatment, surgical endodontics
- Periodontics: Flap surgery, bone grafting, guided tissue regeneration, implant integration
Research & Professional Skills
- Research methodology, biostatistics, thesis writing, scientific publication
- Practice management, patient communication, ethical dental care
- Teaching and clinical demonstration for undergraduate dental students
- Digital dentistry skills - CAD/CAM, intraoral scanning, digital treatment planning