Bachelor in Dental Sciences

Scope of Dentistry
In a human body mouth is considered to be the mirror dental health being intimately related is part and parcel of the general health and well being of an individual. With increasing awareness in oral health and surge in the demand for cosmetic dental care together with technological advances in delivery of dental care, need for trained professionals in this field is ever increasing. As dentistry offers a satisfying, rewarding and lucrative career, it has become the subject of choice for aspiring professionals of tomorrow.

Why Study Dentistry at Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences?
Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences was founded in the year 1991 and has been a pioneer in providing dental education and dental health care. The college is professionally managed and has been nurtured & developed with best of technical and professional infrastructure to suit the ever increasing needs of modern day dental health care.
Strong teaching-learning process
At present the college imparts undergraduate teaching to 60 students annually. The facilities at Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences are of very high standard with faculty of rich experience and expertise with deep sense of commitment to offer their best to the students on a one-to-one basis. Throughout the course, dental students will have close contact with the teaching staff, and senior students, which allows learning by example and peer review. In line with technical advances, the dental hospital attached to the college is well equipped with modern gadgets to impart specialized dental treatment, training and the requisite skills to students.

Emphasis on total development of an individual
Lectures and workshops from professionals of national and international repute are part of continuing dental education programs. The institution is also actively involved in community dental health and treatment programmes catering to the needs of rural population with the intention of providing an awareness and knowledge on oral diseases and importance of good oral hygiene practice among school children and rural folk. Apart from imparting dental education, the college stresses upon the overall development of its students by encouraging sports and other extra curricular activities

Dentistry today involves treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases of the mouth, ranging from tooth decay to mouth cancer. The five-year course in Dental Surgery at Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences is designed to provide both the scientific background and the practical skills that are needed throughout one's career as a dentist.

THE COLLEGE
The Dental College is housed in two buildings, the pre-clinical and clinical block situated within the picturesque campus. The Dental College and Hospital has comprehensive facilities for:
· patient care

· student clinical practice and training,

· education and research in dental and oral diseases and disorders.
The Pre-Clinical block is a 4-storeyed state-of-the-art building with all the pre-clinical departments, laboratories, library and classrooms. The college provides modern clinical, lecturing, tutorial facilities for the dental education of a student intake of 60 each year.

The Clinical block is equipped with tutorials, laboratory and clinical facilities. It comprises of the clinical departments of all specialities in dentistry ranging from diagnosis, child dentistry to surgery, restorative, cosmetic and preventive dentistry.

COURSE OFFERED
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S) is a five-year course, with four years of study followed by a year of compulsory internship, which prepares students for patient-oriented dental practice and emphasizes prevention and early detection of dental disease. The first two years are the pre-clinical years comprising the study of basic medical sciences and development of basic clinical skills on patient simulated models. The next two years are clinical years wherein students are exposed to clinical environment and treatment of patients. The curriculum is designed to develop a spirit of inquiry amongst students that lead them to seek better ways to promote and preserve oral and general health. The primary goal of our institution is to educate dentists who are well grounded in the basic medical sciences, skilled in the exercise of clinical care, and, above all, sensitive to the needs of their patients. To this end, the curriculum combines course work, and a series of planned, practical learning experiences in dental clinics of our college and medical hospitals outside the dental institution.

The aims of the Dental course are to educate individuals to safely practice dentistry in a training environment appropriate to their professional aspirations. They should be able to combine and use knowledge, skills and judgement and have appropriate attitudes to deliver a high standard of professional care.

THE COURSE DELIVERY
YEAR I
The first year begins with a preparatory program introducing basic science courses. This foundation year includes introduction to dental materials and pre-clinical dental sciences.

Human Anatomy including Embryology & Histology:
Gross anatomy, histology and embryology are treated in their broadest aspects with emphasis on points of clinical importance. Morphology is learned by lectures, dissections and clinical discussions.

Human Physiology including Biochemistry:
Integrates body functions and the physiological basis for the understanding of clinical conditions. Laboratory exercises are supplemented with experimentation and demonstration. Biochemistry deals with the nature of chemical processes occurring in the living cells of our body with their applied aspects.

Dental Materials:
An in-depth consideration of the physical and chemical properties of materials related to the practice of dentistry.

YEAR II
The second year is shared by the basic pre-clinical and clinical sciences. General and Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics: General principles of drug action in the body and drugs of importance to clinical dentistry.

General Pathology and General Microbiology:
Curriculum covers fundamental mechanisms and general principles of the diseases of our body. Didactic sessions largely comprising lectures are supplemented with gross and microscopic laboratories and seminars. Microbiology comprises bacteriology, virology, mycology and immunology to prepare students for a detailed study of infectious diseases, general characteristics of pathogenic microorganisms along with laboratory instructions.

Human Oral Anatomy includes Embryology and Histology:
Lectures and laboratory course introducing normal tooth morphology, tooth-carving exercises and the anatomy of occlusion of the healthy dentition. This course also includes a comprehensive under-standing of the embryology, microscopic and macroscopic structure, and functions of the orofacial complex.

Pre-clinical Operative Dentistry:
A laboratory course that introduces the student to fundamental operative procedures related to teeth.

Pre-clinical Prosthodontics:
A laboratory course, which introduces the student to basic prosthodontic procedures.

YEAR III
The student enters dental clinics and employs the dexterity, which has been obtained in the previous years for treatment of the patients. At the same time the student continues didactic courses in basic medical and dental subjects.

Oral Pathology and Microbiology:
The student is taught to recognize, analyze and appreciate primary 2nd secondary disease conditions of the oral and peri-oral regions present in patients. The course also includes microscopic and macroscopic evaluation and diagnosis of common oral diseases.

General Medicine:
Fundamental procedures in systematic examination of patients with diseases, including lectures and clinics.

General Surgery:
Introduction to general principles of surgery, clinical examination and evaluation of patients with surgical conditions.

Preventive and Community Dentistry:
Designed to help the student to explore professional ethics as they relate to dentist's relationships to peers, patients and the community. Student attends dental camps and performs initial screening examinations and is sensitized to specific needs of a variety of patient populations.

YEAR IV
The student assumes a greater responsibility for patients, treats more complex dental needs, and has an increasing exposure to the specialty areas of dentistry.

Oral Medicine and Radiology:
Instruction in the systemic background of diseases and the effect of oral diseases on total patient health. Focus on history-taking techniques, comprehensive patient examination, use of diagnostic aids and tests, and formulation of treatment plans. Radiology includes a detailed didactic and practical presentation of radiological techniques essential for various specialties of dentistry.

Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry:
Oral health problems during development and growth of oro-facial complex of the child and adolescent. The course includes training in patient management, preventive and restorative dentistry treatment of traumatic dental injuries, and minor tooth movements.

Orthodontics:
Focus on orofacial growth and development, and an introduction to the concepts and practical aspects of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment. Advanced diagnostic facilities such as computerised cephalometrics, computerised growth prediction and other ultra modern equipment help render state-of the art orthodontic care.

Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics:
Dental restorative care including diagnosis, prevention and treatment planning, and establishment of sensitivity to patient' s health and comfort. Individual intracoronal restorations including amalgam, cast gold, composite, glass ionomer restorative systems are taught with emphasis on co-ordinating restorative treatment with patient' s overall dental needs. Endodontics provides dental student with a clear understanding of the biologic foundations of the pulp and periapical disease and teaches them to discuss the techniques of root canal therapy and periapical surgery.

Periodontics:
The student is introduced to normal periodontium, diagnosis and treatment of common periodontal diseases with both non-surgical and surgical methods.

Prosthodontics:
A detailed analysis of edentulous and partially edentulous patient, with emphasis on diagnosis, design and fabrication of removable and fixed appliances. The department is equipped with casting and ceramic laboratory.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:
Introduction to the basic concepts and techniques of tooth removal, as well as minor and major surgical problems. Also includes methods of pain control and local anaesthesia, and emergency dental care. Clinical programme also includes major surgeries, involving the treatment of oral cancers, facial trauma, temporomandibular joint disorders, cleft lip and palate, and jaw deformities.

Teaching and Assessment
The college has a faculty with expertise, many of whom are recognized authorities in their respective fields. The staff is especially committed to clinical training, working intensively with students on one-to-one basis towards total patient care. English is the medium of instruction for all the subjects of study. Teaching methods used involve a mixture of techniques including lectures, tutorials and seminars, and practical laboratory and clinical teaching.
The passing examination to enter the next academic year is conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. A University Examination is conducted at the end of every academic year (in case of Final BDS, after each semester). Examinations comprise of written theory exams and viva-voce (orals) along with performance of corresponding practical tasks.

Internship
After the fourth year, the students participate in another distinguishing part of the curriculum: the one-year internship. This internship exposes students to alternative clinical settings and different modes of treatment and instruction. This plays a vital role in the curriculum by allowing the student to practice his or her clinical and interpersonal skills in a more independent setting, with supervision, support, and guidance from the faculty. During their internship, students strengthen their skills in clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, patient and practice management, and emergency care.

Career Prospects
After the completion of BDS course (which includes one year of compulsory rotatory internship), the student is eligible to apply for Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) course. A dentist may alternatively set up general practice or work in a hospital. Teaching and research is another attractive avenue for the outstanding graduate. Dental surgeons can also join the armed forces as commissioned officers. Several large companies employ their own dentists to provide dental treatment for their staff. Since the college is recognized by the Dental Council of India and affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, the graduate is also eligible to apply to various institutions abroad for further studies. A dentist, therefore, in addition to enjoying high community standing and an above-average income, has an excellent range of working environments.

Admission Procedure
All admissions are provisional and are subject to the approval of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The admission for Merit seats and Merit Payment seats is through Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the Government of Karnataka, India.