What After BDS? Career Options After BDS? – Realistic Explanation and Solution

Welcome to the very exclusive edition of DentalFry, where you will be learning how to set up a successful career in dentistry. This post is exclusively for people who are confused about their career options after BDS. After your graduation, the question “What After BDS?” or “What Can I do After BDS?” might have surely struck your mind.

In this post, I will give you in-depth details about all the best career options after BDS. You will even find very different options after and streams that are not listed on any websites or blogs on the web. I will even include money-making techniques for dentists the normal way, too. These are the best options in the field of dentistry.

I would recommend all the readers to go through this post without skipping for better knowledge. And this guide is exclusively for all dentists here about various career options after BDS.

Do remember, that this Career Options Guide for Dentists is crafted with extreme care and is regularly updated. I would advise you to bookmark this page for future reference or you can subscribe to our newsletter.

This guide is not for dentists from a specific location. You can be from anywhere, but most of the examples I use will be from India as I am from India. This article covers almost 99% of the career options available for the dentist after graduation.


Best Career Options After BDS

I had heard many of my friends and fellow dentists say that dentistry is a very difficult career path. In India, a newly graduated dentist can only earn Rs10,000 or $200 per month.

When all reach the period of internship all the students get frustrated and break down. And from my research part, I will confidently tell you that you can earn a very good income if you work hard. Yes, It’s True! Read the full article, and you will surely understand.

Do you know the Pro Career Options After Completing BDS?

  • Become a Dental YouTuber.
  • Become A Dental Blogger Like Me.
  • Start a Dental Tourism Agency.
  • I have listed even more killer ideas of options after BDS below. I would request you to read the whole post so that It will help you to have a successful dental career.










1) The Traditional Option: Go for MDS After Your Graduation

It is the very first option that strikes every dentist’s brain. Here I will tell you the PG options after BDS in detail. MDS is a good option in the coming years if you have good contacts in dental colleges or if you have someone working as a dentist in your family. I am not saying it’s not a good opportunity in dentistry. But the golden opportunity was for dentists who did their MDS and passed out before 2010.

You see in your college only how much new MDS senior lecturers are getting paid. Each department is overflowing with MDS staff. This is on the academic side. You can also go for visiting clinics and you will get paid well. But, each city is having a lot of dentists, and that too MDS. There is very high competition, but you can succeed if you work wisely.

MDS after BDS

If you are going for MDS, then you must act fast. You might have come to know the strictness of getting admission to any college. Year by year, the government and universities might make the allotment and examination procedures very difficult. You can do MDS in government or private dental colleges. It depends on you whether you can work hard to crack the exam or not.

The government of India had made a single exam, i.e. NEET, for admission to all colleges in the field of Health and Sciences. Supreme Court has made many developments in the single exam patterns and you get the details online. I have even written a complete guide for MDS admission through management and NRI quota, which will give you an exact idea for taking admission to MDS through NEET.

You can also join PG Diploma courses, I didn’t mean the short-term private course for orthodontics and all. You can join colleges for a PG Diploma, it is a little bit costly, but it’s worth it. It is only available in 7 or 8 dental colleges in India.

If you are looking for career options after BDS except for MDS, then read the other best options after BDS below.


2) Join any Dental College as a Lecturer or Teaching Staff:

First, please keep in mind this post is only about career options after BDS and not MDS. So, if you are a BDS and want to earn a living by the salary you get as a staff in college, it’s rubbish. You can’t earn more than Rs.15,000 maximum in any dental college as a staff. So please don’t go for this option. If you need experience then you can forward it.

career as a teacher after bds

BDS people can use this platform to boost their clinical and academic knowledge and prepare for post-graduation. If you want a hike in salary as a teaching staff then you should definitely go for MDS.


3) Government Job as a Dentist: You Should have some great luck:

The central and state governments have a few openings for dentists in various sectors, with a temporary rural posting and later a permanent posting, depending on the department. A government job is a secure job. It gives many kinds of incentives in the form of Insurance and also pension schemes. The payout of government jobs is also very good.

The vacancy slots vary from state and the sector. OBC and SC/ST candidates are easy to get placed in these openings. And also the government job is a bit hard to get. If you are placed in any government slots in the country then you are very much lucky and skilled. However, government dental jobs are not that frequently updated.

government jobs after bds

The following is an example of government dental jobs after BDS:

  • Army Dental Corp.
  • Territorial Officer in the Indian Army.
  • Railways as a dentist.
  • Join the Indian Navy or Indian Air Force as a dental officer.
  • State government jobs, as a dental surgeon, etc.

Above, I have just mentioned the list of options you can go for in a government job. If you want more details about government dental jobs, then you can check the link below, and I am sure you will love it.


4) Go Abroad and Work as a Dentist: US, UK, Canada, Etc.

A nice, difficult, and costly career option after BDS. Before, it was easy to go abroad to the US, UK, and European Countries and settle as a dentist. The dentist’s salary in these countries is very high. But this option is very difficult and costly.

work as a dentist abroad
Pic Credits: www.recruitmentinboxx.com

Scenario Example:

Think you want to go to the US and settle there as a dentist. For this, you have to clear the NBDE Part 1 and NBDE Part 2 exams first, which are very difficult to pass. Ok, if you cleared both exams then you should invest money and join a dental college to learn DDS, which is a valid dental degree in the US.

The course fee might be a minimum of 50 lakh rupees, excluding the exam fees. Another drawback is that you have only a maximum of three attempts to clear the NBDE exams. Now, still, if you think it’s easy to go for, then you can surely go for it.

I don’t want to de-motivate the aspirants. If you are able to clear the exams and have the budget to join for this amount, then you can definitely go forward. You can easily settle there and be a millionaire. If you are going for this career option, then I would strictly advise you to keep your visas and passport ready and also re-check for any spelling mistakes or errors that may ruin your whole effort.

If you are confident to clear the exams and able to afford the fees of the exam and course then I would strictly recommend you to go for this without second thinking. If you clear everything and join there then your life will be super easy and cool.


5) Mission Gulf Countries:

This is a very good career opportunity after BDS, as it is easy and reasonable to go to any Gulf country. Many recruiters send dentists to Gulf countries. The salary range of a BDS will be a minimum of Rs.80,000 to Rs.1.5 lakh. I would recommend you to go for MDS before going to Gulf countries, as Postgraduates are paid around Rs.5 lakh monthly, which may vary slightly.

Work in Gulf Countries asa Dentist after BDS

For this, the candidate must clear the MOH(Ministry of Health) exam which is not that difficult to clear. Through this, you can get placed into government sectors of Gulf countries, and that is surely a bumper prize for you. They will provide or reimburse travel expenses, food, and accommodation. You have to spend money on your personal needs only.

You can earn well from there and come back to your native place and settle. I personally know people who work in Gulf countries for five years, earn a huge amount, and come back put their clinic and sit back.

If you have good contacts then you can join private clinics on a contract basis and work. But I would recommend you to re-check every single detail before you leave the country.


6) Join the Army Dental Corps: Money and Respect

You can join the army dental corps, where you are into a respectable government job with a good income. They recruit civil dentists, too. You don’t need to be a pass out of Army Dental College.

Join Army Dental Corps after BDS

You can join the Indian Army Dental Corps as a short commission or long commission. The benefits I see in the Army Dental Corps are:

  • Very Good Respect in Society.
  • Very good income with insurance, pensions, and a lot of other facilities.
  • With time, you get promoted, and you can reach a very high-level rank in the army.
  • Last but not least, You are in the INDIAN ARMY! That’s a proud thing, friend.
  • Every year, there will be openings in the Indian Army for dentists. You should be updated with the same, and you should apply with all the correct information, or else you get rejected.

There will be only limited vacancies and competition will be comparatively high. : P


7) Kick-start your own Dental Clinic:

Don’t think more about it. Yeah, dental clinics do make a good income. But you must research where to open and what is the competition status of that area.

Start a Dental Clinic after BDS

I know people who just passed out BDS and started dental clinics and they are earning a good income monthly. But, it will take some time to establish.

My Recommendation:
After your BDS join any private clinic and make at least a year’s experience in RCT, Crown-cutting, Impactions, etc. By that time you will learn to manage patients, finance, expenses, and treatments.

Setting up a dental clinic is not that easy. You should have a budget, a target to achieve, marketing ideas, and a lot more before starting a dental clinic. Dentistry is an investment-based profession and you will need exact planning to achieve success in dentistry with a dental clinic.


8) MBA in Hospital Management: The New Generation Course:

MBA is the new trend among fresher dentists. This new career option has gained popularity in the dental field. A majority of them are going for an MBA in hospital administration, whereas others opt for other streams in MBA. Many dentists are also cracking CAT exams to join for MBA after BDS. MBA is a 2-year course and many dentists have seen colors of success through this course.

MBA in Hospital Management after BDS

Note: You should aim for good management colleges if you are looking to get placed in good and reputed companies.


9) MPH: Masters in Public Health:

Like MBA, MPH after BDS is also an alternative career option for dentists. Before dentists used to join MPH so that they can settle in western countries. Many colleges, like Manipal University, have opened an MPH certificate course which is of high value.

Dentists who wanted to settle in western countries easily are opting for MBA or MPH after doing BDS. Many corporate companies and government sectors are looking for a master’s in public health.

In India, a fresher with MPH can earn a minimum of Rs.25,000 to Rs.40,000 if you get placed in a good company.


10) Dental Career as a Youtuber: One of the Best Options after BDS

Youtube career after bds

Ok, this is a very deep subject. I will try to brief it up here and later make a long post on how to make money through youtube as a dentist. Have you heard of Dr. Vikram Yadav? If your answer is No, then I will introduce him to you. He is a doctor by profession and one of the top 10 YouTubers in India. Dr. Vikram records every treatment he does and he uploads the videos to his youtube channel, Vikram Yadav. According to the youtube statistics app, social blade, Dr. Vikram Yadav is earning around $1.5K to $24.3K which is Rs.90,000 to Rs.14,58,000 monthly.

vikram yadav earning youtube estimate

Pros of Being a Dental Youtuber:

  • No time schedule.
  • Unlimited Earning Opportunity.
  • Work From Home.
  • Earn both fame and money.

Cons of Dental Youtuber:

  • You get so addicted to it that you stop doing clinical practice.
  • Takes time and effort(But it’s worth the hard work).

11) Dental Blogging: This is What I am doing right now

I think you know what is blogging. If you don’t please google it. This is the same way I am earning right now. I love to suggest this option after BDS as I myself earn from dental blogging. What I did is, I created a blog for dentists and dental students and share articles, videos, news, etc which are searched by a lot of people on Google. I get paid by Google, sponsors, affiliates, etc. If you have patience and are ready to work hard then dental blogging will make a super career for you.

DENTAL BLOGGINF AFTER BDS

My Recommendation:
After your graduation, you can join any dental clinic where there will be excellent patient exposure and share your cases and opinions as videos and articles online and earn a living from it. This is one of the super options after BDS. You can teach, learn, and earn.


12) Dental Tourism: Can I Make a Living out of it?

Dental tourism is a branch of medical tourism. This is also one of my favorite options after BDS. If you work hard and market it wisely you can easily earn over a lakh if you treat a single patient. In the US, the UK, Canada, and European countries dental plans or treatments are very expensive.

Earn from Dental Tourism after BDS

A Root canal treatment in the US costs a minimum of $600 or Rs.30,000 whereas in India it ranges from $20-$40 or Rs.2,000. So here is the catch. If you market and get international patients to treat then you can just imagine how much you can earn. And no tourist comes to India alone they travel as a couple or family, which is 3x income. It completely depends on you and you alone. You should make a perfect plan for starting a dental tourism company and I think you will love the options after BDS here.


13) Clinical Research: Yes, there is a future in it!

You heard it, right fellas? You can make a career out of clinical research. But the information regarding clinical research after BDS is limited. As of my research, hospitals like Appolo, Fortis, etc are recruiting clinical researchers and it’s true that they are paid well in European countries. I had written a detailed post based on the information I collected both online and offline. You can read in detail about clinical research after BDS here.


Wrapping Up

These are the best career options after BDS I found after my complete research and experience. If I get to know about any other opportunities after BDS, I will surely update it here. If you have any other opinions on the career options after doing dentistry you are free to share them through the comments below. If you feel this post is worth sharing, do share it with your fellow dentists and help them have a great dental career.

This post is also related to topics like higher studies after BDS, MBA after BDS, best options after BDS, BDS scope in the future, career options abroad after BDS, exams after BDS, MPH after BDS, BDS scope in the future, etc.

I had discussed many topics in this blog like salary after bds, diploma courses after bds, government jobs after BDS, BDS internship salary, MDS lecturer salary, scope after MDS, MSc after BDS, and a lot more. You can keep yourself subscribed to us for regular updates. 

If you want me to research and write about specific topics on the blog, please comment below and I will try my best to do the same.




5/5 - (92 votes)
About K Vishnu Nambiar

I am a dental blogger and a career counselor with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. I blog about different dental courses and their scopes. I also visit dental colleges and review them in a unique way.

113 thoughts on “What After BDS? Career Options After BDS? – Realistic Explanation and Solution”

  1. Thanz for sharing dis valuable information to us it really a means a lot sir hope we get to know more relevant information

    Reply
        • Dear Sripriya,

          I will surely make a series of videos and blog posts regarding dental blogging and how to be successful in that. You can subscribe to our newsletter and get the latest updates.

          Reply
        • Dear Zaheer,

          Thank you very much for the kind words and support. Will surely update you about Pharmacovigilance after BDS. We are really researching the same for the past 2 months and we want to provide the best possible information available on the internet.

          Reply
  2. Thankyou so much. As a student i am v much confused about what to do after bds. I liked the idea of working in gulf countries 🙂

    Reply
  3. Thank you so much sir! Really liked it. Its a great help for freshers who are struggling for work. Please enlighten us with some aesthetic courses in India.

    Reply
  4. Thank you very much sir for sharing these amazing career options. But I have one confusion. In Blogging how google pays to you? I want a little bit more information.

    Reply
    • Google pays me for posting their ads in my blog. But it won’t be a huge income stream. You can also go with affiliate marketing.

      Reply
  5. Thanks for the above information,really helpful! Can you please provide information regarding career in pharmacovigilance for dental graduates.:)

    Reply
  6. your article is very good helped me a lot in deciding a career i m 12th passed student and seriously very confused now what to do next i m having an option of MBBS in private collage my NEET score is not so good anyway so i m also thinking about BDS or BAMS becoz that will cost less so can u help me through this

    Reply
  7. Respected sir, If a student do BDS from a government college or government seat, then will he get government job directly?

    Reply
  8. Hello Dr Vishnu,

    First of all, I would like to appreciate for your endeavors, guiding and mentoring the students. I am a dentist too like u and have a query regarding pursuing Masters in Dentistry from abroad where fees and other expenditures are affordable. I want to know about all the procedures and prerequisites regarding the same. Looking for your reply in earnest. Thank You.

    Regards,
    Dr Labeeb Akhter

    Reply
    • Hi, Doctor!

      I personally won’t prefer you to go for MDS abroad. You can get at the same price in India, but the only thing is you should qualify NEET PG Dental Eam which will be conducted by November or December.

      Reply
  9. Respected sir,I liked the option of doing MPH after BDS.But I want some more details about it. Can you please give me the details?

    Reply
  10. Thank you, sir! Please can you rate Masters in Hospital Administration from abroad as a career option? And, whether high pay-scale jobs are available for the same?

    Reply
    • Hi, Aman!

      I will surely update it once I get the genuine knowledgebase. MBA in Hospital Administration is available in India which is very much valuable degree. And dear pay scale completely depends on companies and your experience. Expense: Salary ratio will be much more good than MDS.

      Reply
  11. Vishnu sir I am a BDS student. I want to create a dental blog. Kindly guide me.my number is 8984810944. Kindly give your number to discuss details

    Reply
  12. Very nice article and well presented. Could you find out career options as a reseacher, forensic dentist, jobs in dental / oral products companies etc? Will be much appreciated
    Mnay thanks
    Neetha

    Reply
  13. Hello sir, i would like to know that can we go for ” clinical research ” as an option after bds .
    Clinical research from icri.
    I hv read a lot about this option.
    Pls reply

    Reply
    • Dear Mahima,

      First of all sorry for the delayed response. As per online reviews, I won’t support ICRI. Amrita Institute in Kerala Provides clinical research after BDS. Please check their official website.

      Reply
  14. One more can be LLB after BDS.. M doing research on it recently.. I have got the reviews of it being the best one for future scenario

    Reply
    • Dear Dr.Riddhi,

      Really thank you for pointing out this option. I would surely add it up to my post and also write a detailed post on it. You can keep me updated about your research via mail and would love to hear more from you.

      Reply
  15. Hey ..I read your article today ..and it is really enlightening…! Can you please help me with one thing…I want to know how can a person from one state get admission in a govt, clg for MDS in another state…?? Nd also would like to know a little more about youtubeing ! 🙂
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Yes, a candidate from one state can be placed in other state government through All India COunseling.

      What do you want to know about youtubing?

      Reply
  16. Hello sir,
    I would like to know my chances of finding a good dent college for Mds! I belong to the open category and my family really doesn’t have any more money to spend on education as its very expensive!!!! Please help

    Reply
  17. Hello,
    I find your article very helpful and well crafted. you have written about many options in western countries after BDS .can u through some light on options in SINGAPORE also

    thanks

    Reply
  18. Thank you Dr. Vishnu for such amazing information.
    I am doing my internship and this article helped me a lot to visualise my future after BDS.
    Also I wanted to know if I can work in any PRIVATE hospital directly after BDS, will that be a wise decision?
    Hope to have more such articles from you.
    All the best DOCTOR! 🙂

    Reply
    • Dear Snigdha,

      Your message made my day!
      Yes, you can work directly work in any private hospital after BDS. Corporate hospitals have a great payout, but hard to get. Will surely update more articles regarding “what after BDS”.

      Reply
  19. Whether a 2 yr clinical experience is compulsory to work as a dentist in gulf countries and New Zealand???

    Reply
    • To work in gulf countries it’s compulsory to have atleast 2 year experience. New Zealand you have to be updated with official website as rules change now and then

      Reply
  20. I AM A PCB STUDENT AND WAITING FOR NEET RESULT 2018. I WANT TO know WHICH IS A BETTER option Bsc AGRICUlTURE OR BDS ? .AND ALSO WANT TO KNOW FOR PRIVATE STUDY IN BDS WHICH STATE IS PREFERRED?

    Reply
    • Dear Kavya,

      Both courses are good and there is nothing to degrade about any course. If you are looking for government or research-oriented jobs you can go for BSc Agriculture. If you are ready to work hard and earn you respect, then BDS! Selection of course completely depends on you.

      Reply
  21. Thank you doctor for this informative article. I really appriciate your work for motivating freshers like me. i am a BDS fresher and i am intrested in doing PG diploma. can you suggest me which institute i should go for?
    and specially the branch which i should select which will help me further in my clinical setup?

    Reply
    • Dear Pranjali,

      There are a lot of dental colleges, so I won’t be able just to tell it blindly. It depends completely on your requirements. And about departments, I would suggest Surgery and Ortho. It’s my personal preference! You must research about it, and check whether you will be able to get consultations and placements.

      Reply
    • Thank you very much, mam! Can you please be more specific with your question? Like, whether you are looking into clinical, theories, entrepreneurship etc.

      Reply
  22. Hello Dear , you did pretty well job and keep it up… I want to know about pursuing M.Tech ( what are all possible branches) and Phd from IIT or any other reputed colleges after BDS

    Reply
  23. I AM CURRENTLY IN COLLEGE PURSUING MY BDS DEGREE AND I HAD THIS QUESTION IN MIND THAT WHAT IS SCOPE FOR GOING INTO COSMETIC DENTISTRY AFTER THE BDS DEGREE? CAN YOU PLEASE GUIDE….

    Reply
  24. Thankyou sir for this
    I am a BDS student
    Sir can you tell me how can I get job in European countries and hat is the procedure

    Reply
  25. I want to do an mba after my bds …if at all my opinion changes to go fr clinical path..can i go for MDS or DDS after my mba?

    Reply
    • Yes, you can go for MDS after your MBA. There is no age limit, the only thing is that you must qualify NEET-PG for taking MDS admission. And MBA from a good institute is a great career option after BDS.

      Reply
  26. Hey sir !
    Iam so thankful for the information you have provided and right now I’m in my internship and so confused about the next step! Can you tell me more about the gulf countries ? And the the Indian army and navy ..

    Reply
    • Dear Lavanya,

      Thank you for your appreciation. I will mail you the complete details regarding your query.

      Reply
  27. My daughter is doing BDS from GDC punjab pls guide for preparation of MDS and does score card of bds matters

    Reply
    • Dear Sharwari,

      You take the admission for MPH directly. There might be personal interviews in most of the management colleges.

      Reply
    • Dear Sarita,

      I am not aware of the medical transcription sector as there are many scams going on in the same. If I get any genuine information about it, will surely update it here.

      Reply
  28. It was going really difficult to find online regarding all the dental courses nd their criteria, eligibilities n so on in different countries..this blog made it easy.. thank u so much for this..can you plz elaborate more on gulf countries..what will be the procedure, eligibility criteria nd fees..want to go for pg abroad.. would like your suggestion..

    Reply
  29. Hi sir,your articles are really very helpful.at present I’m working as a dentist in a clinic since a year,but I’m not having good hike in my salary and I’m searching for new options now.what would suggest me?

    Reply
    • Dear Hepsibha,

      That completely depends on your interest. First try to find out you are interested in the clinical, teaching or management sector.

      Reply
  30. can a dentist ,also do basic dentistry in pets and animals under supervision of veterinary dentist.this could be one more career option in the feild of vaternary dentist..

    Reply
  31. what is the scope of forensic odontology in india and what salary can we expect if we go for msc in forensic odontology

    Reply
  32. If I do MPH/MBA from India will that degree valid in Canada? It would be helpful for gaining job in Canada or any other European countries?

    Reply

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