What after BDS? Options after BDS? – These questions that most new young dentists and dental interns lose sleep thinking about.
In this article, we are going to discuss the reason why it happens and all the options.
Reason: When we join dentistry we and our parents have a false view of dentistry. It seems as if it is an easy way to be a doctor but without the stress of being a doctor. Be your own boss after it is done.
But when we pass out we realize it isn’t easy –
- No jobs,
- The college hasn’t taught us enough to survive,
- Seniors who demotivate.
So we need to look and find our own options.
First, we will discuss 9 Clinical Options and then 10 non-clinical (non-dental) options.
Clinical Options (After BDS)
1) MDS
One of the first or most common option for those planning to continue clinical dentistry is MDS.
Before deciding on MDS or not one should look at the following –
a) Time: MDS takes 3 years of hard work. Do you have the time to wait that long before you start earning? Or are there any other family obligations.
b) Your interest: It is important that you get into a field of MDS based on your liking. Randomly getting into any field can cause regret later on.
c) How are you going to get back your return on investment? Investment is in terms of time money and energy. You need to analyze your financial condition before taking the leap into MDS.
d) What is your plan of action post-MDS? This is the most important question to ask. Few career options increase after MDS. But do you know what those are? Which of those you might be interested in? You need to think about all this. You don’t want to end in the same position after MDS like you are facing after BDS.
We have created a video in which we explain the above points in detail do watch.
2) Join a clinic
This is usually the option after BDS selected by many. Those who plan to set up their own clinic usually need to get some experience first.
Because a lot of things needed to run a practice is not taught in college. These include certain clinical procedures, practice management, soft skills to manage patients and other clinic staff.
So first-hand experience is always important.
Before joining a clinic knowing what to look in a clinic before joining is equally important.
You need to see the following –
a) Type of patients
b) Type of treatments
c) Practice owner
d) Clinical team (other staff members)
e) Work exposure
f) Salary
To explain this in detail we have created a video do check it out.
If after seeing this video you are worried as to where are the jobs? Don’t be scared there are various methods to find an ideal clinic.
We have made a video to help you find them. Check the video.
3) Join a college as a staff / Junior Residency
Dental colleges hire dentists as tutors or junior lecturers.
The pay may be better than what you are paid as a new dental associate or locum in a private clinic. What you need to keep in mind is – is it right for you?
So we would suggest joining only in one of these 3 situations
a) If you are getting a job in a clinical department where you can hone your skill. Like in endodontics, Pedodontics or prosthodontics. Here you are getting to work on patients and improve your work.
b) If you are planning for MDS. So you get a job in a college and simultaneously use the time to study. Only if you can’t afford to stay at home for a year without pay.
c) Again you are studying for MDS and the college has staff quota for MDS seats. You are hoping to get through in it.
Other than this we would never advise joining a college if you have no exposure and you only doing it for pay.
What after that? How will you have an increase in your salary or growth in your career?
Junior Residency, on the other hand, is 6 months to 1-year posts in a few colleges across India. Here, you would go in rotation through various departments. You will get to treat patients. This comes in handy to improve your clinical skills.
We have created a short video explaining junior residency. Do check it out.
4) Join a trust or a small hospital with their own dental unit
We have placed corporate jobs, trusts after a private clinic or college. This is because in trusts and corporate jobs you are usually asked to treat patients unsupervised. There is no mentor or guide to help you through.
So if you join such a job and you are learning or your own chances are your mistakes will go uncorrected. We all make small mistakes when we start but if there is no one to guide you, these become habits. You will keep repeating them. Then they go on to become blunders.
What you should consider while joining a trust is explained in the following video.
5) Join Jobs in Corporates Company like Colgate and L&T or bigger Hospitals like Hiranandani, Fortis, Wockhardt
The corporate companies are usually great places to join. They mostly are for in house staff and at times their relatives.
The pay tends to be good and they usually have fixed timings. You can later start your practice also and continue with it. That is if they permit and you are able to manage both.
6) Set Up Your Own Clinic
Once you get a lot of experience most dentists prefer to set their own practice.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind while setting up a practice, like knowledge of basic treatments, knowledge about diagnosis and treatment planning, managing patients and basics man-management skills. We have made a page talking about when to start to practice and how to make it successful. Check it out – Dental Clinic Practice Management.
7) Go Abroad & Practice Clinical Dentistry
If not keen on practicing in India you can think about going abroad. This might include going and settling there permanently or on a temporary basis. We have created a separate page in which we will keep updating the various abroad options to practice. Do check the page if you are interested – ABROAD OPTIONS AFTER BDS.
8) Join The Army Dental Corps
Serving the country and doing what you are passionate about plus being paid for it. Getting into the army is a dream for some. Later you can even get into MDS in army college through their army quota. The video below explains the entire process including eligibility, interview, medical test and tenure.
9) Join Government Jobs
Various jobs are available in organizations such as Railways, BARC, and others. Few frequently asked questions about jobs in railways after BDS are answered in the video below.
WE KEEP ADDING MORE CONTENT ABOUT EACH OPTION.
DO NOT FORGET TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST.
SO THAT YOU DON’T MISS OUT ON CAREER GROWTH OPTIONS.
Non Clinical Options (After BDS)
1) Masters in Health Administration
MHA is a degree program that focuses on business management or administration within the healthcare system. Many young BDS students and dental interns plan on doing it after BDS.
2) Masters in Public Health
This degree prepares students for careers of research into health issues, creating programs for mass education on disease and other things that can improve the health of a population. MPH is generally recognized as the credential for people who work in public health.
We have come up with a Video to help you understand both MHA and MPH and job options after them.
3) Clinical Research/Research
Clinical research is a branch of healthcare science that involves the study of safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment for human use.
Research has 2 aspects. In the first one, the researcher (primary investigator) plans and executes the research. In clinical research the individual collects the data and comes to conclusions or helps the primary investigator with analysis and completion of the research. There is also the option of getting into biomedical engineering.
A lot of research sectors such as Pharma Industries, Biotech Companies, Research Labs, etc, have opened job opportunities for clinical investigators. Various types of Clinical Research positions are available, and few of them are:
- Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
- Clinical Research Managers (CRM)
- Clinical Research Coordinator (CRO)
- Counsellors
- Project Manager
Many colleges in India offer this course. Few of them are:
- Indian Institute of Clinical Research (ICRI), Mumbai
- Asian Institute of Health Sciences, Mumbai
- Apeejay Institute of Health Sciences, Mumbai
- Saveetha University, Gurgaon
- ICBio Clinical Research, Bangalore
If you are interested check the link below.
4) Pharmacovigilance
Pharmacovigilance in a small niche in drug safety and clinical research. The following video explains pharmacovigilance scope and job opportunities.
5) Medical transcription/ Virtual scribing
Currently there are a lot of jobs available in the field of medical transcription and virtual scribing. Below we have given what they mean in technical terms.
Medical transcription, also known as MT, is an allied health profession dealing with the process of transcribing voice-recorded medical reports that are dictated by physicians, nurses and other healthcare practitioners. Medical reports can be voice files, notes taken during a lecture, or other spoken material.
A virtual medical scribe is a professional who remotely accompanies a physician during patient visits, taking critical notes and documenting each encounter.
That is technically what it means. We have explained these in much simpler fashion in the following video. Towards the end of the video we have also explained whether you need any additional course. Do check it out.
6) Medical Coding
The next option is medical coding. This involves converting clinical data into codes.
7) Insurance
Insurance is a broad category that includes several types of coverage, including life, health, auto, property, and casualty insurance. This industry provides many job opportunities in various profiles such as Actuary, auditor, insurance appraisers, insurance examiners, and investigators, claims handlers, etc.
For initial posts like claims processing and investigation on the job training is available. However, as you go higher up you may need to clear some exams and get certified.
We have created a video about it. Check it out.
8) Forensics Dentistry
There are a lot of colleges and organizations which have come up with courses on forensic dentistry/ Forensic odontology. So we have come up with a video explaining what it is. Do check it out
9) Non-Clinical Options Abroad
The post-degree job profiles are the same in India or abroad. You need to first identify the country you are going to. Then check for the long-term prospects there for MPH/MHA. Do check the page if you are interested – ABROAD OPTIONS AFTER BDS.
10) MBA in Marketing / Finance or Any Other Field
Such an MBA usually takes you on a curve completely away from dentistry. However, you can join a dental company later on.
11) UPSC Exam
A Chance to Join Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS). Check our video explaining the process.
Hope, you have got a general idea of all the career paths available to you after BDS. In case you want to know more don’t forget to join our Email List, Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and Follow us on Instagram. Details of Instagram and YouTube Channel on our Contact Us page.
12) Other non dental options –
It could include coding, to starting an EdTech company, pursuing psychology and many more.
Doing Both Clinical and Non Clinical Dentistry at the same time?
This is a common question among young dentists who are confused about what they want. They want to do both. It could be of fear of losing out or on one. Or it could be the desire to try multiple things.
So to answer the question is it possible to do both, are there people doing it and how to try it, we have come up with a video. Do check it out.
WE KEEP ADDING MORE CONTENT ABOUT EACH OPTION.
DO NOT FORGET TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST.
SO THAT YOU DON’T MISS OUT ON CAREER GROWTH OPTIONS.