Dental Course after 12th - Duration, Fees & Eligibility

How to Become Dentist after 12th – Step‑by‑Step Guide

Being a dentist in India is one of the highly esteemed healthcare sectors, and also delivers hands-on practice with earnings that are good. Everyone loves a good smile, plus it presents scientific challenges to deal with. Besides the necessity for dental students to take courses in the right way, it is a formative step, and so it is crucial. It is the purpose of this guide to explain the dental courses after 12th.

Firstly, the benefits of going for a degree in dentistry, the popular programs, entrance requirements, and costs of the programs, and when to study different fields aside from medical courses. We will be discussing the reliable information obtained from the Dental Council of India (DCI) and Mansarovar Dental College, Bhopal, an autonomous private institute.

Why Choose a Dental Course after 12th?

If you are still confused about why to be a Dentist? These few reasons might help you identify the reasons for selecting dental courses after 12th:

1. High Demand and Job Security-The increasing knowledge of oral health causes the demand for preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry to go up.
2. More Flexible Work Timings - Dental professionals are more able to set their work schedule and have a better work-life balance than most medical specialties.
3. Different Specializations - The field has options like Orthodontics, Endodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery, Public-Health Dentistry, as well as others.
4. Business Opportunities - Opening your practice or having a chain of clinics guarantees good financial returns.
5. Predictable Salary Rise - Newly recruited BDS doctors earn between ₹4 LPA, while those with a specialization, MDS, can make ₹10-15 LPA.

List of Top Dentist Courses after 12th

The Mansarovar Dental College, Bhopal, offers bachelor's and master's degree programs for students. The dental course duration, eligibility, and fees are all discussed below:

Course	Dentist Course Duration	Dental Course Fees	Highlights
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)	5 years (4 academic + 1‑year internship)	₹2–5 lakh per year*	Core qualification to practise dentistry in India; mandatory DCI registration.

Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge
Periodontology
Orthodontics
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Eligibility Criteria for Dental Courses after 12th

The dental course eligibility for BDS programmes offered by MDC is briefed below:

Criterion	BDS
Academic	10+2 PCB with 50 % (GEN); 40 % (SC/ST/OBC)
Age	17–25 years by 31 Dec
Entrance	Qualifying/Participation in NEET‑UG

How to Become a Dentist after 12th without NEET

While NEET is compulsory for BDS, at MDC, you don’t need to have any set of specific marks in NEET. The institution requires compulsory appearance in NEET UG for BDS. Apart from BDS, some dental courses after 12th can be done without NEET:

Dental Mechanics/Hygienist Diploma: This is a way to become a technical expert in private laboratories or clinics.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Technology: You can learn to create crowns, bridges, and aligners with CAD-CAM.
Certificates in Dental Radiology: You can learn to operate CBCT, OPG machines in diagnostic centers.
Dental Clinic Management Program: You will learn how to manage operations, marketing, and patient coordination.

Career Scope after Completing a Dental Course

Qualification	Entry-Level Roles	Starting Pay (₹/Year)	5‑Year Outlook
BDS	Junior Dentist, House Surgeon	4–5 LPA	Associate Dentist → Clinic Owner (₹8–12 LPA)
Dipl. Dental Hygienist	Oral Hygienist, Chairside Assistant	2.5–3 LPA	Senior Hygienist (₹4–5 LPA)
Dipl. Dental Mechanics	Dental Lab Technician	2.5–3 LPA	Lab Manager (₹5–6 LPA)
B.Sc. Dental Tech	CAD‑CAM Specialist	3–4 LPA	Digital Smile Designer (₹7–8 LPA)

Higher income is by specialization (MDS) or multi-chair private practice. The question, What is the salary of a dentist in India? depends on location, specialty, and size of the clinic. .

Best College for Dental Course after 12th

There are multiple dental colleges surrounding the country. The universities ensure that graduates secure placements in private chains, government services, or postgraduate programs worldwide. Mansarovar Dental College Bhopal, is one of the best dental colleges, ticking the vital boxes:

The BDS program approved by DCI has around 100 seats and 50 MDS seats across the specialties of periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, and orthodontics.
A huge set of facilities is provided on campus, such as a 250-chair hospital, a CBCT, a digital OPG, ceramic labs, and implantology suites.
Research culture and NAAC accreditation are the guiding powers for student publications and conferences.
High patient footfall in the hospital guarantees that students get to deal with live cases from their second year onwards.
The affordable fee structure, along with scholarships, and the transparent instalment plans.

Conclusion

Going with dental courses after 12th is an important choice for your professional journey as a doctor. Even though BDS is the leading course, other allied diplomas and degrees in dental sciences also have good opportunities, especially if you are looking for how to become a dentist after 12th without NEET. It is essential to assess the dentist course period, tuition fees, and your capability.

Located in the heart of the city, Mansarovar Dental College is an excellent choice for students who want to start their careers in the field of dentistry. Having such modern equipment, instructors with many years of experience, and an adequate number of patients is a big advantage for this college. Your career as a dentist specializing in either clinical treatment, research, or entrepreneurship can begin with the right choice and hard work.

FAQ's

1. Which course is best for dentists after 12th?

The full clinical licensure can only be obtained through BDS, which is the main route to take.

2. Can I become a dentist without NEET?

You cannot become a dentist without a license. Hence, you will need NEET for BDS. However, allied dental positions can still be taken without NEET.

3. What is the salary of a BDS doctor?

Salary figures for newly graduated individuals are around ₹4–5 LPA; however, practitioners with hands-on experience and specialists have a chance to earn more than ₹10 LPA.

4. What is the salary of a dentist in India?

The average salary of general practitioners is ₹6–8 LPA, while private urban clinics or specialized MDS earn ₹12–18 LPA or more.

Is BDS a good career option after 12th?

Indeed, strong demand, business opportunities, and the possibility of multiple specialities make the dental profession a great choice.

What is the duration of the dentist courses after the 12th?

In total, you will spend 5 years in Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), which includes an internship, 2 years in obtaining a diploma, and 3 years in Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Dental Technology.