Dentistry Abroad Utkrash Patel, DMD 2025

Dentistry all over the world is practiced differently, and the education in dentistry differs as well. In India, dental schools require 5 years of education which include 4 years of coursework and 1 year of mandatory Internships and rotations. After completing all academic requirements, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is awarded

When it comes to deciding your career, India has some limitations In the USA, you are able to pick dentistry as your dream and pursue it In India, you don’t get to choose dentistry, it chooses you Based on your performance, you are ranked on your completion of the 11th and 12th state board exam marks According to these statistics, you are given a choice to pick a school and profession. If your rank is low and all the dental seats have been filled with students who scored higher than you, your chances of attending dental school are slim. There is no additional preparation you can do to get into dental school.

There is a big difference when it comes to grading between American and Indian dental schools The grading system in American dental schools is comprehensive which includes exams, quizzes, assignments, SCE, portfolios, professionalism, etc. In Indian dental schools 80% of the grades are based on Exams and viva and 20% of grades are based on professionalism.There are no national board exams like the INBDE and state licensing exams like ADEX and WREB, there are only theory and practical exams are taken each year. Additionally, there is no opportunity for a student to remediate an assignment in India; failing an exam requires a student to retake it after a few months, if they do not pass then they will have to repeat the year. The preclinical training in America is well-designed and advanced. There are many things I didn’t know when I was in my 2nd year of dental school in India, that I am being taught in the US during my very 1st semester. In India, we continue to take courses well into our fourth year and do not learn how to treatment plan until that same year. In India, gaining our clinical skills starts in our 5th and last year.

In India, dentistry commonly involves extractions and replacement of the teeth with implants or dentures Indian dental insurance coverage is very limited, with patients needing to pay out of pocket for most dental procedures Additionally, patients do not understand the importance of maintaining healthy oral habits, which leads to an increase of periodontal disease and other dental diseases for the patient population in Indian countries All dental work is paid for in cash and a majority of the population receives dental work at dental schools to receive more affordable treatment Restorative dentistry is mostly completed with amalgam rather than composite due to affordability Pain management is also limited for patients; local anesthesia is only used for surgical procedures or when the patient states that they are in pain America is quite advanced with its use of CAD/CAM, digital radiographs, CBCTs, implants, and laser; in India, there is still a use of radiographic films as well as traditional crowns and bridges.

America is a highly developed country with great resources such as advanced technology systems to provide worldclass dentistry. India is a continuously developing country, including their dental evolutions. In both countries, there is an increasing demand regarding public health including oral health. I am glad that I have been able to provide care and raise oral health awareness to both Indian and American patients.