If you are a dental graduate who wants to pursue a postgraduate degree in dental surgery, you must be aware of the NEET MDS exam. NEET MDS stands for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Master of Dental Surgery and is a national-level entrance examination. Conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), it is used for admission into various MDS courses offered by dental colleges and universities across India.
If you’re looking for MDS colleges in Maharashtra or the rest of India, you’re in luck, as we’ll be covering how to crack the NEET MDS and get into the dental college of your choice in this blog.
Table of Contents
MDS: Overview
There is just one accepted postgraduate dental degree recognised by the DCI (Dental Council of India) and that is MDS. This 3-year dental course trains practising dentists in various specialisations of dentistry and the best dental colleges in Maharashtra and elsewhere allow you to pick one area to specialise in according to your choice.
Take a look at the table below to get an overview of this course at MDS colleges in Maharashtra and the rest of India.
| Course Name | Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility Criteria | BDS qualified |
| Average Course Fee | INR 5 -15 Lakhs |
| Average Salary | INR 3 – 5 LPA |
| Areas of Employment | Hospitals, Clinics, Research, Administration. Education, etc. |
All About NEET MDS
The NEET MDS exam is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination that tests your knowledge and skills in various subjects of dentistry. It is conducted annually online by the NBE and serves as a gatekeeper to the limited seats at MDS Colleges in Mumbai or elsewhere. Candidates get 240 multiple-choice questions that they must answer in 3 hours. The exam covers topics from:
- General anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
- Microbiology
- General medicine
- General surgery
- Dental anatomy
- Oral histology
- Oral pathology
- Pedodontics
- Orthodontics
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
- Oral medicine and radiology
- Oral surgery
- Public health dentistry, and other dental subjects.
Best Practices for NEET MDS Prep
To get admission into MDS colleges in Maharashtra or elsewhere of your choosing, you need to crack the NEET MDS exam with a good rank. Here are some tips that you can follow to ace the NEET MDS exam:
Know the Syllabus and Exam Pattern Inside-out
The first step to preparing for any exam is knowing your way, the syllabus and the exam pattern. You can refer to the official website of NBE or other reliable sources such as seniors, alumni, etc. at Terna Dental Collegeto get the latest syllabus and exam pattern of NEET MDS.
This will help you understand several things that’ll get you closer to getting one of the limited seats in your chosen specialisation at MDS colleges in Maharashtra or elsewhere, like:
- Which topics are important,
- How much weight they carry,
- What type of questions are asked, and
- How to manage your time while taking the exam.
Plan What and How You’ll Study in Advance
Once you get familiar with the syllabus and exam pattern, make a daily, weekly or monthly study plan that suits your learning style and schedule. Don’t forget to include revision and mock tests in your study plan to evaluate your preparation level. A study plan will help you in several ways in getting a seat at your preferred Dental Colleges in Navi Mumbai, such as:
- Organising your study material
- Prioritising your topics
- Allocating your time, and
- Tracking your progress.
Study From Standard Books
To prepare for the NEET MDS exam, you need to study from standard books that cover the syllabus comprehensively and provide clear explanations and illustrations. You should avoid referring to too many books as it may confuse you and waste your time. Choose one or two books for each subject and stick to them throughout your preparation. Some of the recommended books for NEET MDS to get into dental colleges in Mumbai are:
- Dental Pulse by K. Satheesh Kumar Reddy
- Dentest Basic and Clinical Sciences by Gowri Shankar
- Multiple Choice Questions in Dentistry by Ritu Duggal
- Essentials of Oral Pathology by Swapan Kumar Purkait
- Textbook of Oral Medicine by Anil Govindrao Ghom
- Textbook of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery by Neelima Anil Malik
- Textbook of Prosthodontics by Deepak Nallaswamy
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics by Shantipriya Reddy
- Textbook of Orthodontics by Gurkeerat Singh
- Textbook of Pedodontics by Shobha Tandon
Revise Regularly
Revision is an essential part of any exam preparation as it helps you retain what you have learned and recall it during the exam. You should revise your topics regularly and frequently to avoid forgetting them. MDS colleges in Maharashtra recommend using notes, flashcards, mnemonics or other techniques to revise your topics effectively. You should also revise the previous year’s papers and mock tests to familiarise yourself with the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Practise Mock Tests
Mock tests are one of the best ways to prepare for the NEET MDS exam as they simulate the real exam environment and test your speed, accuracy and stamina. Practise mock tests regularly to improve your performance and confidence. You can take online or offline mock tests from various sources such as the NBE website, coaching institutes or online platforms. Also, analyse your mock tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on them accordingly before taking the NEET for admission to MDS colleges in Maharashtra or elsewhere.
Stay Healthy and Positive
Last but not least, you should stay healthy and positive during your preparation for the NEET MDS exam. These tips should help you take care of your physical and mental health, and stay positive and motivated:
- Eating well,
- Sleeping well,
- Exercising regularly,
- Avoiding stress,
- Setting realistic goals,
- Celebrating your achievements,
- Seeking guidance from experts or mentors, and
- Avoiding negative thoughts or distractions.
Conclusion
NEET MDS is a competitive exam that requires a lot of hard work and dedication to crack. However, by following the best practices mentioned above, you can prepare for the NEET MDS exam effectively and efficiently, and achieve your dream of becoming a postgraduate dental surgeon fromMDS colleges in Maharashtra or elsewhere, in your preferred specialisation too. We wish you all the best for your NEET MDS exam!
FAQs
1. Which is the best dental college in Navi Mumbai?
Terna Dental College is the best dental college in Navi Mumbai.
2. How many MDS specialisations does Terna Dental College offer?
Terna Dental College offers MDS programs in all 9 dental specialities recognised by the Dental Council of India (DCI).
3. What are the 9 dental specialisations?
The 9 dental specialisations are Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Oral Medicine and Radiology, Oral Pathology and Microbiology, and Public Health Dentistry.
4. Is NEET MDS very hard?
Yes, NEET MDS is generally considered as hard but if you follow the tips that we’ve listed in this blog, you’ll be able to crack it easily.
