The undergraduate dental training programme leading to B.D.S. degree shall be a
minimum of five years duration. During this period, the students shall be required to
engage in full time study at a dental school recognized or approved by the Dental
Council of India. During the five years undergraduate course, the instruction in clinical subjects should be at least for three years.

Basic Medical & Dental Subjects:
The basic medical and dental sciences comprise anatomy gross and microscopic, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, oral biology and science of dental materials. Subjects like behavioural sciences, which is useful to develop communication skills, should also be introduced in the first year itself and spread over the undergraduate course. An introduction to Public Health Dentistrty & Preventive Dentistry also will be useful to develop the concept of commitment to community. The laboratory skills to be developed by the students like pre-clinical Prosthodontics, Crown Bridge, Aesthetic Dentistry and Oral Implantology exercises and studying dental morphology also is a part of initial training. The instruction in the above medical and dental sciences shall be for two years duration. At the end of this period the student should be in a position to understand and comprehend in general the development, structure and function of the human body in both health and disease.

The instruction in basic dental sciences should include theoretical and practical aspects
of oral anatomy and physiology, to provide a detailed knowledge of the form and
structure of teeth associated tissues and occlusal relationships. The study should also aim at development of a concept regarding physiological and
biochemical processes relevant to oral cavity for better understanding of the changes
which occur with the onset of disease in the oral cavity. The student should be made aware of the importance of various dental tissues in forensic
investigation.

The Council desires that all the pre-clinical technical aspects shall be integrated under
‘Dental Laboratory Skills’ and evaluated at the end of two years practical instruction
instead of four separate practical examinations.

Clinical, Medical and Dental subjects:
The students should be introduced to clinics in the initial stage, preferably in the first year, as an observer to familiarise with clinical set-up and working. The period of instruction in the clinical subjects shall be not less than three years full time. During this, the student shall attend a dental hospital, general hospital, community camps and satellite clinics, in order to obtain instruction and experience in the practice of dentistry. The main objective of training in clinical dental subjects is to produce a graduate able and competent to recognize or diagnose various dental and oral diseases, to undertake general dental treatment, advise on the provision of specialized treatment available and finally advise the patient on prevention. The student should also understand the relationship between oral and systemic diseases.

The general medicine and surgery training should provide sufficient knowledge on
human disease to enable the student to understand its manifestations as relevant to the practice of dentistry. This requires clinical teaching on patients and shall be carried out in in-patient and outpatient medical departments and specialist clinics. This clinical instruction should enable the student to understand and perhaps diagnose common systemic diseases which have relevance to dental practice, by adopting a systematic approach of history taking and clinical examination. The student should also realize the significance of various general and special investigations in the diagnosis of diseases. The ability to recognize physical and mental illness, dealing with emergencies, effective communication with patients, interaction with various professional colleges also become important aspects of this training.

The Dental Council of India considers it important for all dental students to receive
instruction in first-aid and principles of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. It is also
desirable that the student spend time in an accident and emergency department of a
general hospital.

The purpose of the clinical training is to provide sufficient practical skill in all aspects
of clinical dentistry. The instruction should also include patient management skills,
treatment of patients of all ages with special reference to children (paediatric), very
elderly (geriatric), medically compromised and disabled patients.

During the three years clinical course, the students should receive thorough instruction
which involves history taking, diagnosis and treatment planning in all aspects of dentistry and should be competent on graduation to carry out all routine general procedures. In Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Implantolgy, instruction should include the knowledge of various maxillofacial problems like injuries, infections and deformities of the jaws and associated structures. The clinical experience should include those procedures commonly undertaken in general practice like extraction of teeth, minor oral surgical procedure etc. In Conservative, Endodontics & Aesthetic Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Crown Bridge, Aesthetic Dentistry and Oral Implantology and Periodontology and Oral Implantology students should be competent on graduation to carry out routine treatment like restorations of various kinds, endodontic procedures, removable and fixed prosthodontics, concept of osseointegration and finally various kinds of periodontal therapy. In addition, students should be aware of their limitations on graduation, need to refer patients for consultant opinion and/or treatment and also the need for postgraduate and continuous education programmes. In Orthodontics & Dento Facial Orthopedics, students should carry out simple appliance therapy for patients. Students should also be able to appreciate the role of dentofacial growth in the development and treatment of malocclusion. In Paediatric dentistry, the students should concentrate on clinical management, efficacy of preventive measures, treatment needs particularly for children with disabilities. In oral medicine and oral diagnosis, the student should receive instruction in various lesions, occurring in the oral cavity with particular reference to oral cancer.

The successful control and management of pain is an integral part of dental practice.
Upon graduation the students should be competent to administer all forms of local anaesthesia. The value of behavioural methods of anxiety management should be emphasised. The students should also have the practical experience in the administration of intra-muscular and intra-venous injections. Knowledge of pain mechanisms and strategies to control post-operative pain is essential for practice of dentistry.

All students should receive instructions and gain practical experience in taking
processing and interpretation of various types of intra and extra oral radiographs. They should be aware of the hazards of radiation and proper protective measures from radiation for the patient, operator and other staff.

Instruction should be given in dental jurisprudence, legal and ethical obligations of
dental practitioners and the constitution and functions of Dental Council of India.

The successful control and management of pain is an integral part of dental practice.
Upon graduation the students should be competent to administer all forms of local anaesthesia. The value of behavioural methods of anxiety management should be emphasised. The students should also have the practical experience in the administration of intra-muscular and intra-venous injections. Knowledge of pain mechanisms and strategies to control post-operative pain is essential for practice of dentistry.

Infection and cross infection control assume significance in dental practice. The students
should be made aware of the potential risk of transmission in the dental surgery, various infectious diseases particularly HIV and hepatitis. The students should be aware of their professional responsibility for the protection of the patients, themselves and their staff and the requirements of the health and safety regulations.

In the recent times, the subjects of esthetic dentistry, oral implantology, behavioural
sciences and forensic odontology have assumed great significance. Hence, the Council recommends that these four specialities should be incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum. The instruction and clinical training in aesthetic dentistry shall be carried out by the departments of Conservative, Endodontics & Aesthetic Dentistry and prosthodontics, Crown Bridge, Aesthetic Dentistry and Oral Implantology. Similarly, the instruction and clinical training in oral implantology shall be done by the departments of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics, Crown Bridge, Aesthetic Dentistry and Oral Implantology and Periodontology and Oral Implantology. The instruction in behavioural sciences should ideally commence before the students come in contact with the patients and shall be carried out by the departments of Public Health Dentistry & Preventive Dentistry and Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry. Forensic Odontology will be a part of Oral Pathology & Microbiology and Oral Medicine and Radiology.