Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge Course Details - Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Duration, Eligibility, Career Scope

What is Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge

Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge is a dental speciality which deals with the diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation, planning, and maintenance of oral health to protect the well-being, comfort, and appearance of patients. For patients who suffer from conditions related to deficient or missing teeth, Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge specialise in aesthetic, reconstructive, and implant surgery and procedures.

Oral function restoration is achieved utilising prostheses and complete dentures, implant retained/supported, and crown restorations. Students who wish to pursue a career in this area must first complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, followed by a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in the field. 

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge

At the undergraduate level, students must fulfil certain eligibility criteria to apply for Bachelor of Dental Surgery courses. While the eligibility criteria can vary from institute to institute, some of the common points include:

• Candidates must have successfully passed their Higher Secondary Examination or its equivalent from a recognised board,

• Candidates must have acquired a minimum of 50% in their 10+2 examination,

• Candidates must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects in their 10+2,

• Since most colleges offer admissions based on NEET scores, candidates must clear the cut off for the exam as well as all the subsequent admission rounds conducted by the institute. 

At the postgraduate level, students must fulfil the following criteria to be eligible for an MDS in Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge. Some of these criteria are:

• Candidates must have acquired a BDS degree from a reputed institution or college, recognised by the Dental Council of India,

• Candidates must acquire a minimum aggregate of 55% in their graduation. 

Entrance Exams for Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge 

To study Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge at the Postgraduate level, students must first complete their Bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery (BDS). For admission into a Bachelor of Dental Surgery course, students must sit for the only entrance examination conducted for the course- NEET.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a national-level entrance exam conducted for students who wish to pursue an undergraduate medical or dental course in private or government colleges. The entrance test, conducted by the National Testing Agency, is highly competitive and attracts many aspirants from across the country. Those who acquire good ranks in the exam are accepted to the top medical schools in India.

Upon completion of BDS, aspirants are qualified to apply for a Master of Dental Surgery degree course in Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge (MDS Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge). Admissions to these courses are conducted either on a merit basis or via entrance exams.
 

Many universities conduct their entrance examinations to grant admission to prospective students, some of which are: 

• Uttar Pradesh Common Admission Test Dental (UPCAT Dental): The UPCAT Dental is conducted for aspirants who are seeking admission to any of the medical schools in the state of Uttar Pradesh. With their UPCAT scores, students can apply to many government and private colleges which accept these scores.

• Annamalai University Postgraduate Dental Admission: Conducted by the Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu, this dental admission exam must be taken by aspirants who wish to pursue MDS Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge at this university.

• Banaras Hindu University MDS Entrance Test (BHU MDS): This is a university-specific entrance examination conducted by the Banaras Hindu University for students who wish to pursue a Master of Dental Surgery in Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge.

Required Skillset for Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge

In addition to possessing the requisite educational qualification to pursue a career in Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, candidates must have certain skills to excel in the field. While some of these skills are not mandatory, they are what can distinguish certain professionals in their field, ensuring success. Some of the required skills are: 

• Communication Skills- Similar to any profession in the healthcare industry, dentistry requires one to have good communication skills because their work primarily involves interacting with patients and colleagues in practice. Communication skills may be both non-verbal and verbal; aimed towards demonstrating a calm, understanding demeanour concerning cultural and social situations concerning the patient. Written communication skills, too, are important to the job because Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge professionals have to write dental notes and medical assessments.

• Professional Integrity- Dentists must maintain high ethical standards in their practice, ensuring professional behaviour and integrity in all their actions. Also, professionals should be able to demonstrate empathy, compassion, and sensitivity when dealing with patients. Working in the medical industry requires professionals to maintain their emotional and physical well-being because one must always be alert while working in this practice.

• Cognitive, Sensory, and Physical Capabilities- Excellent dentists have good cognitive capabilities which enable them to analyse situations and arrive at the correct solution for each patient. Their sensory skills must function cohesively to correctly understand the needs of patients and provide an acceptable solution. Physical capabilities are an important factor in the profession because dentists must be able to keep up with an active dental practice.

• Diligent Research and Continued Learning- Health care is a field of constant development. Medical advances are constantly underway, and many milestones have already been achieved in various kinds of medicine. Professionals must, therefore, make sure to stay diligent in their research throughout their practice to stay updated about the medical advancements that can apply to and affect their line of work. The desire to keep learning must persist throughout a Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge professional’s career.

• Spatial Judgement and Memory Skills- For success in dentistry, professionals should be proficient in spatial judgement; for instance, when dealing with a small area of the body, they must be able to translate their cognitive ability to the small environment of the mouth. Memory skills also play an important role in this field of work, because when meeting with patients and evaluating the situation at hand, certain details must be committed to memory which can be recalled later when the actual plan of treatment is being evaluated.