Medicine (Physician/Doctor):
Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses, perform physical exams, interpret tests, prescribe treatment, and guide overall health management across all ages .
Dentistry:
Dentists treat tooth and gum diseases, fill cavities, perform corrective/restorative procedures, offer preventive advice, and fit dental appliances .
Medicine:
Compassionate, detail-oriented individuals with strong scientific grounding and resilience. Excellent communication and diagnostic skills are crucial .
Dentistry:
Practical, patient-focused individuals with fine motor skills, good hand-eye coordination, and an interest in oral health and aesthetics .
In India:
MBBS/BDS: Completion of 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology (plus English). Minimum aggregate: General – 50%, Reserved – 40% .
Age: Usually ≥17 years by December 31 of admission year .
Entrance: NEET-UG is mandatory for both streams .
Abroad:
Medicine: MCAT (North America), UCAT/BMAT (UK), ISAT, GAMSAT (Australia), etc.
Dentistry: Similar requirements; may include national aptitude tests, interviews, and portfolios.
In India:
MBBS/BDS: NEET-UG (only national exam) .
Additional MBBS exams: AIIMS and JIPMER used to be separate but now under NEET; AIIMS B.Sc and JIPMER UG still held .
BDS-specific: NEET-UG is required; some states may have additional counselling steps .
Abroad:
Medicine: MCAT, UCAT/BMAT, ISAT, GAMSAT .
Dentistry: UCAT, DAT (U.S.), and country-specific equivalents.
India – Medical (MBBS): Top institutions include:
AIIMS Delhi
PGIMER Chandigarh
CMC Vellore
NIMHANS Bangalore
JIPMER Puducherry
India – Dental (BDS): Leading dental schools:
Saveetha University, Chennai
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
AIIMS Delhi
KGMU Lucknow
Manipal College of Dental Sciences (Manipal & Mangalore)
For Dentistry
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
University of Hong Kong
MBBS: 5.5-year program: 4.5 years academic + 1-year internship .
BDS: Typically 5 years: preclinical, clinical phases + compulsory internship .
Curricula include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, followed by clinical rotations in various disciplines.
After MBBS: MD, MS, DM, M.Ch., MPH, MBA (Healthcare Management), PhD, public health roles.
After BDS: MDS in specialties like Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery; MSc, MBA, PhD, public health.
Clinical reasoning and diagnostics
Communication and empathy
Manual precision (especially in dentistry)
Evidence-based decision-making
Ethics and professionalism
Management (especially postgraduate/administrative roles)
Medicine: General physician, specialist (cardiologist, surgeon, pediatrician, etc.), researcher, public health officer, hospital administrator.
Dentistry: Private practitioner, specialist (orthodontist, endodontist), academician, public health dentist, dental researcher .
Medicine: EMR systems, diagnostic tools, telemedicine platforms.
Dentistry: CAD/CAM design (CEREC), digital radiography (RVG), 3D imaging (CBCT), practice management software.