BDS course without internship!

Scrapping of Internship will affect the career prospects of Dental Surgeons in the country and Abroad

Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan

Recent decision to reduce the duration of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery -BDS course in the state will affect the career prospects of Dental graduates within the country and abroad. As per the directions of Dental Council of India, the state government has been compelled to reduce the duration of BDS course to five years with effect from 2008-09. Previously it was of four and a half years of study period with one year of internship. With this decision, duration of BDS course will become five years without having internship. During the one-year internship period, the student acquires more skill and confidence to work independently. After completing internship he/she can practice with confidence.

Dentistry is one of the important professional courses having immense career potential in United States and Europe. In USA Dental surgeons are earning more income than any other profession. In United States patient has to pay huge fee for dental ailments. Now a days more number of dental graduates from India are interested to pursue higher education from USA or UK. After completing GRE and TOEFL/IELTS with better scores, some of them are undergoing postgraduate and research programme in USA and UK. During their study period they are preparing for dental licensing examination. In order to successfully complete the licensing examination, a student will be required to undergo externship in United States/UK under the guidance of a licensed dental practitioner. A student without undergoing internship will find it very difficult to successfully complete the required externship programme and licensing examination. Overseas education is giving more emphasis to academic excellence; better facilities & resources with flexible curricula, cutting-edge technology, hands-on training and challenging research opportunities.

While overseas dental education is giving due importance to skill development and hands on training programme with internship and externship in leading hospitals, dental graduates under the new stream without internship will find it very difficult to adjust with the new situation. Need of the hour is to reintroduce internship programme in the BDS course so as to get the dental graduates more hands on training and skill development situations in order to practice with full confidence. Dental surgeons and dental faculty associations along with dental students strongly protested against this proposed move.