Confused whether to pursue MBBS or BDS? Do not worry, here we outline the differences between these two degrees and discuss which profession you should pursue based on your interest and passion.

We would like to start off by saying that both these qualifications are highly respectable and as such both dentists and medical doctors are an integral part of the healthcare system.

The purpose of this article is to guide those who are confused between pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) and becoming dentists or a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and thus, becoming Medical Doctors. While both are excellent options, they are in some ways vastly different yet in others, fairly similar. In the article we will be focusing on the following aspects:

1. How their curriculums differ
2. Future prospects in terms of postgraduate options
3. Lifestyle differences as students and healthcare professionals

Comparing the BDS and MBBS curriculum

The BDS program is a 4 year program and while the first year BDS syllabus tends to be almost identical to that of the MBBS program except for a greater focus on the oral cavity and a few additional subjects such as Oral Biology, from the second year onwards there is a shift in the curriculum with the introduction of subjects such as Oral Pathology and Science of Dental materials and Laboratory Techniques. The last two years of the program are relatively clinical in nature focusing on surgical procedures.

On the contrary, the MBBS program’s duration is 5 years and the program is comparatively wider in scope as medical doctors have to learn about the entire human body in extensive detail, unlike dentists who are specialists of the oral cavity. The first two years of medicine (MBBS) are those of basic sciences where foundational subjects such as Physiology, Pathology, and Biochemistry are taught in detail. From the third year onwards, clinical rotations are introduced and every year from the 3rd onward, there is an increasing emphasis on clinical training.

It is true, however, that BDS students have more hands-on work to do as most of the work dentists do (in a clinical setting) are surgical procedures. This, in turn, means that many students take up dentistry because it has in some ways a larger artistic side and creative side to it.
Simply put, both BDS and MBBS programs have different yet challenging curriculums with neither being an easy option.

Future prospects in terms of postgraduate options

Due to the differences in their respective curricula, dentists and doctors have different options in terms of postgraduate studies. Medical Doctors have been taught a more diverse curriculum and as such, they can pursue further education in a vast variety of subject areas whereas dentists have relatively fewer options. This, however, does not translate to a lack of options in any way. Dentists can choose to specialize in different aspects of dentistry such as orthodontics, prosthodontics, etc. Both, though, can take a common route and pursue a career in public health.

You can also have the opportunity to practice as a dentist in the UK by passing the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE). This exam consists of two parts: Part 1, Part 2, which involves a clinical exams and theory based exam. Upon successfully clearing the ORE, you can start earning an initial salary of approximately €2,000+ per month. With a year of experience, this can increase to around €27,000+ per month, equivalent to over 40+ lakh PKR.

Lastly, one important thing to note is that it is objectively easier for medical doctors to study and work abroad in countries such as the US especially if you consider the costs involved.

Lifestyle differences as students and healthcare professionals

Dentists, in general, do have better work-life balance as compared to doctors as their working hours tend to be more flexible. In a way, their profession may be perceived as less stressful because there are fewer encounters where the patient’s life is at stake. Yet it is important to note that dentistry is physically more demanding and as such a large proportion of senior dentists tend to suffer from back and neck issues.

On the other hand, the average medical doctor, especially early on in his/her career and during residency, tends to lead a more stressful lifestyle than the average dentist owing to longer, more irregular working hours and a large number of emergencies.

Last Words of Advice

Last but not the least, the most important thing at the end of the day is what you want, what your dreams are and where you see yourself in the future. Neither degrees are by any means a walk in the park, and they both happen to be excellent career options.

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