Dental Consultant
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
A dentist with specialist postgraduate training who takes referred cases in their field and often teaches or supervises. Reached through BDS and then MDS.
- Route in
- Earliest entry: Undergraduate. Also entered at: Undergraduate, Postgraduate. Direct entry. 2 courses lead here
- Entry pay
- ₹25,000 – ₹50,000 / monthly Any experience
- Where you work
- Dental colleges, Private dental clinics, Hospitals with dental departments, Dental chains (Clove
How people get in
Getting in
Earliest entry point. Undergraduate level.
Other levels people enter from. Undergraduate, Postgraduate.
Licence or registration. MANDATORY: registration with the State Dental Council / DCI before practising.
Where people work
Outlook
Dental colleges, Private dental clinics, Hospitals with dental departments, Dental chains (Clove.
Indicative starting salary
Understand the role
25,000 - 50,000 per month at entry level.
This is an indicative range, not a quote. Actual pay varies with employer, city, sector and the specific role.
The route in, step by step
6 steps from where you are now.
Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology Required
Same science base as MBBS, and the same NEET UG paper.
Clear NEET UG Required
BDS admission runs through the same NEET UG as MBBS, on the same merit list. Dental seats close at lower ranks, which is worth knowing before you decide.
BDS, then the compulsory rotating internship Required
Four years of study plus one year of internship, in a college recognised by the Dental Council of India.
Register with your State Dental Council Required
This is the Dental Council register, not the medical one. You cannot practise dentistry without it.
Clear NEET MDS and complete MDS Required
Three years in one of nine recognised specialities. A consultant post, as opposed to general practice, effectively requires it.
Consult, in a hospital or your own practice Required
Most Indian dental consultants combine visiting sessions at hospitals or other clinics with their own chair. Building a referral network matters more here than in most medical specialities.
Courses that lead here
2 mapped routes into this career.
What it pays
Indicative bands.
| Stage | Pay band | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Any experience | ₹25,000 – ₹50,000 / monthly | Varies by employer |
These are ranges, not offers. Pay varies by city, employer size, sector and your own skill more than by job title. Treat the band as the shape of the market, not as a number you can hold anyone to.
Common questions
The ones people actually ask about this work.
What qualification do you need to become a Dental Consultant?
The earliest entry point is undergraduate level. People also enter from: Undergraduate, Postgraduate.
Where does a Dental Consultant usually work?
Dental colleges, Private dental clinics, Hospitals with dental departments, Dental chains (Clove.
What does a Dental Consultant earn to start?
25,000 - 50,000 per month is a typical entry-level range. Pay varies with employer, city and sector.
Does a Dental Consultant need a licence or registration?
MANDATORY: registration with the State Dental Council / DCI before practising.
Test this against your own priorities
Pay, hours and entry route matter differently to different people. Compare this against the alternative you are actually weighing, rather than against the average.