According to the guidelines, BDS-qualified dentists can perform routine dental procedures, including fillings and simple root canal treatments, while complicated procedures requiring advanced expertise should be handled by MDS specialists. The clarification aims to address confusion among registered dental practitioners about the treatments and procedures they are professionally qualified to perform.
The NDC, which oversees the quality of dental education and practice in the country, said its Ethics and Dental Registration Board had received several queries from registered dental practitioners seeking clarification about the permitted scope of their work. Dentists wanted to know which treatments and clinical procedures they could legally and professionally undertake.
According to a report by The Times of India, the board explained that the BDS and MDS curricula clearly define the procedures for which dentists receive training at different levels of qualification.
BDS graduates are trained to perform routine dental procedures, including filling cavities, carrying out simple root canal treatments, extracting teeth in uncomplicated cases, fitting dentures and providing basic orthodontic treatment. They are also expected to identify complicated dental conditions and refer such cases to specialists.
The board clarified that obtaining a dental degree does not automatically qualify a practitioner to perform every type of dental procedure or surgery. Each dentist must work within the limits of their educational qualifications and specialised clinical training.
MDS graduates, meanwhile, receive advanced training in specialised fields such as oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontology, prosthodontics and endodontics. While BDS graduates are trained in basic orthodontic procedures and routine tooth extractions, complicated jaw surgeries and advanced oral surgical procedures require specialist expertise.
Welcoming the clarification, former Dental Council of India president and honorary endodontist Brigadier Anil Kohli said the NDC should issue a detailed list specifying which procedures can be performed by general dentists and which must be restricted to specialists.
He said qualified BDS graduates could perform routine procedures such as fillings, scaling, simple tooth extractions and basic root canal treatments. However, complicated dental implants, wisdom tooth surgery, jaw surgery and advanced periodontal treatments should be performed only by trained MDS specialists.
Kohli emphasised that the division of clinical responsibilities should not be based solely on degrees but also on clinical competence, with patient safety remaining the highest priority.
He also suggested making Continuing Dental Education mandatory for licence renewal. In addition, he called for clinical audits and action against dentists who violate professional regulations.
Kohli further said that general dentists who have undergone additional training should be allowed to expand their scope of practice accordingly.
He stressed that dentists must maintain complete transparency about their qualifications, specialisations and professional capabilities. They should inform patients about the risks associated with treatment and refer them to specialists whenever necessary.
He also underlined that ensuring appropriate treatment is the responsibility of the dentist, not the patient, and that the patient's interests must always remain paramount.
The commission has also asked state dental councils and tribunals to issue advisories or public notices clarifying the types of treatments dentists are permitted to perform. The move is intended to prevent violations of professional guidelines and establish greater clarity about the responsibilities of general dentists and specialists.
The advisory establishes a clearer distinction between routine dental care and advanced specialist procedures, placing qualifications, clinical training and patient safety at the centre of dental practice in India.
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