Best Career Options after MDS in Oral Medicine and Radiology in India

When I completed my post-graduation in oral medicine & radiology, I didn’t have any idea where & how to start my career with. I felt the need of a coach, a constant guide, as I climb up the ladder, but obviously didn’t find any or let’s say, found so many, that I got confused what to do.

I needed to know what is that correct thing to do with my knowledge & time. I searched for articles, journals, consulted seniors, peers, but there was nothing out there to help me. After a lot of research and experience that I tried to gather for myself, trying to choose the best option that interests me, I am writing this article to share with you, the options that you can explore if you finished your master's in Oral Medicine and Radiology. I am explaining these, in the order of popular preferences. You can choose your own as and where your interest lies.

1. Dental Practice: Most common, yet best option we all have, after getting our dental license. As dental students, we all see the dream of serving people, relieving their pain & making smiles beautiful, I know because I see one too.

The first thing that comes to mind is, starting your own clinic or starting to work with other already established dental practitioners. If you are not confident enough about your clinical hand, would be great to go for clinical observership. Many well-established dentists are offering it, nowadays. Or you can simply enroll yourself in a dental clinical course.

2. Academics: If you like teaching & are interested in constant learning, Academics is the best place for you. Apply for the post of senior lecturer in a dental college, you can expect good pay in government institutions. But to be honest, if you are applying in a private one, you can only expect an average pay. But if you stick around for long, you’ll definitely get good raise in proportional to your experience.

With this option, you can keep your clinical and academic interests alive, because while working in an institute, you’ll also have the access to the department clinic. This profile will also keep you updated with new dental research and advancements in dentistry.

3. Medicine Consultancy: You should go for medicine consultancy, if you like to diagnose and treat patients with Oral & Maxillofacial disorders BUT don’t want to get into that routine clinical dental procedures.

If you are considering this option for long term, it is best to start during your post-graduation years only, that’s the best time to start with any speciality. You find the best type of network without making efforts while studying. That doesn’t mean you cannot start after post-graduation, but, the sooner the better.

4. Radio-diagnostic Lab: Another good option to start your career with, if you are into radiology. The diagnostic lab can give you a chance to make your own identity in the market with your specialization. Oral radiology, as a specialization, is growing at a very good pace with the development of CBCT (Cone-Beam Computerised Tomography) as an advancement in dental diagnosis.

To start a Radiology Diagnostic Centre, you’d need financial support, as the setup cost is too high. If you have funds, you are good to go, starting your own radio-diagnostic center, providing opportunities to your colleagues in this specialization. If not, go ahead read the next option.

5. Oral Radiologist (Consultant/Full-time): As discussed earlier, you can start your own radio-diagnostic center if you have funds for it, if not, don’t lose hope. You can join any oral radio-diagnostic center as a consultant or as a full-time employee.

Your knowledge will help you see & understand the radiographs of oral & maxillo-facial complex, which otherwise doesn’t come handy to all dental practitioners. Hence you are a valuable asset to the company, for your help is required for better diagnosis & advanced dental practice.

Choose whatever you want to go ahead with, list of options can go on & on. We limit ourselves with a limited view of our own frame. Explore your options, nothing is small if you have a great vision & dedication to achieve what you want. Keep learning new things along the way.

Keep growing.

By Dr. Deepti Singh