Dentistry is a branch of medicine that specialises in the mouth. The oral cavity is the area of the body where the teeth and gums are located. Dentists treat ailments that affect the mouth and teeth, including illnesses, disorders, and conditions. Additionally, they offer preventive dental care services, including cleanings and dental examinations. You may require dental care if you experience tooth or gum discomfort, have broken or permanently damaged teeth, or if any of these conditions exist. Dentists also offer recommendations on oral hygiene practices, nutrition, and methods for cleaning and flossing teeth.
Since the beginning of time, dentistry has been practised in some capacity. For instance, tiny perforations in the jaw near the tooth roots have been found in Egyptian skulls from 2900 to 2750 BCE. The founder of contemporary dentistry is the French physician Pierre Fauchard. In 1723, he released The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth. The fact that the little soap, starch, and candle firm is still in business shows how successful this enterprise was for them. Like other medical specialities, dentistry’s future depends significantly on its past. Modern, high-quality dental care as we know it now would not be feasible without these early discoveries.
One of the most crucial aspects of our health is dental care. It includes taking x-rays and inspecting our teeth, looking for dental issues, cleaning and polishing teeth, treating unhealthy or damaged teeth, maintaining oral hygiene, and whitening teeth. The science and art of dentistry focus on supporting, augmentation, and rebuilding the mouth. Dentists are experts in each of these fields. Not only is oral hygiene crucial for our health, but it is also essential for disease prevention. Plaque accumulation and gum disease are both prevented. Your teeth’s health may be ensured by practising appropriate oral hygiene.
An undergraduate dentistry degree programme will prepare you for a future in dentistry by combining clinical learning with fundamental and cutting-edge dental sciences. Early in the course, you will treat patients in neighbourhood outreach clinics when you have learned the essential abilities at a university’s skill centre. You will learn to practice dentistry professionally, safely, and ethically while working as part of a dental team to take a patient-centred approach to clinical treatment.
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Oral Biology
- Cardiology
- Occlusion
- Preclinical Operative Dentistry
- Dental Materials
- Pathology and Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Preventive Dentistry
Between 2021 and 2031, research predicts a 6.1% increase in dental employment. An estimated 7,700 positions should become available during that time.
The discipline of dentistry is quite complicated and involves many different sorts of experts. There are many different kinds of dentists, each with their services and expertise. If you choose to pursue a career in dentistry after reading this guide, you may be one of them.
Why Study This Program
Development in your Career
There are various opportunities, challenges, and benefits in dentistry. It is a career that is increasing and changing quickly. A primary healthcare profession on the front lines of illness prevention, intervention, and wellness promotion is the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). A career in dental care has developed as professionals now diagnose patients using cutting-edge technologies, including computers, digital radiography, cone beam computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Several occupations provide high levels of personal and professional growth that may be pursued after studying dentistry. It is an advantageous position with daily difficulties. Dentists might work in private practice, public health settings, or dental hospitals. Some dentists opt to work as clinical academics, where they are responsible for supervising dental students or doing research in addition to treating patients. The gratification of making a difference in people’s lives is the best reward there is. Dentists have challenging jobs that come with a lot of responsibilities. However, dentistry can be a good fit if you like to learn new things, advance your scientific knowledge, and collaborate with others.
Pursue Self-Employment
A profession in dentistry may be pursued for the compelling reason of self-employment. Dentistry presents uncommon prospects for those looking for freedom, professional autonomy, and the chance to design their practice. By majoring in dentistry, you can get the expertise and information needed to launch your dental practice and work for yourself. Dentistry independent practice has several benefits. You can set the hours, select the procedures you wish to specialise in and develop a clientele based on the patients you treat.
You can also choose your practice philosophy, which enables you to develop a setting focused on the patient’s needs and provide individualised treatment. Additionally, self-employment in dentistry sometimes offers greater income possibilities than employment. Dentists can set prices, increase earnings, and invest in personal and professional advancement. It’s crucial to remember that working for yourself comes with many obligations and difficulties. Strong business sense, leadership abilities, and the capacity to adjust to shifting market conditions are necessary for managing a dental practice. Effective management and marketing techniques and clinical expertise are required for self-employment success in dentistry.
Work in a Respectful Profession
Studying dentistry is an attractive route to starting a career in a prestigious field. Dentistry is respected because dental health is a crucial component of general well-being. By enhancing people’s smiles and strengthening their oral health, dentists can benefit people’s lives. Patients and the general public appreciate and trust dentists because they practice a great profession. A trusted healthcare practitioner, a dentist helps people with their oral issues and advocates for preventative care. Due to the high degree of technical ability, knowledge, and competence required, the career is both engaging to the mind and demanding.
Many employment options are also available in dentistry, including private practice, academia, research, and public health. Dentists frequently have profitable careers with room for specialisation and professional progress. The industry encourages long-lasting patient relationships, allowing dentists to see the results of their efforts over time. Ultimately, studying dentistry will enable you to enter a respected field that combines scientific achievement, caring for others, and the capacity to significantly impact their lives.
Educating Patients
The chance to educate patients about dental care, a vital component of oral health, is provided by studying dentistry. As a dentist, you establish yourself as a dependable resource for patient information and direction. You may create positive habits and preventative actions that support long-term oral health in patients by teaching them about dental care procedures. Dentists inform patients about the effects of poor oral hygiene, including tooth decay, gum disease, and even systemic health problems. Dentists inspire their patients to make healthy adjustments to their lifestyles and oral hygiene practices by imparting this knowledge to them.
Dental education encompasses more than just one patient, too. Dentists participate in public awareness campaigns, school visits, and community outreach programs to encourage dental care. By increasing knowledge and avoiding dental issues on a broader scale, these activities assist the people involved and the general public health. In conclusion, studying dentistry gives you the information and abilities to enlighten patients about dental care, empowering them to make decisions about their oral health that align with their best interests and enhancing the well-being of both people and communities.
Flexible Lifestyle
For individuals looking for a balanced and adaptable career path, studying dentistry presents a unique chance to enjoy a flexible lifestyle. One of its main benefits is the flexibility of a dentist’s schedule to accommodate personal preferences and responsibilities. Dentists have the freedom to select from a variety of work opportunities. They have more choice over their work schedules and patient loads because they can work in private practices, group practices, or even open their clinics. As a dentist, you may achieve a healthy work-life balance by being flexible enough to accommodate your interests, family responsibilities, and other endeavours.
The possibility of part-time or extra employment in dentistry also enables dentists to explore various work settings, travel, or pursue interests apart from dentistry while retaining a consistent income and career advancement. The ability to specialise is another aspect of a dentistry career’s adaptability. Dentists can customise their professional journeys depending on their interests and ambitions by specialising in particular fields like orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, or oral surgery. In the end, pursuing a career in dentistry allows you to choose a lifestyle that fits personal tastes, encouraging a happy and complete life.
Why Study In Malaysia
Job Flexibility
Studying dentistry is an excellent choice if you want job flexibility. Dentists can select their working environment, schedule, and even location. You would have many job alternatives, including starting your private practice, working in a group practice, and working in community clinics. You would also have the option to work part-time or freelance, allowing you to customise your workload to suit their requirements.
Use Creative and Scientific Skills
Studying dentistry provides a rare chance to combine artistic and analytical abilities in a fulfilling career. In addition to using scientific knowledge to identify and cure problems with oral health, dentists also use creativity to create individualised treatment programs and aesthetically beautiful smile designs. Dentistry in Malaysia allows you to combine accuracy, creative problem-solving, and prosthodontics. Dentistry, which embraces the nexus of creativity and science, offers a rewarding professional path that enhances patients’ lives while gratifying your intellectual and creative interests.
Affordable Course Fees
The fee required to study dentistry in Malaysia is comparatively less than that required in many other countries, such as the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada, to name just a few. With dentistry degree expenses shooting up worldwide, Malaysia comes across as a reliable option to receive a high-quality education at an affordable cost.
Globally Recognised Degrees
Dentistry degrees from Malaysian universities enjoy global recognition. Studying dentistry in Malaysia allows students to pursue the program in Malaysia and then move anywhere globally. Several students continue their master’s and specialisation in Malaysia or transfer to other countries to pursue different pathways.
International Education Standard
The standard of dentistry programs in Malaysia meets international standards. This ensures exceptional education for students who enrol in this course. The course curriculum is rigorously developed, keeping in line with international benchmarks to ensure students learn the latest developments in dentistry in Malaysia.
Excellent Campus Facilities and Infrastructure
Malaysia offers excellent campus facilities, modern infrastructure, and innovative teaching aids for studying dentistry in Malaysia. The schools in Malaysia offer a great learning atmosphere. Several leading universities have developed in-house labs and testing facilities dedicated to helping students learn with hands-on experience, operate with state-of-the-art machinery, and stay up to date with the latest innovations.
Career Prospects
Dentists are essential in preserving oral health and advancing general well-being. They identify and manage a range of dental disorders, including tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections. Dentists carry out dental cleanings, extractions, root canals, and fillings. To avoid future dental problems, they also give preventative care and educate patients on good oral hygiene habits. In addition, dentists may provide aesthetic procedures to improve the look and functioning of their patients’ smiles, such as tooth whitening and dental implants. In the end, dentists work to guarantee excellent oral health and improve their patients’ general quality of life.
In the world of oral health care, dentists have a variety of tasks and duties. They oversee thorough dental examinations, identify oral diseases, and create individualised treatment programs for each patient. As a dentist, you will have some of the following tasks and responsibilities to manage:
- Perform thorough dental exams and identify oral problems.
- Create individualised treatment regimens depending on the patient’s dental health demands.
- Perform various dental operations, including root canals, extractions, and restorations.
- Provide preventative treatment and instruct patients on good oral hygiene habits.
- Coordinate complete patient care by working with other healthcare providers.
- For best treatment results, keep up with changes in dental technology and procedures.
Knowing what skills you must have to work as a dentist is essential. Dentistry is not just a profession anyone can do without the basic knowledge and skills of handling their patients and their work. Here are a few skills you might need to have:
- Clinical understanding of dental techniques and procedures.
- Strong focus on the details for accurate diagnosis and planning.
- Outstanding hand skills for carrying out challenging dental operations.
- Ability to communicate with patients and explain treatment alternatives through effective communication.
- Complex oral health concerns require critical thinking and problem-solving skills to handle.
- To provide patient-centred treatment and reduce dental fear, demonstrate empathy and compassion.
Private Practise
Many dentists opt to open their private practices where they may provide patients with various dental treatments.
Academic Dentistry
You can work in academia, where they can research, mentor, train aspiring dentists, and promote dental knowledge.
Specialised Dentistry
Dental specialists can provide patients with specialised treatment by specialising in orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, paediatric dentistry, or oral pathology.
Public Health Dentistry
Dentists work in public health settings, including community outreach projects, preventative programs, and oral health education.
Research and Development
With a career in dentistry, you can participate in dental research and development by collaborating with producers of dental products, pharmaceutical businesses, or research organisations to create novel treatments, substances, or methods.
Dental Administration
Dentists with excellent management and organisational abilities might work in dental administration, managing operations in dental offices, hospitals, or dental insurance firms.
Dental Public Policy and Advocacy
As a dentist, you can participate in dental public policy and advocacy, striving to increase access to oral healthcare, change dental legislation, and promote oral health programs broadly.
Dental Consulting
Dentists can advise on practice management, workflow optimisation, and quality enhancement to dental practices as part of their consulting services.
International Dentistry
Dental professionals can look for opportunities to work in underprivileged regions worldwide, treating people who need it or participating in international dental missions.
Dental Education and Continuing Education
By creating and leading programs for other dental professionals, dentists may contribute to dental education by imparting their knowledge and skills.
Program Duration
The duration to study dentistry in Malaysia is five years for the bachelor’s program. English is the medium of instruction followed in schools across all major international private universities.
The first year will have a number of common subjects between different specialisations. As students progress to years two and three, their modules and subjects will become more specialised as per their field of choice.
Students can sometimes switch from one specialisation to another, but it will require approval from the University faculty and the relevant authorities in Malaysia.
Students who want to opt for program transfers to another University will usually need to prepare the transfer paperwork and start processing from their second year onwards to ensure all the paperwork and approvals are in place so the program transfer can be done.
Entry Requirements
The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) sets the entry requirements and guidelines for university admissions in Malaysia, which all universities must adhere to. All prospective international students must meet the minimum entry requirements, as the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) takes these standards into account during the application acceptance and processing phases.
The admission requirements to study dentistry in Malaysia for international students may vary from one university to another. However, the basic entry requirements are the same for most universities.
Usually, there are two pathways to entering a degree program in Malaysia:
- First, students can join a foundation program after completing their secondary schooling, O levels, or equivalent qualifications. After completing the foundation in Science, they can continue to the bachelor’s degree as per their choice.
- Second, students who have completed their higher secondary school or A levels or equivalent will be able to join the bachelor’s degree programme directly into year one.
If a student fails to meet the entry requirements for a bachelor’s degree programme, the faculty may offer different pathways into the degree programme, for example, through a foundation or a diploma programme.
Universities may raise the entry requirements to ensure incoming students are academically prepared for the rigours of their programmes. So, prospective international students should consult with an admission advisor to determine the precise entry criteria for their chosen programme and their preferred university.
General Entry Requirements For Bachelor’s Degree
A Levels or Equivalent:
- Pass with BBB or ABC in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics in A Levels or equivalent.
Foundation:
- Pass the relevant Foundation programme or equivalent with an average of 80% in 3 subjects; Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics and attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics / Additional Mathematics and another subject at O-level or equivalent.
English Language
International students who wish to study dentistry in Malaysia will need to also provide proof of their English language proficiency with IELTS or TOEFL exams. Students who have studied the British or American curriculum are generally exempted from the English proficiency requirements since the medium of instruction for that curriculum is in English by default.
Students who have studied other curriculums where the medium of instruction is also English will usually need to provide a supporting letter from the school stating that the instruction language for their schooling has been English. With that letter, English language requirements are proven to have been completed.
Fees & Cost
Students sometimes only look at the tuition fee during the comparison. However, depending on how forthright and clear the fee guidelines from the university are, the extra fees can be a hefty amount that could be a surprise. So students are advised to correctly add all the fees and decide which university fits their budget requirements to study dentistry in Malaysia.
Various factors will contribute to the overall cost structure, such as:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation fees
- Admission fee
- Registration and Visa fees and
- Other one-time fees.
These fees vary from university to university and can depend on varying factors. The quality, infrastructure, facilities and teacher-to-student ratio will also determine how much a university charges.
You must find the right balance between quality and cost to get the best education possible. The average cost to study dentistry in Malaysia is between RM100,000 to RM130,000 per year, depending on the University.
For reference, that’s around USD $22,000 to $28,000 per year for a 5 year dentistry degree program at the current exchange rate.
Accommodation
Accommodation cost is going to be another recurring fee for international students. Generally, students have two options: they can either stay at the on-campus accommodation provided by the university or at private accommodation. The prices will differ according to which university and area you choose.
Generally, campus accommodations at major universities start at around US$150 per month and can go up to $400 per month. The pricing for on-campus accommodation is determined by the size of the room, whether a student will be sharing the room or will be staying alone, or if the student is taking a master room which generally comes with an attached bathroom or decides to stay at a sharing room with shared bathroom.
Some universities also offer cooking facilities and on-campus accommodation, which are shared facilities which will also be factored into the accommodation costs. Utility costs are generally an add-on fee.
While choosing the university, you can check with your admissions advisor on the options available for accommodation and how much they will cost so that you have an idea of how much of a monthly budget you will require as a student.
Admission Procedure
Researching, applying and managing overseas admissions is a tedious, time-consuming and often confusing process. Incorrect application submissions can lead to lengthy processing, delayed approvals, or rejections. You can visit education, exhibitions and fairs to collect information. However, that is not enough. You can only collect cursory information at these places. However, your admission processing will usually take much longer. During that time, you will need consistent and dedicated support to ensure your application is in the right experienced hands.
This is where we help.
Edmates helps international students from around the world with complete admissions processing. Our integrated one-stop centre helps international students with everything. We help you find future-driven programs that match your abilities and interests in leading universities.
We handle the entire process from the beginning until you have joined the university. Our international support system will manage everything for you, absolutely free.
Each student is assigned with a dedicated admission advisor who will manage the complete admission process and also guide the student throughout the admissions process. The advisor will also liaise with the university admissions department to ensure clear communications and faster processing.
You can speak with your assigned advisor anytime by booking a free call online through the website. You will also receive regular updates regarding your application via emails, SMS and WhatsApp.
To learn about each step of the admission process, you can read our complete guide to start applying for your higher education the right way.