Dentistry Course In Malaysia

1. What Is Dentistry?

Dentistry is diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases in the mouth. This field is devoted to restoring and maintaining one’s oral health. The state of your oral hygiene indicates something is happening to your internal organs. Hence, a Dental Degree also helps us understand our overall health.

Why it matters?

• A 2024 statistic showed that 94% of Malaysians suffer from dental issues. This is how much oral care is neglected and hence dental expertise is highly in need.

• Oral health is closely associated with general health, where poor oral hygiene can lead to adverse conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Oral health can also be a key indicator in detecting these conditions. 

2. Where To Study Dentistry Courses In Malaysia?

Here are 7 best universities to study Dentistry courses in Malaysia.

• 1. SEGI University
• 2. IMU University
• 3. Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM)
• 4. MAHSA University
• 5. AIMST University
• 6. Penang International Dental College (PIDC)
• 7. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

Smile! 7 Best Universities For Dentistry In Malaysia

3. Dentistry Course Pathways & Entry Requirements

In Malaysia, most of the Dental Degrees offered come under the term Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). But you may have come across the term Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from a handful of universities here. DDS is a term originating from the USA but in the context of the syllabus in Malaysia, both BDS and DDS are similar and will lead you to a career as a Dentist.

There is only one common pathway to study dentistry in Malaysia:

Pathway: SPM/O-Levels ➔ Pre-University/Foundation ➔ Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry

The usual pathway into a dentistry course post SPM or O-Levels is through

• a Pre-University Course (A-Levels, SACE, STPM)
• or a Foundation in Science course offered by a university of your choice.

This takes 1-2 years to complete before entering your Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry.

The Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) has listed these qualifications to qualify for dental school.

At the School Certificate level, you must score

• 5Bs (SPM or Equivalent) or 3 B4 (UEC),
• B Grades in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/ Add-Maths and one other subject
  (except arts and Kemanusiaan & Sastera Ikhtisas subjects)
• C Grades in BM and English

Thereafter, your Pre-University Course or Foundation Course must have B Grades in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics/ Maths. Refer to this list to see what academic requirements you must meet.

Qualification	Minimum Requirements
A-levels/ STPM	Minimum Grades: BBB/ ABC/ AAC  in the above subjects
UEC	B4 in the above subjects with Mathematics and Advanced Mathematics.
Foundation in Science/ Matrikulasi	CGPA 3.0 and at least C grades in the above subjects.
AUSMAT / SACE	Aggregate or the equivalent B in the above subjects or ATAR 80% with the above subjects
CIMP	A minimum average of 80% in the above subjects.
International Baccalaureate Diploma	At least 30 overall points with at least 5 points in the above subjects. Plus, a minimum of 2 at Higher Level (HL) and 1 at Standard Level (SL).

4. Steps & Accreditation To Be A Dentist In Malaysia

In a nutshell, it takes about 7 years to become a qualified dentist in Malaysia.

Step 1: Enrol Into A Dentistry Degree Course

All Dental Degrees need accreditation from the Malaysian Dental Council. Otherwise, you cannot practise in Malaysia.

However, before you can enrol, did you know that you need to sit for an interview to be eligible to study in a Dentistry Course?

We’ve prepared an article with tips on how to ace that Dental School interview!

7 Tips To Smash Your Medical & Dental School Interview

Step 2: MDC and SPA Registration 

You must register with the Malaysian Dental Council to practice independently as a dentist.

Then, register online with Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (*SPA) for your posting. The SPA will notify you of your results afterwards. So, remember to check your email and complete your eDentist application. (*But, the SPA is not your employer.)

After receiving your offer letter, submit the required documents, and then report to the assigned clinic.

Step 3: Compulsory Service

Every new dentist will undergo 1 year of compulsory service. The service takes place after you have completed your MDC registration.

Step 4: Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The CPD enables new practitioners to stay updated with the latest knowledge. You need to present evidence each year. The MDC and the Malaysian Dental Therapists Board (MDTB) have set 20 points as the minimum annual requirement. You can earn CPD Credit Points from various activities like

• Conferences
• Seminars
• Courses
• Workshops
• Journal Publications

You do not need to show CPD evidence in the first 2 years of practice. However, you must collect points for the Annual Practicing  Certificate (APC) application. And, remember to apply for them a month before each activity.

*Note: Your CPD points accumulate yearly from the 1st of January to the 31st of December. More details are available here.

Step 5: Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

You will apply for the APC during the 3rd year of practice. Then, renew it before the 1st of November each year.

Step 6: Specialisation

Should you wish to specialise in a particular dental discipline, a 4-year postgraduate programme is a must. If the course is less than 4 years but over 2 years, then you must undergo 4 years of supervised specialty clinical practice.

As of the 14th of March 2022, the MDC has approved the qualifications to these 12 specialities:

• Dental Public Health
• Endodontics 
• Forensic Odontology 
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology 
• Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine
• Orthodontics
• Paediatric Dentistry
• Periodontology
• Prosthodontics
• Restorative Dentistry
• Special Care Dentistry

Once completed, the next step will be the graduate training or the First-Year Dental Officer (FYDO) programme. It usually lasts for a year at an MOH dental clinic/ hospital/ university. You can find the full list of training locations here.

5. What You Learn In A Dentistry Course?

Here are some of the subjects that you will see in your Medicine Curse syllabus. They may vary slightly from one university to another. 

6. Why Should I Study Dentistry?

Top reasons why you should study Dentistry

• You have an eye for precision and accuracy – A dentist’s job rests on their ability to commit to precise and accurate work. This is because they work with a lot of mechanical tools. Repeatedly. 

• Your goal is to transform patients’ lives – Having compassion is an important quality for anyone working within the health industry. Your goal is to ensure your patients have the best oral care to eat – and smile – without any complication or pain. 

• Flexible career path – As a whole, dentistry combines art, innovation and science. This flexibility opens various paths you can take after your degree and housemanship. You can choose where to go based on the lifestyle you seek; be it start your own practice, or specializing in prosthetics (there’s more, of course!). 

• The industry is in growing demand – With the need to improve oral health, government and community initiatives have started, and the Malaysian dental market is seeing an upward trend.

7. RIASEC Compatibility To A Dentistry Course

The John Holland Theory of Career Choice states that in choosing a career, people will choose one similar to their personality to ensure job satisfaction, job performance, and career success. The test generates 6 different personality types:

• Realistic (R)
• Investigative (I)
• Artistic (A)
• Social (S)
• Enterprising (E)
• Conventional (C)

With the RIASEC Test, the 6 personalities can generate up to 720 combination possibilities to provide career compatibility. You can try the test yourself here.

Interested in studying a dentistry course? Here are 3 main personality traits you should ideally have:

REALISTIC

• Dentistry requires a high level of manual dexterity and precision. Students with this trait are well suited to the hands-on aspect of the field of study.

INVESTIGATIVE

• If you have a strong love for science subjects because you like to analyse, always curious, and solving complex problems is a thing for you, you might be on the right track to study a dentistry course. 

SOCIAL

• If you have this trait, you are compassionate and helpful, intending to improve the community at large. Suitable for teaching, counselling, and healthcare, which is where the dentistry course finds itself in. 

*Note: These personalities are a guideline on the skills you need for the field.

8. Career Opportunities in Dentistry

Here are the areas of interest where dentistry course skills can be an advantage:

Areas of Opportunity	Types of Roles
General Medical Practice	General Practitioner (GP)
Medical Specialisations	Anaesthesiologist, Dental Public Health Specialist, Endodontist, Oral and Maxiofacial, Pathologist/Radiologist/Surgeon, Oral Medicine Specialist, Orthodontist, Prosthondotist
Interdisciplinary & Niche Roles	Cosmetic Dentist, Forensic Odontologist, Geriatric Dentist, Special Needs Dentist, Sports Dentist
Emerging Fields	Dental Sleep Medicine Specialist, Oral Implantologist, Oral Biologist
Research & Academia	Research Scientist, Principal Investigators, Lecturer
Entrepreneurship	Dental Clinic Owner

Recommended Course Guides

Looking for other related courses? Here are various medical and health sciences-related course guides you should check out:

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• Chiropractic Course In Malaysia

• Nursing Course In Malaysia

• Pharmacy Course in Malaysia

• Biomedical Science Course In Malaysia

• Traditional Chinese Medicine Course In Malaysia

• Pharmaceutical Science Course In Malaysia

• Physiotherapy Course In Malaysia

• Sports Science Course In Malaysia

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• Occupational Safety & Health Course In Malaysia

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If you’re still not sure what to study, we have many other Course Guides that will provide more guidance on the subject matter. Share with your friends!

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About the Author:

Henry Choo is an experienced writer specialising in university guides and feature articles. His aim is to provide clear, well-researched, and engaging content that helps readers make informed decisions. With a focus on accuracy and accessibility, his writing is designed to inform, educate, and empower audiences across a range of educational and lifestyle topics.