Build Your Career in Cosmetic Dentistry After BDS — The Right Way

There is no single 'best' course — it depends on what you want to practise. For an all-round grounding in smile design, veneers and restorative aesthetics, dentists typically choose the Post Graduate Diploma in Aesthetic Dentistry (PGDAD) or the Fellowship in Cosmetic Dentistry (FCD). For a sharper focus, the Master Course in Smile Design (MCSD), Master Course in Dental Implant (MCDI) or Master Course in Dental Endodontics (MCDE) let you specialise in one clinical area. ILACAD's counsellors map this to your goals during a free consultation.

PGDAD (Post Graduate Diploma in Aesthetic Dentistry) and FCD (Fellowship in Cosmetic Dentistry) are broad, 3-6 month programmes covering the full spectrum of aesthetic and restorative dentistry, with FCD going deeper with 25+ topics including lasers. MCSD (Master Course in Smile Design) is a focused 15-day programme on smile analysis and digital smile design. MCDI (Master Course in Dental Implant) is a 3-6 month specialisation in implant planning, placement and restoration. MCDE (Master Course in Dental Endodontics) is a short 2-3 day intensive on rotary endodontics and root canal therapy.

Duration depends on the programme: MCDE runs over 2-3 days, MCSD over 15 days, while PGDAD, FCD and MCDI are comprehensive 3-6 month programmes combining live sessions with extensive hands-on clinical training.

ILACAD's dental programmes carry UK Board accredited certification, with additional academic affiliations, and are delivered from 20+ training centres across India and abroad, including Dubai, Singapore and Colombo.

Yes. Postgraduate diplomas, fellowships and master courses are a widely used shorter alternative to a 3-year MDS for dentists who want clinical, hands-on specialisation in a specific field such as cosmetic dentistry, implantology or endodontics without committing to a full postgraduate degree.

ILACAD trains dental professionals from centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore-Bhopal and Jaipur, as well as international centres in Colombo, Dubai and Singapore.

Yes. Every ILACAD dental programme is built around live sessions and extensive hands-on practice, with small batch sizes for personalised, supervised clinical training rather than lecture-only learning.

Graduates go on to offer aesthetic and restorative treatments in their own practice, join premium dental and cosmetology clinics, or set up dedicated smile-design and implant verticals. ILACAD's curriculum also covers clinic setup, marketing and business management alongside clinical skills.

For most general dentists, yes — cosmetic and restorative procedures like veneers, smile design and teeth whitening are in growing demand from patients and typically carry higher margins than routine dentistry. A focused course like PGDAD or FCD lets a practising dentist add these services without pausing their clinic to pursue a full-time MDS.

A Post Graduate Diploma (like PGDAD) gives a broad foundational grounding in a discipline. A Fellowship (like FCD) goes deeper, with a larger curriculum aimed at full specialisation. A Master Course (like MCSD, MCDI or MCDE) is the most focused format, built around one specific clinical skill — smile design, implants or endodontics — often over a shorter duration.

ILACAD's dental programmes are designed for dental professionals — both practising dentists looking to specialise and recent BDS graduates who want structured clinical training beyond their university curriculum before starting independent practice. Speak with an ILACAD counsellor to confirm eligibility for a specific programme.

ILACAD's certifications are UK Board accredited skill and specialisation credentials that add cosmetic, implant and endodontic expertise on top of your existing dental degree — they are not a substitute for your BDS/MDS licence to practise, which continues to be governed by the Dental Council of India.

Course fees vary by programme (diploma, fellowship or master course), batch and any ongoing scholarships or offers. ILACAD does not publish a single fixed fee across all five dental courses — WhatsApp or call ILACAD's admissions team for the current fee structure for the specific course you're interested in.

Smile design is the process of assessing facial harmony, proportions and aesthetics to plan veneers, restorations or alignment that create a natural, balanced smile. Demand has grown sharply in India as patients increasingly seek cosmetic dental treatments, making smile design one of the most requested skills dentists add to their practice — which is why ILACAD offers it as a dedicated 15-day Master Course (MCSD).

Yes. Many general dentists in India add implantology to their practice through focused postgraduate diploma or master-level implant courses rather than a full MDS in oral surgery or prosthodontics. ILACAD's Master Course in Dental Implant (MCDI) is built for exactly this — hands-on training in implant planning, placement and restoration for dentists without a surgical specialisation.

An MDS is a full 3-year postgraduate degree covering broad theoretical and clinical depth in one specialisation. ILACAD's dental courses are shorter, skill-focused programmes (2-3 days to 6 months) built specifically for practising dentists who want targeted clinical competence in cosmetic dentistry, smile design, implants or endodontics without stepping away from practice for years.

ILACAD's dental programmes are built around live sessions and hands-on clinical training, delivered from its network of training centres across India and abroad. Format and mode can vary by programme and batch — confirm the current delivery format for your chosen course with an ILACAD counsellor.

ILACAD keeps its dental programme batches small and concise so every student gets adequate hands-on time and individual attention during live-patient training, rather than being one of a large lecture-hall audience.

Dr Monica Kapoor is the founder of ILACAD (Institute of Lasers, Aesthetic, Cosmetology and Dental Sciences) and leads its faculty across cosmetic dentistry, facial aesthetics and clinical cosmetology programmes.

Yes. ILACAD trains dentists from outside India as well, with international training centres in Dubai, Singapore and Colombo alongside its India network, and has had dental professionals from countries including the UAE enrol in its programmes.

Batch start dates are announced periodically and seats are limited per batch. WhatsApp or call ILACAD at +91 93727 10242 for the next available batch date for PGDAD, FCD, MCSD, MCDI or MCDE.

ILACAD's curriculum includes modules on clinic setup, marketing, business management and client consultation, alongside jobs guidance, so graduates are equipped to either join an existing practice or set up their own cosmetic dentistry services.