Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2278-3784.2017.0002 International Dental Journal of Student’s Research;5(4):96-99 96 Career choices and future challenges: A cross sectional study among upcoming Indian dentists Sajith Abraham 1 , Sheethal Joy 2,* , Subair. K 3 , Melwin Mathew 4 , Ashitha Mohandas 5 1 Assistant Professor, 2 Post Graduate, 3 Reader, 4,5 Senior Lecturer 1,3-5 Dept. of Periodontics, 2 Oral Pathology & Microbiology, 1 College of Dental Science, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, 2-5 Mahe Institute of Dental Science & Hospital, Mahe, Pondicherry, India *Corresponding Author: Email: joysheethal2013@gmail.com Abstract Introduction: Disparity in distribution of dental manpower across rural urban settings is a major challenge in India’s current dental scenario. Both the systems of dental education and dental health care service delivery hold a pivotal role in overcoming these challenges. Dental health infrastructure distribution, job opportunities and quality of service plays an integral role in molding future decisions in choosing dentistry as career choices. Aims: To determine the current perceptions among upcoming dentists in choosing dentistry as a career and their future aspirations. This study also aims to foresee future challenges in dentistry and also helps to explore the remedial suggestions recommended by upcoming dentists. Materials and Methods: A crossectional study was carried out among dental students in a private dental college setting at Mahe, Union territory of Pondicherry in South India. A pretested self administered questionnaire was distributed to fourth year and internship going dental students. Results: Of 215 potential participants; 203 completed the questionnaire [females (n= 165) and males (n= 38)]. In choosing dentistry as career, 31.5% chose dentistry due to passion for profession, 22.7% due to their only option obtained in entrance exams, 13.7% due to proximity of college to hometown, 13.3 % to fulfil parent’s aspirations and nearly 10.3% due to acceptance in the society. Regarding future aspirations after post-graduation 42.4% planned to work as specialists, 30% planned to work as faculty in government dental colleges and only few students chose working as faculty in private dental college [3.9%]. Nearly 15 % planned to work as dental clinician in dental clinic. The future challenges foreseen in dentistry as a profession by the upcoming dentists, 36.5% gave increased number of dental graduates passing out each year as the major challenge. Regarding suggestions on remedial strategies to meet future challenges 36.5% suggested reduction of number of dental seats sanctioned, 19.7% suggested to create job vacancies in public health sector, 17.7% suggested strict regulatory enforcement by the Dental Council of India [DCI] as the major responses. Conclusion: Research into motivations and future expectations of upcoming dental workforce might provide insights to make time bound policy level changes for establishment of an effective dental health system. Keywords: Dental Workforce, Dentistry, India, Motivations, Scenario. Introduction India is a rapidly growing developing nation with an average population of around 1.2 billion, being the second most populated country in the world. (1) Around 70% of its population still resides in rural areas with unmet access and affordability issues. Oral health is very integral and is also linked to general health of the population. Disparity in dental workforce distribution as per the growing demands of the country especially in rural areas is a serious health challenge. The dental education and health service delivery system in India holds prime role to overcome these oral health challenges addressed by our country today. Dental human resource supply is changing and indicators have provided insights that number of dental Surgeons registered with Central/State Dental Councils of India in 1994 with 21,720 has increased to 1, 20, 897 as in 2012. (2) Even though dentist supply chain has increased over years, majority of the dentists deliver services in the urban regions where only 30% of the country’s population resides. Therefore this current disparity of the situation play role in implementing effective distribution of dental manpower and service delivery strategies. Dental health infrastructure distribution and quality holds priority in moulding future decisions pertaining to career choices based on demand and supply chain. India has moved far forward since 1924 when her first dental college was started in Calcutta unto 2012 with 297 undergraduate (BDS) dental colleges and 140 colleges which conduct MDS courses as per statistics from National health profile 2012. (2) Private dental colleges have sprung up to meet the rising demands of the country .The distribution of dental colleges across the country is seen distorted with most colleges located in the southern and western states of India. (3) Mushrooming of private dental colleges in affluent states has also resulted in imbalances in educational access for dental services in our country. (3, 4) Ideal dentist population ratio according to WHO was recorded as 7500.According to World health Statistics report one dentist for every 10,000 population is the requirement. However in India the overall dentist population ration was 1:30,000, followed by one dentist per 10,000 population in urban areas and one in 2.5