Rules and Regulations

• Dentist Act 1948
• The Dentists (Amendment) Act, 1993
• Code of Ethics 1976
• Revised Code of Ethics, 2014
• West Bengal Dental Council Rules
• Revised BDS Course Regulation 2007
• Revised MDS Course Regulation 2007

Right to information act

Dental council of India
(Constituted under the Dentists Act, 1948)

Dental Council of India is a Statutory Body incorporated under an Act of Parliament viz. The Dentists Act, 1948 (XVI of 1948) to regulate the profession of Dentistry.

Some of the relevant terms defined in the Act reproduced below for information:-
Dentistry includes

• The performance of any operation on, and the treatment on any disease, deficiency or lesion of, human teeth or jaws, and the performance of radiographic or in connection with human teeth or jaws or the oral cavity:
• The giving of any anaesthetic in connection with any such operation or treatment;
• The mechanical construction or the renewal of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances;
• The performance of any operation or, or the giving of any treatment, advice or attendance to any person preparatory to, or for the purpose of, or in connection with, the fitting, inserting, fixing, constructing, repairing or renewing of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances, and the performance of any such operation and the giving of any such treatment, advice or attendance, as is usually performed or given by dentists;
• “Dentist” means a person who practices dentistry:
• “State Council” means a State Dental Council constituted under section 21 of the Dentists Act, 1948, and includes a Joint State Council constituted in accordance with an agreement under section 22;
• “Register” means a register maintained under the Dentists Act, 1948,
• “Recognised dental qualification” means any of the qualifications included in the Schedule;
• “Recognised dental hygiene qualification” means a qualification recognised by the Council under section 11;
• “Registered dentist”, “registered dental hygienist” and “registered dental mechanic” shall mean, respectively, a person whose name is for the time being registered in a register of dentists, a register of dental hygienists and a register of dental mechanics.

Constitution and composition of Dental Council of India

As per Section 3 of the Dentists Act, 1948 the Central Government shall constitute the Council consisting of the following members, namely, -

• One registered dentist possessing a recognised dental qualification elected by the dentists registered in Part A of each State register;
• One member elected from amongst themselves by the members of the Medical Council of India;
• Not more than four members elected from among themselves, by-
  
  (a) Principals, Deans, Directors and Vice-Principals of dental colleges in the States training students for recognised dental qualifications:
  
  Provided that not more than one member shall be elected from the same dental college;
  
  (b)Heads of dental wings of medical colleges in the States training students for recognised dental qualifications;
  
• One member from each University established by law in the States which grants as recognised dental qualification, to be elected by the members of the Senate of the University, or in case the University has no Senate by the members of the court, from amongst the members of the Dental Faculty of the University or in case the University has no Dental Faculty, from amongst the members of the Medical Faculty thereof;
• One member to represent each State nominated by the Government of each such State from among persons registered either in a medical register or a dental register of the State.

[Explanation—In this clause “State” does not include a Union territory:]

• Six members nominated by the Central Government, of whom at least one shall be a registered dentist possessing a recognised dental qualification and practising or holding as appointment in an institution for the training of dentists in a Union territory, and at least two shall be dentists registered in Part B of a State register;
• The Director General of Health Services, ex Officio:

Functions and Duties of the council

In consonance of the provisions of the Act, Dental Council of India is entrusted with the following duties:

• Maintenance of uniform standards of Dental Education – both at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. It envisages inspections/visitations of Dental Colleges for permission to start Dental Colleges, increase of seats, starting of new P.G. courses (as per provisions of section 10A of the Act).
• To prescribe the standard curricula for the training of dentists, dental hygienists, dental mechanics and the conditions for such training;
• To prescribe the standards of examinations and other requirements to be satisfied to secure for qualifications recognition under the Act;