ANATOMY

Head and Neck

Vascular supply, lymphatic drainage, nerve supply and muscles of head and neck are the topics of utmost
importance in this section of anatomy for dental exam. These topics cannot afford to be missed out.
Moreover, cranial nerves are the next topic which is most important and should be well-versed with their
name, number and associated function.

Face : Facial muscles, along with their origin, insertion and function, are another important part of your
preparation. Moreover, arteries of face are a noteworthy topic of this section.

Arch of aorta : Thoroughly learn various branches and its divisions that form the major vascular supply of
head and neck.

Palate : There have been questions in various entrance exams from this part which includes questions on
hard and soft palate along, especially the muscles of soft palate.

Tongue : Various questions have been asked frequently alone from topic tongue. Its muscles, embryology
and development, vascular supply, lymphatic drainage and nerve supply are indispensable topics.

Brain and spinal cord :

Most significant topics include:

Scalp: Structure, Arterial supply and Aponeurotic layer of scalp are some of the topics you should be
well-versed with.

Brain: Brain has vast number of topics; however following are the topics that should not be overlooked:

Different layers of brain

Cerebrum, Cerebral cortex, Cerebellum, Midbrain, Medulla

Venous sinuses of duramater

Limbic system
Blood Brain Barrier

Cavernous Sinus

Neck : Cervical fascia, infrahyoid muscles, sternocleidomastoid muscle, different triangles of neck.

Other topics : Continue studying various glands and associated anatomy of the head and neck. Location,
boundaries, structures passing through them, vascular supply and nerve supply of glands such as salivary
glands, thyroid glands, pharynx and larynx must be thoroughly revised. Moreover, questions have also
been asked from major and minor constrictors of pharynx.

Other important topics paramount are contents of orbit along with muscles of eye, lacrimal apparatus,
nose and paranasal sinuses.

Abdomen

Abdomen is equally importance from any dental exam point of view. Priority must be given to anatomy
of organs such as liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys. This must include their internal structure, arterial
and venous supply along with the abdominal muscles.

Osteology

It is trivial to study entire osteology and hence, selective viewpoint must be kept while studying this
section. Most cardinal topics are types of bones, bones of facial skeleton, sutures along with their
meeting points, types of joints especially temporomandibular joint.

Keep yourself acquainted with various foramina and important vessels and nerves passing through them
as direct questions have been asked from this topic and will surely score you a mark. Also, maxilla and
mandible are vital topics for dental exam. Learn about foramen and structures passing through them
along with muscles and ligaments attached to them. Carry on your preparation with muscles of
mastication i.e. another dominant topic in regard to various dental exams.

Embryology

In this section of the anatomy, give emphasis on derivatives of different ridges and cartilages. Focus your
attention on topics such as:

Different pharyngeal arches

Stages of embryonic craniofacial development

Structures derived from neural crest

About 2 or 3 questions are expected to be asked from this section.

Also Read : Most effective study plan for MDS entrance exams

Histology

You need to prepare this section well as every year a question is asked. However, do not cram up
everything, only selective topics need to be focused. Epithelium, particularly its types and functions, are
crucial topics to be memorized from this section. Other important topics include cartilages, particularly
its types and functions. Also, questions have been asked in previous year exams about the histology of
various types of glands along with their functions.

Miscellaneous

Most frequently, questions based upon cell cycle have been included in various dental entrance exams
every alternate year. Therefore, it is recommended that be well prepared for this topic as well so that
you are able to answer, in case it is asked in exam.

Final piece of advice

One general tip that can be implied for all the topics is that don’t miss out vascular supply, nerve supply
and lymphatic drainage of any region.

You may refer to the following BOOKS in order to become proficient in anatomy :

ANATOMY : B.D.Chaurasia's Human Anatomy

EMBRYOLOGY : Inderbir Singh - Textbook of Human Embryology

HISTOLOGY : Inderbir Singh - Textbook of Human Histology

Moreover, study from good books on MCQs and refer to an atlas for any further illustration.

Dedicatedly preparing the above mentioned topics will assist you in answering the majority of questions
from General Anatomy in any dental entrance exams that are at edge.

BIOCHEMISTRY

Tips to Prepare:

Prepare notes and good mnemonics for memorizing various cycles and lists.

As time is a limiting factor, focus on topics that are most important and highly expected in the exams.
Repetition is the mother of all learning, thus review your notes the same day and everything again on
weekends.

Self-evaluate your preparation by taking mock tests.

List of Topics to be prepared in biochemistry for MDS entrance exams:

CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM:

It is the most important topic to be prepared as it involves most important cycles from exam point of
view such as:

Gluconeogenesis

Glycolysis

TCA cycle

Cori’s Cycle i.e. path of pyruvate

Also Read: How to Prepare General Medicine for MDS Entrance Exams

LIPID METABOLISM

To answer questions related to biochemistry proficiently, have good command over metabolism. Lipid
metabolism is, thus, important to prepare.

Important sub-topics are:

Fatty acids and its synthesis

Cholesterol including description of good & bad cholesterol

Niemann Pick Disease

GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY

Good command over basics is necessary as it helps in easy understanding and memorizing. So, following
topics should not be missed while covering general biochemistry.

Topics include:
Cell organelles

DNA/RNA

Karyotyping/Giemsa Stain-G Banding

ENZYMES

It is another important topic to be prepared meticulously for MDS entrance exams. Know about various
enzymes, along with their mechanism and functions.

Important sub-topics to be prepared are:

Coenzymes

Transferase

Kinase

Also Read: How to Prepare General Pathology for MDS Entrance Exams

PROTEIN METABOLISM

To prepare biochemistry, master this imperative topic which includes the following sub-topics that are
highly significant:

Structure

Basic amino acids

Amino acid with imino group

Amino acid with indole ring

Tertiary/ quaternary proteins

Chaperones: Cover all the basic concepts

Haemoglobin: Basic concepts such as:

Structure

Molecular weight
HbF and HbA

Inborn errors of protein Metabolism

Phenylketoneuria

Albinism

Maple syrup urine disorder

Histidinemia

Alkaptonuria

VITAMINS

‘Vitamins’ is a high yielding topic as questions are asked every year from this section. Moreover, this
topic is closely correlated to physiology and general medicine subjects as various diseases are related to
vitamins. So, clearing your concepts about vitamins and their metabolism here will help in better
understanding of vitamin related disorders and their treatment.

Important vitamins to learn include vitamin A, B1, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, D, E, K and folic acid.

MINERALS

Magnesium, Selenium & Cobalt are the most important minerals to be studied in biochemistry and must
be thoroughly prepared as one can expect questions from these as well.

GOOD TO READ TOPICS

Some topics are small but are highly important and should not be overlooked. Do not forget to revise the
following topics as these can also be expected in exams:

Xenobiotics

Reactive oxygen species

Antioxidants

Also Read: How to Prepare Physiology for MDS Entrance Exams

BOOKS to be referred

Lippincott Biochemistry

Harpers Illustrated Biochemistry

M N Chatterjea - Textbook of medical biochemistry

Satyanarayana Biochemistry

DENTAL MATERIALS

Tips to Prepare:

Prepare notes and flash cards for quick review before the exam

Revise the notes regularly to enhance memory

Take subject-wise mock tests to validate your preparation

Stay committed and motivated

Also Read: Ten steps to crack NEET MDS

Important topics to be prepared in Dental Materials:

TOPIC

SUB-TOPIC

GENERAL CLASSES AND PROPERTIES OF DENTAL MATERIALS

Munsell’s Colour system

Hardness tests

Creep

Stress

Strain

Resilience

Proportional limit

Modulus of elasticity

IMPRESSION MATERIALS

Hydrocolloids:

Agar – characteristics, composition

Alginate - Composition, gelation process, controlling setting time, dimensional stability, disinfection,
laminate technique

Elastomeric Impression Materials- Impression making, properties.

Inelastic impression Materials – Impression compound- dimensional stability, disinfection

Zinc oxide eugenol impression paste - composition and setting, manipulation, properties

GYPSUM PRODUCTS

Types of gypsum products

Setting reaction

Control of setting time and modifiers for controlling setting time

Manipulation

Mechanism of setting expansion

Hygroscopic setting expansion

Effect of water powder ratio

DENTURE BASED RESINS

Thermoset and Thermoplastic resins

Addition and condensation polymerization

Cross linking

Copolymerization

Advanced resins

ACID ETCHING AND COMPOSITES

Mechanism of adhesion

Smear layer

Acid etch technique

Dentin bonding agents

Composition and classification

Polymerization shrinkage

Finishing of composites

Light curing systems and lasers

DENTAL CEMENTS

Glass ionomer cement: Classification, properties, manipulation, setting reaction, modified GIC

Zinc phosphate cement: Chemistry, setting, clinical manipulation and properties

Zinc polycarboxylate cement - Clinical manipulation and properties

DENTAL WAXES

Composition and classification

Flow and mechanical properties

METALLURGY

Annealing

Heat treatment

Stainless steel: types, properties

Nitinol, Cobalt chromium alloys, titanium.

Direct filling gold - cohesive gold, electra alloy, degassing, classification.

Gold alloys- base metal alloys, composition, casting shrinkage, white gold alloys.

Alloy systems- eutectic alloys, Hardening methods, recrystallisation of metals, tempering of metals

DENTAL AMALGAM
Classification

Trituration

Amalgamation reaction

Properties

Polishing and finishing

Mercury toxicity

CASTING AND INVESTMENT PROCEDURES

Types of investment

Setting expansion

Casting shrinkage

Sprue and its components

Defects in casting

Fluxes

Pickling

DENTAL CERAMICS

Classification

Composition

Methods for strengthening ceramics

Firing shrinkage

Porosity

Ceramic systems

Porcelain denture teeth

Reference BOOKS:
Phillips' Science Of Dental Materials

Craig's Restorative Dental Materials

Sturdevant's Art And Science Of Operative Dentistry