What is the Difference Between a General Dentist and an MDS Specialist?

BU_SRD

May 5, 2026

Dr. Pankti Desai and Dr. Rishikesh Desai — MDS Orthodontist and Periodontist, Surat

General Dentist vs MDS Specialist — What is the Difference?

When you visit a dental clinic in Surat, you may not realise there is a significant difference between seeing a general dentist and seeing an MDS specialist. This difference can affect the quality of your treatment, the accuracy of your diagnosis, and the long-term results you get.

At Shree Rang Dental Care, both Dr. Pankti Desai (MDS Orthodontist) and Dr. Rishikesh Desai (MDS Periodontist) are postgraduate specialists — not general dentists. Here is what that means for you.

What is a General Dentist? A general dentist holds a BDS degree — a 5-year undergraduate programme. They are trained to handle routine dental care — fillings, extractions, basic root canals, and cleanings. Most dental clinics in Surat are run by BDS doctors.

What is an MDS Specialist? An MDS (Master of Dental Surgery) is a postgraduate specialist degree requiring 3 additional years of training after BDS — focused entirely on one specific area of dentistry. An MDS Orthodontist has spent 3 years studying only tooth movement, jaw development, and bite correction. An MDS Periodontist has spent 3 years studying only gums, bone, and implants.

Why does this matter for your treatment? A general dentist placing an implant has general training. An MDS Periodontist placing an implant has 3 extra years of specialist training in exactly that procedure. The difference in precision, planning, and long-term outcomes is significant.

Similarly, braces or aligners designed by an MDS Orthodontist are planned with a level of detail and expertise that general dentistry training simply does not provide.

At Shree Rang Dental Care — you always see a specialist. Dr. Pankti Desai — MDS Orthodontist — handles all braces, Invisalign, and smile correction cases. Dr. Rishikesh Desai — MDS Periodontist — handles all implants, gum treatments, and laser dentistry.

Book a specialist consultation today. Call 79843 88247 or visit us at 105/106, Glamour Shopping Complex, Bhatar Road, Surat.

Why Specialist Care Gives Better Results

Choosing a specialist for your dental treatment is not about spending more money. It is about getting the right diagnosis, the right treatment plan, and the right results the first time.

Here is what you get when you choose an MDS specialist at Shree Rang Dental Care:

A thorough diagnosis using advanced technology including iTero 3D intraoral scanning — so you see exactly what is happening in your mouth before treatment begins
A treatment plan designed by a doctor who has spent years studying specifically your type of case
Invisalign clear aligners planned and supervised by a certified MDS Orthodontist — not a general dentist
Dental implants placed by an MDS Periodontist with laser dentistry expertise — for faster healing and better outcomes
Interdisciplinary care — if your case needs both orthodontic and periodontal treatment, both specialists are available under one roof

Many patients come to us after being treated elsewhere and not getting the results they expected. In most cases, the issue was not the treatment itself — it was the level of expertise behind the treatment plan.

You deserve specialist care. And in Bhatar and Piplod, Surat — that means Dr. Pankti and Dr. Rishikesh Desai.

Call 79843 88247 to book your specialist consultation today.