Dental education is regaining momentum in Karnataka, opines Dr M C Sudhakar

Mangaluru: After several years of declining interest, dental education in Karnataka has regained momentum, with majority Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) seats getting filled over the last two academic years, Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar said on Friday.

Speaking at the 76th Indian Dental Conference 2026, Dr Sudhakar — also a dentist by profession, reflected on his close involvement with dental associations and professional conferences before he entered active politics in 2004.

Referring to admissions conducted through the Karnataka Examination Authority under his department, the minister said dentistry had witnessed a marked improvement in filling of seats for the course. This, he noted, was a sharp contrast to earlier years when a significant number of BDS seats remained unfilled.

Touching upon wider trends in higher education, Dr Sudhakar pointed to the growing presence of women in universities, both among graduating students and award recipients.

The minister also underlined the increasing role of advanced technology in education and healthcare. Artificial intelligence, he said, is rapidly transforming higher education and dental practice, prompting plans to establish Centres of Excellence dedicated to AI. He also noted that quantum computing is gaining attention as another technology with disruptive potential.

Reflecting on his own career shift, Dr Sudhakar said he often missed clinical practice and found dentistry more personally fulfilling than political life. Treating patients, he explained, offered immediate results and visible relief, giving practitioners a sense of completion rooted in skill, discipline, and direct responsibility.

"Dentistry lets you end the day with peace of mind," he remarked, adding that politics presents fresh challenges every morning.