From Dream to Distress: The Dark Side of Dental Colleges

Dental
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I completed my BDS from a reputed university with strong academic performance. On paper, it looked like success.

But was my journey peaceful?

No.

Behind the white coat, many of us experienced an environment filled with humiliation, discrimination, and fear. There were instances of mockery, racism, and sexism, often normalized under authority.

Some faced even more serious violations but remained silent not by choice, but due to the fear of academic consequences.

In many institutions, especially deemed universities,
silence becomes survival.

The recent case of Nithin Raj, a first year BDS student from Kerala, has brought this reality into focus. Allegations of caste-based harassment, emotional pressure, and institutional inaction have emerged, with investigations currently ongoing.

This is not an isolated incident : it reflects a deeper, systemic issue.

How many more students are silently enduring this?
How many are afraid to speak because their future is at stake?
And most importantly
why are we only talking when a life is lost?

MBH/AB

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Ur hard work would be appreciated

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Dentistry in itself is a demanding career field, and the 5 years of BDS required to cope with academic pressure, followed by harassment based on caste, region, or religion, is a nightmare.

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This is truly heartbreaking. No student should suffer in silence—real change is long overdue.

5

The environment in most dental colleges is very pernicious. More than dentistry itself, dealing with self absorbed and Narcissistic professors and seniors becomes an everyday challenge. However, in my personal opinion, through these experirnces I have gained a lot of mental strength to face the world.And I’m glad that im not one of them.

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Indeed those five years were not at all easy.But to be honest whatever i am today is all due to the distress i face in those years.

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Well nicely said. Students are already under so much pressure due to academics and practical work. This superimposed with taunts on inefficiency, difficulty in coping and handling pressure, and inability to adapt to new environment further worsen situation.