MDS · Dental postgraduate

Books for MDS Periodontology.

MDS Periodontology trains residents in periodontal diagnosis and classification (the 2017 AAP/EFP classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions), non-surgical and surgical periodontal therapy, mucogingival/plastic and regenerative surgery, periodontal medicine (links between periodontal and systemic disease), and implant dentistry including peri-implant disease management. The university exit examination under DCI/NDC MDS Course Regulations 2017 comprises four theory papers, a clinical exam with a comprehensive long-case periodontal work-up (full-mouth charting, diagnosis and phase-wise treatment plan) plus short cases, and a viva voce, with a minimum of 50% required separately in theory and in practical/clinical plus oral.

Print chapters from your PDF All nine MDS branches

5Standard texts

6Journals listed

3 yearsReading plan included

50pB&W, per page

What residents actually use

Current editions, and what each one is for

The books most residents actually buy. These are the editions in circulation now, with a note on whether each is read through, kept as a reference, or opened only for the viva.

Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology and Implantologycore referenceMichael G. Newman, Perry R. Klokkevold, Satheesh Elangovan, Yvonne Kapila, Fermin A. Carranza (International edition); C. D. Dwarakanath (South Asia edition) · Elsevier (International); Elsevier India (South Asia edition) · 14th International (2023); 4th South Asia Edition (2024, ed. Dwarakanath)The single most cited periodontology reference for Indian MDS residents; in practice most residents use the lower-cost Elsevier India South Asia edition adapted by Dwarakanath rather than the international edition.
Lindhe's Clinical Periodontology and Implant Dentistry (2-volume set)core referenceNiklaus P. Lang, Tord Berglundh, William V. Giannobile, Mariano Sanz (eds) · Wiley · 7thThe other major international reference, used for implant dentistry, evidence-based periodontology and depth beyond Newman-Carranza, especially at thesis level; still widely referred to by its founding editor's name though Jan Lindhe is no longer the lead editor.
Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodonticsexam-orientedShantipriya Reddy · Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers · 6th (2022)Concise, Indian-curriculum-aligned text widely carried by residents for quick theory and viva revision.
Color Atlas of Dental Medicine: PeriodontologyatlasHerbert F. Wolf, Edith Rateitschak-Pluss, Klaus H. Rateitschak, Thomas M. Hassell · Thieme · 3rd, revised and expanded (2005)The standard clinical atlas for periodontal examination and surgical technique, used alongside the core texts for step-by-step case photography and instrumentation detail.
Atlas of Cosmetic and Reconstructive Periodontal SurgeryatlasEdward S. Cohen · PMPH-USA / BC Decker · 3rdReference atlas for esthetic and reconstructive periodontal-plastic surgical technique, consulted during the final-year surgical posting and for surgery-based seminars.

Journals

Journals that matter in Periodontology

Journal club and the recent-advances questions come from here. Follow one Indian and two international titles properly rather than skimming all of them.

Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology (JISP) - official journal of the Indian Society of Periodontology, Wolters Kluwer/MedknowJournal of Periodontology (JOP) - official journal of the American Academy of Periodontology, WileyJournal of Clinical Periodontology (JCP) - official journal of the European Federation of Periodontology, WileyJournal of Periodontal Research - WileyInternational Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry (IJPRD) - Quintessence PublishingClinical Oral Implants Research - Wiley

Reading plan

What to read, and when

Three years, most of it spent in the clinic and on the dissertation. The order below is what works for most MDS Periodontology residents.

Year 1

Build the base

Master periodontal anatomy, microbiology/immunology and the 2017 AAP/EFP classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases from Newman and Carranza's opening chapters, register the dissertation synopsis with the ethics committee, and begin supervised periodontal charting, scaling and root planing on patients.

Year 2

Go deep, run the dissertation

Build an independent non-surgical and basic-surgical (flap, gingivectomy, crown-lengthening) caseload while working through Reddy's Essentials and the Wolf/Rateitschak atlas for technique detail, collect dissertation data (often clinical, biochemical or microbiological), and present periodontal case-based seminars and journal clubs.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

Take on regenerative, mucogingival/plastic and implant-related surgical cases using Lindhe's and Cohen's atlas for advanced technique and evidence, complete and submit the dissertation, and revise Reddy's Essentials and Newman-Carranza for the university theory, clinical and viva examinations.

Dissertation

References for your dissertation

Methodology, reporting standards and source material examiners expect you to have used.

ICMR 'MD/MS/DM/MCh/MDS Support' scheme and Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) approval process
ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants
PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Oral Health Group systematic reviews and Scopus for periodontal literature (regenerative materials, host-modulation therapy, laser/photodynamic adjuncts)
Journal of Clinical Periodontology and Journal of Periodontology for methodology and reporting-standard benchmarking (e.g., PRISMA, CONSORT, and case-definition consistency with the 2017 classification)
Affiliating university's synopsis/dissertation submission format and plagiarism-check requirement
Biostatistics plus SPSS/GraphPad and standardized periodontal charting tools (e.g., Florida Probe) for clinical and biochemical dissertation data collection and analysis

Practical & viva

What the exam actually tests

Cases, procedures and stations that come up again and again.

Long-case presentation: comprehensive periodontal case with full-mouth charting, radiographic bone-loss assessment, 2017 classification-based diagnosis and phase-wise (I-IV) treatment plan
Short cases covering gingival disease, furcation involvement/mobility grading, and mucogingival defects
Instrument identification (curettes, scalers, periodontal probes, surgical kits, regenerative membranes and grafts)
Flap design and suturing technique viva
Radiograph interpretation for periodontal bone-loss patterns and furcation involvement
Case-based problem solving (perio-endo lesions, periodontal-orthodontic/prosthetic interrelationships, peri-implantitis management)
Materials viva (bone grafts, barrier membranes, local drug-delivery agents, growth factors)

About the branch

MDS Periodontology in context

University-conducted final MDS examination under DCI/NDC MDS Course Regulations 2017: four 3-hour theory papers (two specialty, one applied basic sciences, one essay), a clinical exam with a comprehensive long-case periodontal work-up and short cases, and a viva voce; a minimum of 50% is required separately in theory and in practical/clinical plus oral.

Frequently asked

MDS Periodontology books — questions

Which books should I read for MDS Periodontology?

The titles on this page are the ones residents and departments actually use, each with the edition in circulation now. Start with the first one listed and add the references as your reading deepens.

Which book should I start with in MDS Periodontology?

Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology and Implantology by Michael G. Newman, Perry R. Klokkevold, Satheesh Elangovan, Yvonne Kapila, Fermin A. Carranza (International edition); C. D. Dwarakanath (South Asia edition) is the usual anchor. The single most cited periodontology reference for Indian MDS residents; in practice most residents use the lower-cost Elsevier India South Asia edition adapted by Dwarakanath rather than the international edition.

How is MDS Periodontology examined?

Do I need to buy every book listed?

No. Most residents own two or three and use the department or library copy for the rest. That is exactly why printing selected chapters from a PDF works out cheaper than buying volumes you will open twice.

Can you print these books for me?

We print from a PDF you send us and are entitled to print. Send it on WhatsApp with the page range — colour Rs 1 a page, black and white 50 paise, binding Rs 40 per bound volume, delivered anywhere in India.

We print files you send us. We do not host, sell or supply book PDFs — send us a file you are entitled to print and we print and bind it. Editions move quickly in dentistry: confirm the current edition before you buy or print.