MDS Dental Thesis Topics: Top 100 Research Ideas 2026

MDS thesis topics in dentistry demand original clinical research that advances the practice of your specific specialty. Whether you are specialising in Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Pedodontics, or Oral Medicine, your thesis must demonstrate a clear research gap, a defined patient population, and measurable clinical outcomes. This list of 100 research-ready MDS thesis topics — curated for 2026 — covers all major dental specialties.

1Why Dental Research Matters in 2026

Oral health is increasingly recognised as integral to overall systemic health, with strong bidirectional links between periodontal disease and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. India bears one of the world's highest burdens of oral disease — including rampant early childhood caries, high prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis, and rising rates of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Evidence-based dentistry demands that clinical decisions be supported by robust clinical research, and the MDS thesis is your first major contribution to this evidence base.

Dental PG research in 2026 benefits from rapid advances in digital dentistry, CBCT imaging, CAD/CAM technology, and biomaterials science. These technologies create exciting new research questions across all dental specialties. A well-designed MDS thesis that uses standardised outcome measures, an appropriate comparison group, and adequate follow-up duration will produce results that are both publishable and clinically impactful.

2Orthodontics Thesis Topics (1–20)

1. Skeletal Class II malocclusion treatment with Twin Block vs Herbst appliance: skeletal and dentoalveolar changes
2. Rapid maxillary expansion vs slow expansion: mid-palatal suture response on CBCT
3. Clear aligner therapy vs fixed appliances in mild-moderate crowding: treatment time, compliance, and outcome quality
4. Self-ligating brackets vs conventional brackets: frictional resistance, treatment time, and patient comfort
5. Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) for intrusion of over-erupted molars: success rate and complications
6. Accelerated orthodontics (corticotomy/piezocision): tooth movement rate, pain levels, and root resorption
7. Skeletal Class III correction with facemask: CBCT skeletal changes and stability at 1 year
8. Root resorption during orthodontic treatment: CBCT quantification and risk factor analysis
9. Soft tissue changes after orthodontic treatment: cephalometric analysis in Class II Division 1 patients
10. Orthopedic correction of anterior open bite: vertical facial pattern, treatment modality, and stability
11. Lingual braces vs labial fixed appliances: treatment efficiency, patient comfort, and plaque accumulation
12. Digit sucking and its effect on occlusal development: prevalence and orthodontic intervention outcomes
13. Cephalometric norms for the local population: lateral cephalogram analysis in Indian adults
14. Periodontal health during fixed orthodontic treatment: microbiome changes and clinical parameters
15. Dental age assessment from panoramic radiograph: accuracy of Demirjian method in Indian children
16. Third molar influence on lower incisor crowding: a prospective study pre- and post-third molar extraction
17. Retainer compliance and long-term stability: Hawley vs Essix vs bonded lingual retainer
18. Treatment of anterior crossbite in the mixed dentition: 2×4 appliance vs removable approaches
19. Smile aesthetics: objective scoring vs patient perception in post-treatment orthodontic cases
20. Effect of fluoride varnish under bracket on enamel demineralisation: a randomised study

3Prosthodontics Thesis Topics (21–40)

21. Implant-retained overdentures vs conventional complete dentures: masticatory efficiency and patient satisfaction
22. Bone loss around dental implants: platform switching vs conventional implant-abutment connection
23. Immediate loading vs conventional loading of dental implants: success rate and peri-implant bone response
24. All-on-4 implant concept: 1-year outcomes — bone loss, prosthesis survival, and complication rates
25. Zirconia crowns vs porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns: fracture resistance and marginal fit comparison
26. Digital vs conventional impressions for fixed prosthetics: accuracy, patient comfort, and clinical fit
27. CAD/CAM milled vs pressed ceramic restorations: marginal adaptation and fracture resistance
28. Occlusal splint therapy in bruxism: pain reduction, muscle activity (EMG), and sleep quality
29. Complete denture quality: Kapur's criteria assessment and patient satisfaction with different occlusal schemes
30. Resilient liners for complete dentures: bite force distribution and mucosal health
31. Effect of different disinfection protocols on denture base material properties
32. Implant survival in irradiated jaws: complication rates and osseointegration outcomes
33. Short implants (≤6mm) vs standard implants with bone augmentation: 3-year survival comparison
34. Overdenture attachment systems (ball, bar, magnetic): retention forces over time and prosthetic maintenance
35. Shade matching in dental ceramics: spectrophotometer vs visual shade matching — agreement study
36. Stress distribution in implant-supported fixed prostheses: FEA analysis of different implant diameters
37. Zygomatic implants in severely atrophic maxillae: technique, survival, and prosthetic outcomes
38. Removable partial denture design: Kennedy classification, rest seat preparation, and occlusal outcomes
39. 3D-printed denture bases: accuracy, fit, and patient acceptance vs conventional PMMA dentures
40. Fixed vs removable implant-supported prostheses for edentulous patients: functional and esthetic outcomes

4Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Thesis Topics (41–60)

41. Third molar surgical difficulty: Pell & Gregory classification accuracy and postoperative complications
42. Coronectomy for impacted lower third molars at risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury: outcomes
43. Orthognathic surgery for skeletal Class III: Le Fort I osteotomy + BSSO — cephalometric changes and stability
44. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in socket healing after tooth extraction: pain, swelling, and bone density
45. Temporomandibular joint disorders: Wilkes staging, conservative vs arthroscopic management, and outcomes
46. Condylar fracture management: closed treatment vs ORIF — functional and radiological outcomes
47. Mandible fracture repair: titanium miniplates vs resorbable plates — infection, mobility, and outcomes
48. Midface fractures (Le Fort): surgical timing, approach, and aesthetic outcomes
49. Orbital floor fractures: repair timing, materials (titanium mesh vs porous polyethylene), and enophthalmos correction
50. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ/MRONJ): staging, management, and outcomes
51. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF): staging, surgical management, and rehabilitation outcomes
52. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC): surgical margins, lymph node involvement, and 5-year survival
53. Neck dissection in oral cancer: selective vs comprehensive — regional recurrence and morbidity
54. Maxillary sinus augmentation with different graft materials: bone formation histomorphometry
55. Alveolar cleft repair with iliac bone graft: timing, bone graft volume, and dental eruption outcomes
56. Distraction osteogenesis for mandibular deficiency: transport disc movement, complication rate, and outcomes
57. Orbital reconstruction after tumour resection: implant materials and visual/aesthetic outcomes
58. Free flap reconstruction in head and neck cancer: radial forearm vs fibula — donor site morbidity
59. Salivary gland tumours: parotid vs minor glands — histological spectrum and surgical outcomes
60. Dental implant placement in post-extraction sockets: immediate vs delayed — survival and bone level

5Periodontics Thesis Topics (61–80)

61. Chronic periodontitis and diabetes mellitus: bidirectional relationship — periodontal treatment effect on HbA1c
62. Bone grafts in periodontal defects: autograft vs xenograft vs alloplast — 6-month radiographic and clinical outcomes
63. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) vs PRF in periodontal regeneration: randomised controlled trial
64. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes in furcation defects: resorbable vs non-resorbable — outcomes
65. Subgingival microbiome in chronic vs aggressive periodontitis: 16S rRNA analysis
66. Periodontal health in patients on calcium channel blockers: drug-induced gingival overgrowth prevalence
67. Peri-implantitis: prevalence, risk factors, and non-surgical vs surgical management outcomes
68. Gingival recession coverage: tunnelling vs coronally advanced flap — root coverage and patient satisfaction
69. Photodynamic therapy as adjunct to SRP in chronic periodontitis: clinical and microbiological outcomes
70. Periodontal status in pregnancy: association with adverse birth outcomes (preterm/low birth weight)
71. Full-mouth disinfection vs quadrant scaling: clinical outcomes at 3 months
72. Laser therapy in periodontics: diode laser vs Er:YAG — pocket depth reduction and patient comfort
73. Oral hygiene behaviour and periodontal status in medical students: a cross-sectional survey
74. Connective tissue graft for root coverage: free gingival graft vs subepithelial — outcomes at 6 months
75. Bone remodelling around immediate implants: CBCT assessment at placement and 6 months
76. Dentogingival junction after periodontal surgery: biologic width re-establishment assessment
77. Periodontal treatment and cardiovascular markers: CRP, IL-6 reduction after SRP
78. Smoking and periodontal disease: clinical parameters vs non-smokers and effect of cessation
79. Periodontal involvement in HIV patients on ART: clinical profile and treatment response
80. Regenerative periodontal surgery with growth factors (GDF-5, rhBMP-2): systematic review

6Pedodontics & Oral Medicine Thesis Topics (81–100)

81. Early childhood caries (ECC): prevalence, risk factors, and parental awareness in under-5 children
82. Pit and fissure sealants: glass ionomer vs resin-based — retention rate and caries prevention at 1 year
83. Fluoride varnish application in primary dentition: caries reduction in 3–6-year-old children
84. Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART): success rate in primary teeth in a rural school dental programme
85. Space maintainer use after premature loss of primary first molar: effectiveness and complications
86. Dental anxiety in children: assessment using CFSS-DS and behaviour management outcomes
87. Oral health status of children with cerebral palsy vs neurotypical controls
88. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for arresting early childhood caries: effectiveness and parental acceptance
89. Pulpotomy in primary molars: formocresol vs mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) — 1-year clinical success
90. Eruption sequence variation and dental age assessment in Indian school children
91. Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD): prevalence, risk habits, and transformation rate in an Indian cohort
92. Oral lichen planus: clinical variants, treatment outcomes, and malignant transformation monitoring
93. Burning mouth syndrome: clinical profile, psychometric assessment, and treatment outcomes
94. Oral mucosal lesions in diabetic patients: prevalence and correlation with glycaemic control
95. Sjögren's syndrome: salivary flow rate, minor salivary gland biopsy findings, and oral manifestations
96. Salivary biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-8) in periodontal disease: diagnostic accuracy
97. CBCT accuracy in detecting caries vs conventional radiography: systematic review and meta-analysis
98. Osteoporosis and oral bone loss: CBCT mandibular cortical index correlation with DEXA scan
99. Oral cancer awareness among patients attending a tertiary dental hospital: a cross-sectional survey
100. Teledentistry for triage during COVID-19: patient satisfaction and diagnostic accuracy outcomes