How to Write and Publish Your First Dental Case Report (BDS/MDS Student Guide)

Most BDS students see their first unusual clinical case — an odd impaction, a rare developmental anomaly, an interesting treatment outcome — and think "someone should write this up," then never do. Between exams, clinical postings, and just not knowing where to start, the case report stays a good idea instead of a publication. It's a shorter path than it looks, and it's one of the more genuinely useful things you can put on a CV before MDS applications or a first job.

Why Bother With a Case Report

A case report is the smallest, most accessible unit of dental publication — far more achievable for a student or intern than an original research study, which needs a sample size, ethical clearance for a full trial, and months of data collection. A well-written case report needs one well-documented, genuinely interesting case and the discipline to write it up properly. It also demonstrates something MDS interview panels and future employers actually look for: that you can observe, document, and communicate clinical findings, not just memorise them for a viva.

What Makes a Case Worth Writing Up

Not every case is publishable, and that's fine — most aren't, and journals expect that. What editors are actually looking for is one of these:

• An unusual presentation of a known condition (an atypical anatomy, an uncommon complication)
• A rare condition seen infrequently in general practice
• A treatment approach or technique used in a genuinely novel way for the situation
• A diagnostic challenge with a lesson in it — what was initially missed or misread, and how it was eventually resolved

The common mistake is trying to write up a routine, unremarkable case because it's the one available. Reviewers can tell, and it's a fast route to rejection. It's worth discussing with a faculty mentor early — before writing a single line — whether a case is actually worth the effort.

The Structure: IMRAD (Adapted for a Case Report)

Most dental journals expect a version of the standard IMRAD structure, adapted for a single-case format rather than a full study:

Section	What goes in it
Abstract	A tight summary (usually 150–250 words) covering the case, what was distinctive about it, and the outcome — written last, even though it's read first
Introduction	Brief background on the condition, why this particular case is worth reporting, and what gap or lesson it addresses in the existing literature
Case Report / Case Presentation	Patient history (de-identified), clinical findings, investigations (radiographs, tests), diagnosis, treatment provided, and outcome — told chronologically and specifically
Discussion	How this case compares with what's already published, what's genuinely new or instructive about it, and its clinical significance
Conclusion	A short, direct takeaway — what should a reader do differently, or watch for, because of this case

Before You Write a Word: Consent and Ethics

This is the step students skip and shouldn't. Publishing any identifiable patient information — including photographs, radiographs, or details that could identify the patient even without a name — requires documented patient consent, and most journals now require a signed consent form to be submitted alongside the manuscript. For anything beyond a straightforward case report (particularly if it involves a novel treatment protocol), check whether your institution's ethics committee needs to review it before you proceed. Get this sorted before investing time in writing, not after.

Where to Submit

Indian dental journals that regularly publish student and resident case reports include the Indian Journal of Dental Research, the Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, the Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, and several specialty-specific and state dental association journals. Each has its own author guidelines, word limits, and referencing style (Vancouver format is standard across most dental journals) — read the specific journal's instructions for authors before formatting anything, since a manuscript formatted for the wrong journal is a common, avoidable reason for delay.

The Mistakes That Get Manuscripts Rejected

• Weak or absent discussion of existing literature — a case report without context showing why it matters reads as an isolated anecdote, not a contribution.
• Poor image quality — blurry, poorly lit, or badly cropped clinical photographs and radiographs are one of the most common reasons for revision requests.
• Missing or incomplete consent documentation — this alone can get a manuscript returned or rejected outright, regardless of how good the case is.
• Plagiarism, even unintentional — paraphrasing too closely from a source instead of synthesising and citing it properly is treated seriously by editors and plagiarism-detection software.
• Ignoring the specific journal's formatting and word-count guidelines — a well-written manuscript in the wrong format still gets sent back before review even starts.

A Realistic Timeline

From a documented case to a submitted manuscript typically takes a few weeks of focused writing once consent and the core documentation (photos, radiographs, treatment records) are in hand — the actual writing is rarely the bottleneck. Peer review and revisions after submission usually take considerably longer, often several months, so starting early in an academic year (rather than as a last-minute CV addition before MDS applications) gives a manuscript a realistic chance of being published, not just submitted, in time to matter.

A Quick Note

Journal-specific requirements change, and every institution has its own process for ethics review and consent documentation — always confirm current guidelines directly with your target journal and your department before submitting.