Dr. S. Anilkumar
Prof. & Head of Prosthodontics
Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Healthy Smile for a Healthy Society
Warm New year greetings from IPS Kerala State
Dental Education in the country passed a major milestone in the year 2019. The centenary celebrations of R. Ahmed Dental College Kolkata mark 100 years of dental education in India. This is perhaps the most pertinent time to reminisce and evaluate the current dental scenario in the country.
The million-dollar question, dental fraternity is now asking themselves is “Where are we heading? Are we on the right track?” Unfortunately, the answers are often, quite depressing.
Dentistry in the recent past has fared in the front pages of the print not for reasons that are promising but dispiriting like the increasing vacant BDS and MDS seats year after year. Quite a few dental colleges have already shut down and some others are on the verge of it. The rate of unemployment among young dental graduates is high. Consequently, their pay packages are disturbingly low. Altogether this induces a lack of interest and incentive in the society in taking up this noble profession.
There has been a hue and cry over the alarming number of BDS seats within the country. The supply has exceeded the demand which results in deterioration of the profession. Hence it demands the dental fraternity to find solutions for these questions:
Dentistry is one of the most skill-oriented professions in the medical field. Hence horning the psychomotor domain of students is the key to quality dental education. Presently only a few dental colleges in the country can provide sufficient clinical material for an annual intake of 100 BDS students. The introduction of an accreditation system of dental colleges might help identify and weed out the amateurs in this field.
Quality dental education is a myth with untrained faculty. Postgraduates take up teaching as a profession more out of necessity than passion. This has led to a deterioration in the standards of dental education. The faculty needs to be trained in teaching and research methodology. Mandatory protocols for faculty training have to be introduced to tackle the current situation.
As far as the primary stakeholders of dentistry, the patients, are concerned it is time to rethink: Were we able to cater to the needs of rural patients? There is a paucity of data to provide an answer to this question. Hence collective efforts to assess the dental care needs of rural India are a pressing priority. Though modern dentistry in India is almost a century old, it is still trapped within the walls of the urban affluent community. The reluctance of fresh dental professionals to work among rural communities has to be addressed. Providing subsidized loans to set up private clinics in rural areas can be a solution.
Neglected oral health can be a reason that leads to systemic diseases. Lack of dental awareness is thus a major challenge in building a healthy society. It is the duty and obligation of various professional organizations of dentistry to disseminate dental awareness through campaign seminars, exhibitions, public events, etc. Prosthodontic day celebrations by Indian Prosthodontic society is one among them. Dental treatments extended through Primary Health Centers (PHC) in the government sector can also improve dental awareness among the rural population.
Combined efforts by the government and private sector to spread awareness on dental health among the general public is the need of the hour.
Let us all work together for the upliftment of this noble profession and spread the message.
“Healthy Smile for a Healthy Society”