The Best Dental Colleges in India,2022

EDITOR’S NOTE

DELIVERING DENTAL CARE AT ITS BEST!

In contemporary times of geostrategic uncertainties and rising health concerns, care delivery has become a very crucial aspect of happy living. Furthering through this healthcare advancement, medicos have been redefining care and providing a future-proof solution to embark on a journey that takes necessary caution and ensures a peaceful patient experience.

But, ideating about the baseline of this development, educational leaders stand tall and also as the primal source of educational transformation. With the standout leadership and inclusive approach, the sheer zeal of educational institutions are empowering the medical fraternity with excellent medico, paramedics, research innovators, and the list goes on!

This certainly proves that the foundational stone of healthcare success is accredited to the educational community. Be it the institution, principals, teachers, or the college ecosystem; all the units are contributing its expertise so that the world becomes a better place to live by. Acknowledging such marvels instigated through the healthcare educational institution, it

becomes important that a very specialized, focused approach is provided to every niche of care. And considering the same, Dental Care has successfully grabbed the spotlight.

And, to celebrate the medical colleges' efforts to prepare the budding doctors with the Dental specialist of tomorrow, we at The Knowledge Review are excited to present you this latest edition, "The Best Dental Colleges in India 2022." While you delve into the inspiring stories of top dental Care Colleges of India, ensure to read the insightful articles opined by our In-house editorial team.

I hope you have a happy read. T R

Bhushan Bhad bhushan.bhad@insightssuccess.com

Bhu sha n Bha d

C o n t e n t s Story

Upskilling Dental Health Care to Global Standards

Bestowing Quality Education for Quality Dental Care

A Constituent Unit of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara University

College of Dental Sciences, Davangere

DY Patil University School of Dentistry, Navi Mumbai

Desh Bhagat Dental College & Hospital

URL

D E N T A L

C o l l e g e s

The Best in India 2022

Name of the Institution Brief

College of Dental Sciences, established in 1991 has shown an excellent academic achievement in a short span of time under the able leadership of Principal Dr. Vasundhara Shivanna & Director Dr. V.V Subba Reddy. College of Dental Sciences offers opportunities you would not nd anywhere else. cods.edu/

DY Patil University stands as a symbol of excellence in education and health care, with the twin objectives of the founder chancellor. www.dypatil.edu/

The University has been established with the lofty mission of pursuing excellence in higher education by providing the young students a distinct and unique combination of academic, professional and personal development. deshbhagatuniversity.in

DMC, Ludhiana

Mahe Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital

Santosh Dental College, Ghaziabad

SDM College of Dental Sciences, Sattur Dharwad

Shree Bankey Bihari Dental College, Ghaziabad

www.soa.ac.in

Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana, Punjab, India is a 1326 bedded (Inclusive 800 teaching beds) tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. www.dmch.edu Institute of Dental Sciences

Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) is a multidisciplinary Deemed to be University established on 17th July 2007. It is actively engaged in research and education in Engineering and Technology, Medical and Dental Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biotechnology, Management Sciences, Nursing, Agricultural Sciences, Legal Studies and Hospitality and Tourism Management, all of which are duly approved by their respectively statutory councils.

mahedentalcollege.org

Mahe Institute of Dental Sciences, MINDS is an august institution whose time has come, and it has been adopting a holistic approach, for the development of skilled and scientic professionals. Mahe Dental College offers every student a panoramic view of the future of dentistry.

The Santosh Dental College is one of the best dental colleges in India. The college offers the degree where students can develop and understand the physical and biological process of oral healthcare. santosh-dental-college

sdmcds.org

sbbdentalcollege.in

Swami Vivekanand Subharti University[SVSU], Meerut

subharti.org

SDM Educational Society is a premier non-prot educational organization, functioning under the sacred aegis of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala.

Shree Bankey Bihari Dental College and Research Centre is one of the prime centres in oral health education, research, and care.

Swami Vivekanand Subharti University as a value based education provider and research oriented University, is imparting equal opportunities for people from varied walks of life without the constraints of borders becoming barriers.

The pace of progression is picking up, accompanied by competition in every industry, which necessitates every job seeker to have a charismatic personality. An important element of which is – Smile. A smile signifies confidence and the ability to tackle challenges creating a long-lasting impression on the interviewer. And this smile is protected by dental professionals.

As technology advances and consumer needs are becoming versatile, a dentist needs to be prepared professionally to deal with the challenging environment while imbibing the right professional values.

And here, the role of quality education is highlighted.

Education fosters minds and shapes them by providing fresh perspectives and trains them in simulation to be ready for the practical world, especially desired in the medical profession.

To provide the world with multifaceted young dental professionals that would strive to bring change in society is Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital, with a lofty mission of pursuing excellence in higher education by providing students with a

DESH BHAGAT DENTAL

COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

Bestowing Quality Education for Quality Dental Care

distinct and unique combination of academic, professional, and personal development.

Providing wings to this mission is its Founder Dr. Zora Singh , whose exemplary leadership skills are driving a positive change in the education sector, mainly in dentistry.

An interactive session with the founder provided us with an opportunity to learn more about the pedagogic contributions of Desh Bhagat Dental College to evolve aspiring dentists.

The Foundation and The Backstory Every name has a unique inspiration for it, and the same goes for Desh Bhagat Dental College & Hospital. Reminiscing the foundation days, Dr. Zora Singh shares, "The story begins with its spirit and source of motivation, which was derived from the freedom fighter Sr. Lal Singh Ji; who fought for the independence of India and in 1972, his efforts of social work & his services in the freedom struggle were recognized by awarding him with "Tamra Patra" by Govt. of India; hence the name Desh Bhagat was contemplated."

And soon, the name was attached to an infrastructure. The Dental College was established in the year 2000 and was

located in Sri Muktsar Sahib. Following the progression, the College was relocated to Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab (India), in the year 2017 under Desh Bhagat University's campus.

The founder envisioned the architecture not just as blocks of stone but as speaking walls that vocalized its mission of pursuing excellence in higher education by providing young students with a distinct and unique combination of academic, professional, and personal development.

This place provides a platform for learning through various advanced methodology and technology that aid in exhibiting various clinical activities in professional life, and also enhances one's personal and physical well-being in society through various extracurricular activities ongoing on the campus.

Core Values and Vision

The Best Dental Colleges in India 2022

The ultimate core value of Desh Bhagat Dental College is to provide quality education and the best possible exposure to its students to make them highly successful professionals, but also to make them fully responsible and awakened members of society by imparting them the much-needed value of education and soft skills.

Sharing the institution's long-term vision, Dr. Zora Singh says, "The vision is to emerge as the country's leading value-based educational and professional hub to have a transformative impact on society by practicing innovation, patronizing research, and shaping global Entrepreneurs and leaders."

An Impeccable Leader for The Generation

A medical professional who ventured into the field of education, Dr. Zora Singh has gained a prominent position in society due to his exemplary work in his career. His rise to prominence can be attributed to his strong willpower, caliber, conviction, dedication, and leadership quality. Dr. Zora Singh has made spectacular progress in pursuit of academic as well as professional excellence in a span of 26 years from 1996 to 2022 by establishing colleges in various disciplines, including Desh Bhagat Dental College & Hospital.

Proudly talking about their leader, the management shared, "As an individual, the founder is respected with a positive

public profile, is to that resonates with students, staff, and alumni and having strong speaking skills capable of inspiring students and staff of the college."

Peers have accepted the exemplary leadership of Dr. Zora Singh in the education field by entrusting him with the responsibilities of various posts in their different organizations.

The founder is a competent team player who understands the importance of collaborative work, which is very helpful for the growth of our College in all aspects. Builds a positive link with students so that they can share their problems with him; this creates a friendly environment in the College.

DBU hasn't limited itself, and its growth curve charts upward by the contributions of its founder as well as the team. As it is located in a rural area, DBU proposes to foster a vibrant ecosystem for the creation and growth of enterprises and uplift the economy through its shared vision with several government initiatives for entrepreneurship development. Desh Bhagat University has proactively established Entrepreneurship Development and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cells.

"All faculties in the College have one of the objectives to promote

entrepreneurship and provide education as per need of the hours.

The educational philosophy of Desh Bhagat University (DBU) is based on three pillars: research, innovation, and entrepreneurship," Dr. Zora Singh further adds.

Educating and Rising with Technology

The introduction of new technology in dentistry allows dentists to work more efficiently and perfectly in minimum duration. The founder, sharing about the incorporation of technology in the College, says, "Our college is well equipped with the latest equipment and dental materials." The various technology equipment included are:

Ÿ College is updated with the latest radiographic diagnostic aids that are all types of digital X-rays.

Ÿ Here, professionals perform singlesitting root canals, post and core, bleaching, and aesthetic restorations with Nano-composites.

Ÿ All surgical procedures are done in the Department of Oral Surgery, such as implants, sinus augmentation, etc.

Ÿ Facial aesthetics is the prime need for everyone nowadays, so the Department of Orthodontics creates beautiful smiles and faces using the latest techniques and materials such as clear aligners, Damon system of brackets, ceramic brackets, aesthetic

The College is also organizing frequent camps for awareness and educating people regarding the importance of oral health. A team of college professionals with "Mobile Dental Van" provides dental services to people at their locations.

wires, orthognathic surgeries, myofunctional and fixed functional appliances.

Ÿ Department of Prosthodontics provides prosthetic replacement of missing teeth by single and multiple implants with zirconia crowns, for edentulous patients Implant retained overdenture and prosthetic rehabilitation for body parts such fingers, ears etc.

Through these innovative technologies, the College offers immense opportunities for student growth and

learning. This is further fostered by the dedicated academic programs offered by the College.

Learning, Growing, and Transforming

The College offers innovative academic programs for students and higher education with cutting-edge technology to meet global requirements. The College promotes class discussion and builds a positive relationship between students and faculty through communication to bring a more positive learning environment.

Also, it launches projects for students to increase their interest in the field and create a sense of order and discipline. The founder says , "Here, a strong foundation of moral values and principles for developing ethical

decision-making among the students is built to make them a good professionals for the society."

A Way Through the Thorns

It is the leader and the team that identifies key challenges and turns them into opportunities. The challenges specific to the Dental Healthcare education sector are in delivering health care to "everyone", especially in remote areas like small villages. Lack of awareness about dental health makes it difficult for a dentist to treat patients, make them understand the treatment plan, and convince them of the number of dentist visits for treatment completion. Patients are convinced to maintain proper oral hygiene status but due to lack of awareness, results are not promising. Referring to the present scenario, he says, "It suggests that the

younger generation is more into bad oral habits like consuming tobacco."

But being a problem solver, the challenges were turned into opportunities to spread awareness. He said , "So, to tackle this challenge, our college has opened a Tobacco cessation centre , where patients are being educated about the same."

Adding on, he says, "The College is also organizing frequent camps for the awareness and educating people regarding the importance of oral health. A team of college professionals with Mobile Dental Van provides dental services to people at their locations."

Ready for the Dynamic World Versatile professionals are far better and tackle challenges with ease.

Dr. Zora Singh Chancellor, Desh Bhagat University

To suit the dynamic needs of dentistry, the College has brought in various infrastructural changes and workforce development. The founder shares, "Our hospital is well equipped to practice digitalized cephalometric analysis, intra-oral scanners, aesthetic treatments handled by wellexperienced professionals."

The college is also stand out in providing various services such as automated root canals with endomotors incorporated with built-in apex locators, radiovisiography x-rays available, advanced learning through inter-departmental seminars, and various CDE programs delivered by well-informed and clinically experienced speakers.

Dr. Zora Singh expresses with pride , "So, our college educate the students

with all the latest materials and techniques of dentistry so that they can cope with the changing needs of today's world."

A Room Full of Accomplishments

DBU has constantly been progressing as an institution. After the Dental College was shifted to Mandi Gobindgarh under Desh Bhagat University in 2017, it got the recognition of 100 BDS seats. It also upgraded MDS seats from 02 to 05 in the Department of Orthodontics, Department of Conservative & Endodontics and 03 MDS seats in the Department of Periodontics, 02 MDS seats in the Department of Prosthodontics, increasing the opportunities for students to avail quality dental education.

The College is blessed with a talented student pool which is reflected in various accomplishments of its pupils. Its undergraduates & postgraduates are presenting various papers & posters at National & International conferences.

Speaking about this, the founder shares, "The College has adopted two satellite clinics in a remote area. An implant centre and Tobacco cessation centre have been established in the College."

Visualizing Growth

Talking about future goals, the founder shares with sparkling eyes, "Our prestigious college envisions going forward, improving and expanding the definition of community to include more people, places and spread information far beyond our physical reach and allow for greater individualization, creativity, and collaboration."

Adding on, he further says, "This place provides a platform for learning through various advanced methodology and technology that aid in exhibiting various clinical activities in professional life, and also enhances one's personal and physical well-being in society through various extracurricular activities ongoing on the campus."

All faculties in the College have one of the objectives to promote entrepreneurship and provide education as per need of the hours. The educational philosophy of Desh Bhagat University (DBU) is based on three pillars: research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

They even are leaving a mark on society by various activities like organizing camps regularly or by setting up personalized centres.

Website : https://deshbhagatuniversity.in/dental

of

The classes in a school had just come to a mid-break, with stomach’s already murmuring that they are hungry. The start of the lunch break was known by all which was infused with the lingering and mouth-watering fragrance of the delicious food everyone brought.

During this favorite time, agony had hit a child when that individual screamed and held those cheeks tightly signaling a jolt of pain that struck while chewing food.

Only later, with checkup it was found that it was due to dental cavity.

The scenario is not only amongst the young population but is also now a common health challenge that is not differentiated by the filter of age. According to WHO database, over two million suffer from dental carries of permanent teeth, and for children the number goes up to 520 million!

The common causes elaborated by professionals is improper dietary habits, lifestyle habits, addiction issues

Know the Facts

and not practicing good dental habits regularly. This conveys the fact that taking care of precious teeth is facile and very much possible, if started in the right way.

The article brings to notice interesting ways to begin and build a good dental care routine to have healthy teeth to aid the prevention of oral diseases, as because many say that the route to happiness is through one’s mouth!

Let’s initiate good oral habits by diving straight into the article!

Common Interventions

Brushing it Aside

Many opine that as exercising is for the body, brushing everyday is for the teeth. The desire to have visible white smile begins from building a routine.

The easiest thing to achieve this is using a fluoride toothpaste paired with a soft bristle brush that gentle gets rid of all the bacteria settled overnight. It is like having a dental spa daily. The activity is suggested by experts to be performed twice a day – one in a morning, and one before bedtime.

This routine helps prevention of tooth decay and bad breath, while cleaning the teeth off plaque and any food remains. While this seems like a small activity, few important pointers are to be kept in mind, these are:

Ÿ

Changing toothbrush once in every three to four months

deep cleanse and preventing periodontal diseases. The same is advised by the American Dental Association, who suggest cleaning between teeth everyday with an interdental cleaner. It acts a preventive cure for gingivitis, puffiness, or redness of gums. What it also additionally works on is building hygiene and a positive mindset.

What is done directly, should also be implied indirectly and here it can be done by inculcating healthy food habits and a disciplined lifestyle.

Eating Right

Chocolates are like a best friend to every human being, be it in normal or challenging times. But regular consumption brings a flood of dental issues. Following unhealthy dietary habits that include a greater proportion of sweet food like chocolates, icecreams, sugar, or beverages like coffee, or cold drinks degrades the gum health and may cause the enamel to weaken. Same goes for fried foods. The greasy foods linger in the mouth for a longer time and initiates activity of acid-based bacteria, giving impetus to tooth decay.

Hence, it becomes essential to inculcate a dietary routine, that seldomly allows the intake of these foods, but with a regular and increased portion of green leafy vegetables, fruits, and other healthy options that occupy the platter largely.

fluorinated water could act as a natural teeth defence and help in the journey of hygienic oral care.

Lastly along with personalized care, a regular check-up would expand the bag of benefits.

Adding Professional Advice

According to CDC reports, eighty percent of people will have one cavity by the age of thirty-four years. And in the list of common oral diseases, cavities, gum diseases and oral cancer would top the chart.

As a step to prevent this, a selfinitiated check-up should be followed every month, responsibly by each individual of the population cohort.

Professional help sparks emotions of reliability and guided care. It would also help to bring to notice any factors or signs of deteriorating oral health and curate an early coping mechanism for the same.

Prevention is Always Better than Cure

The rise of non-communicable diseases is now proving to be an economic burden too. The twin challenge of health and economy could translate into a less productive society.

Ÿ

Using a soft bristle brush to avoid gum injuries

Ÿ

Brushing for two to three minutes (would prove to be more effective)

Along with this, the emphasis put by experts on daily floss shouldn’t be ignored.

Flossing and tongue cleaning add to the bacteria removal process, giving a

Some of these natural product’s act as an automatic mouth freshener and aid the process of cleaning teeth. Carrots and other cruciferous vegetables take a lot of time to chew. But this chewing process leads to excretion of more saliva that cleans the internal oral structure of any bacteria or particles.

Along with this, staying hydrated is a must. Dentists opine that drinking

Hence, an individual effort to prevent dental diseases and maintain a routine to build a good oral health would amplify into collective benefits, easing the burden caused by such noncommunicable diseases.

Everyday is a right day to begin and form new habits. Integration of oral care is a must for physical as well as mental health.

And starting with an early intervention is the key!

Ms. Deepali KAMLE Assistant Professor & Incharge Director, NMIMS Centre for Internaonal Studies

TRANSFORMING into actions

Knowledge

Educator’s Vision

"The greatest gap in the world is the gap between knowing and doing," - John Maxwell

WWhile knowledge is necessary for an individual’s growth and success, we actually tend to forget the true reasons for acquiring knowledge. Knowledge is a process of enhancing capabilities and competencies that opens the door for opportunity. Is knowledge about knowingness? Is it all about knowing if something is 'Good' or 'Bad' ? Over the years, the academic practice has focused on imparting knowledge in its best possible innovative pedagogy. In addition, universities and centre of excellence institutes successfully made our young minds knowledgeable. Journals, research articles, abstracts, and case studies are largely supported in presenting a real-life problem to the students. These academic teaching practices developed students’ business acumen too. The global presence of graduates as strategic experts in the area of technology and management is proof of high-quality academic practices.

After working in the academic field for so many years and witnessing the transformation in teaching and learning processes, one begins to understand the process of converting knowledge into actions. It is not just about learning but more about the transformation of it into action. 'Putting knowledge into action is Innovation' (Rochen, 2003). Countries advancing in technology, rich resources, developed markets etc., are the results of actions taken by that nation’s Intellectual capital. Knowledge offers you the power to create new – a Schumpeterian

philosophy. Use the knowledge power to identify the gaps and put your thoughts into action – the entrepreneurial way.

An entrepreneurial mindset or the entrepreneurship process can effectively intervene to bring the 'know-do gap' into action. The promising areas that need attention can well be addressed through knowledge. The spirited knowledge creators, academicians, researchers and philosophers can very well illustrate the potential and power of entrepreneurship as a process of knowledge transformation. Knowledge to action is quite popular in medicines. Medical practitioners and researchers contribute to addressing various current global health equity issues, and they have been quite successful in their approach.

Educators, universities, and excellence institutes play a pivotal role in inoculating the entrepreneurial nutrient amongst the youngsters for building an ecosystem of 'knowledge to actions' . The transformation demands efforts of a teacher and academics to motivate graduating students to think innovatively. Moreover, it is important to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset by designing new content and integrating it with the right methodology, assessments and formative feedback.

Knowledge-based entrepreneurship is an important phenomenon derived from a Knowledge Spillover theory of Entrepreneurship Posit which indicates the transmission of knowledge into various commercial applications. As an academician, we prioritise ensuring

that our students are well connected with the information. Not only does this, but they also know how to disseminate derived information and knowledge to those who need it. Instead of making teacher-based learning, let us focus on activity-based learning. Brainstorming sessions, solution boxes, shark tanks, business pitches, e-clubs and mentoring sessions should be regularly practised in the classrooms.

The activity-based learning invokes critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Inquisitiveness gives birth to new ideas. Understand 'Why' before 'How' . Identify the problem clearly and then jump on the solution – essentially following the pattern of researching, planning and refining the strategies should be the methodology. Actions usually are avoided because of the fear of failure. Encourage failures, make mistakes and offer flexibility to embed new knowledge into the system.

It is essential that our education system create a mechanism that promotes action. The broad spectrum of educators and academicians can offer shape to this phenomenon of transforming knowledge into action through entrepreneurship. While linking knowledge to actions, multiple challenges arise occasionally or frequently. The way our experts co-created a way to understand knowledge in a similar way together, the action process can be initiated by involving various groups of educators with different beliefs, values and ideas.

In the end, a beautiful quote comes to mind – "Action is the foundation of all success." - Pablo Picasso

Addressing Gaps

aving a tooth decay – is frequently misunderstood as a high-time for opioid misuse to seek pain relief. Communities rely on it as an efficient alternative to spending money visiting a dentist.

In the mid-2021, more than 100,000 Americans have died simply from opioids overdose. This has become a serious public health problem, as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests. Such a phenomenon signals to dental experts the specific gaps in relation to affordability and access to routine dental care.

Moreover, an urgency to attain an optimum level of dental care could be realized, perceiving the overall health direction of the population in general. For instance, people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and

other mental disorders have demonstrated an association with high rates of gum disease and tooth decay. In addition, people consuming tobacco and other related products are likely to cause oral health problems.

To treat these oral-health associated diseases, overall health becomes essential. For this, an individual’s overall health factors, i.e., psychosocial, environmental, and physical factors, must be considered.

Let's dive into ways in which oral health and overall well-being could be shaped.

Oral Diseases Continue to Remain Problematic

The oral health and overall health continue to remain the core attention of dental practitioners, policymakers, researchers and general public due to its residing prevalence within communities.

For instance, nine out of ten adults in the United States between the ages of 20 and 64 have dental caries, a ratio that hasn’t changed since the last 20 years, as the New England Journal of Medical depicts. Whereas dental caries is considered to be a dominant tooth concern in childhood diseases, those that are untreated result in pain and infections.

In addition, people are also stuck between seeking oral health support and tackling its rising costs. Every year, dental care costs in America have increased by 30%, with 25% being paid as out-of-pocket spending. The toll is even high for the underserved populations, nationally and globally.

Prevention is Still Possible

While a large number of oral diseases are being caused due to risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and alcohol consumption, it could be rationally modifiable.

Public health interventions in the communities could be encouraged in promoting a well-balanced diet, free of sugar and rich in vegetables, fruits, and related flavouring waters. Information could be shared to replace all forms of addictions such as smoking, alcohol consumption, or chewing areca nuts.

Shifting from the Traditional Approach of Oral Care

Whether overall health care or oral care, traditional approaches to care previously involved a preventive eye towards the elimination of diseases. However, the World Health Organization has approved an oral health resolution in the year 2021 that shifts oral care from a traditional to a preventive approach. This will encourage and promote oral health within schools, families, and even workplaces. They would involve timely, inclusive, and comprehensive care within the primary health-care system.

The resolution confirms that oral health-care interventions should be included within universal health coverage programs, meeting the same agenda as noncommunicable diseases would.

In addition, the WHO will develop a draft global strategy for tackling oral diseases in the years 2022 and 2023. The objective would be to develop an action plan that would involve best

interventions for the betterment of oral health.

Eliminating Gaps in Oral Care

Oral health care systems must be recognized and improved in the context of compounded challenges that impact the overall population within their communities. For it to take place, policy changes must be aligned with the objective of reducing or eliminating social, economic, and other existing inequalities.

With regards to treatment and prevention of oral health within a community, social and other related determinants of overall health could be considered when developing treatment and prevention strategies.

Existing gaps in accessibility and affordability towards dental care could be addressed and eliminated through the support of policymakers, further diversifying the region’s oral health workforce, and providing training accordingly.

Wrapping Up

It is a crucial time when oral health is recognized as the core of overall health. For this, it is essential that relevant knowledge is being built, alongside the scientific progress that has been made up to date. Doing so will ensure that oral health has its complete integration into the modern era of innovation and discovery.

Lastly, policy changes and technological advances must be harnessed so that oral healthcare inequities can be disrupted. Only then could the health of people and communities be truly improved.

COLLEGE OF DENTAL SCIENCES AND HOSPITAL, SATTUR DHARWAD

A Constuent Unit of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara University

Oral health affects your life in ways that are often taken for granted. Your mouth can reflect the overall health of your body. Therefore, taking care of your pearly whites is an important aspect of one's life.

There has been growing recognition in the dental profession in the last three

decades. Dental education must go beyond teaching the technicalities of dentistry and include professionalism and communication skills that the future dentist needs. Such skills are best taught in a student-centred way. We achieve this on a day-to-day basis at SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital (SDMCDSH) , Sattur Dharwad, with the help of exceptional infrastructure, versatile faculty, facilities and zealous students.

Established in 1986, SDMCDSH is recognised by the Dental Council of India for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It's a selffinancing, non-profitable organisation with a vision of excellence, knowledge, skills and service. The SDMCDSH is situated in Sattur, between Hubli and Dharwad, at the northern tip of Karnataka, with a population of more than one million. Hubli-Dharwad is the second largest city in the State of Karnataka, after Bangalore, and is

"Every tooth in a man's mouth is more valuablethandiamonds."

known as a cultural and educational centre. SDMCDSH renders professional dental care to about 400 patients a day from in and around Hubli-Dharwad District.

The faculty and students generate new knowledge in the basic and applied sciences with an emphasis on the promotion of oral health and function. The acquired knowledge is disseminated through presentations at speciality conferences, workshops, seminars and publications on various national and international platforms.

The institution seeks to inform the public about the prevention and treatment of oral diseases through camps and dental health awareness programs.

It's a matter of great pride that the institution has been ranked as one of the top 10 best dental colleges in India. The college aims at providing the best

possible dental treatment and leaves no stone turned towards achieving the same.

The college has also incorporated highend equipments such as CBCT (Cone Beam Computerized Tomography), CAD-CAM (Computer Aided Design –Computer Aided Machining) systems, Zeiss Endo-Surgical Microscopes, LASER systems and many more, ensuring that students remain at the forefront of their chosen field.

While conversing with the team at The Knowledge Review , Dr. Niranjan Kumar , the Vice-Chancellor of the SDM University , shared his and the institute's journey and all the pedagogical approaches applied in the institute and also mentioned the future vision.

The Inception

The SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital was established on 16th

September 1986 and it became a constituent unit of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara University under the Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara University Act 2018, on 19th December 2018, as a State Private University in Dharwad, Karnataka.

The Best Dental Colleges in India 2022

recognised as Asia's Greatest Brand in 2020.

The college attributes its success to two visionary and eminent personalities among the so many leaders.

TheTwo Eminent Leaders

Poojya Shri D.Veerendra Heggade is the Honorable Chancellor of SDM University and a visionary leader with a dream to start a Centre of Excellence in Medical Education and Healthcare for the people of the North Karnataka region at an affordable cost. The university has achieved many milestones within the span of less than four years under the guidance of Poojya Shri D. Veerendra Heggade. In the present glory, he is spearheading the activities in more than forty premier academic and professional institutions spread across the State of Karnataka.

Dr. Niranjan Kumar, the eminent plastic surgeon, is the founding Vice-Chancellor of SDM University, Dharwad. Under his guidance, the university and its constituent institutions are in a growing pace and have received many ranks in the country.

Vision

The college is sponsored by the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Educational (SDME) Society, which is a non-profit educational society, and it has been working under the aegis of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala.

The primary goal of the institute is to improve the oral health of the local population and cater to their dental needs in the most sophisticated and economical manner since its humble beginning as a wing in the SDM Engineering college campus and rented

premises as the hospital to the state-ofthe-art hospital and teaching facility that it is today. The institution has completed 36 successful years with a glorious past to boast about and is scaling new heights with each passing day towards a bright future.

The larger SDM Group of Institutions offers various courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Engineering, Law, Social Sciences, Management, Naturopathy, and Ayurveda. The SDM University was

and Mission

Change is only permanent in life.

SDM Dental College has always been adaptive to changes, which is one of the main attributes of its success.

Dr. Niranjan Kumar follows a "Learner-centered education, patientcentred service and community-oriented researchforexcellence."

Sliding down the mission statement, Dr. Niranjan Kumar,Vice-Chancellor, says, Ÿ "Contribute professionally competent general and speciality personnel to meet regional, national andglobaloralhealthcareneeds.

Dr. Niranjan Kumar Vice-Chancellor, SDM University

Ÿ

Foster strong community relationships through research, servicesandCollaboration.

Ÿ Provide an efficient, effective and community-acceptable system that excelsineducationandservice.

Ÿ

Inculcate values in learners to be socially and professionally acceptable."

According to the established vision and mission of the institute, it encourages introducing various unique learning programs.

UniqueAcademic Programs

SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital is unique in many ways. One of the most highlighted facts is that it is the only dental college to start without an associate Medical College.

The college and hospital have been functioning on the present campus since 1991 and have carved a niche for itself as one of the finest Dental Colleges in the country can have. Boasting huge 27 acres of campus, which is a major landmark on the Hubli-Dharwad highway.

The college has nine speciality departments functioning with state-ofthe-art facilities providing the best possible quality dental care to the public. The college enrols 100 undergraduate students and 45 postgraduate students in each speciality every year.

Apart from the speciality departments, the Dental College is known for being the first to gain credit for the following:

Ÿ Oral Implantology- In 1993, the college developed India's first Department of Oral Implantology with the support of the renowned implantologist Prof. Hans Grafelmann from Germany.

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Craniofacial Hospital - Established in 1997, the institute boasts of an exclusive centre that focuses on Post-Trauma Reconstruction, Oral Cancer Rehabilitation, as well as Cleft-Lip and Palate Surgeries.

prosthesis, microscopic endodontics for faster and better treatment options. In this regard, the institute has signed MOU with Carl-Zeiss Company for advanced training in micro endodontics."

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Forensic Odontology -Another firstof-its-kind venture in India, recognised by the Karnataka Government as a state-referral centre for forensic dental cases.

With the help of these advancements, the faculty of the institution inspires students to opt for research-based learning.

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The Department of Special Healthcare needs of Dentistry was established to cater the patients who require special needs and are medically compromised.

Encouraging Research-Based Learning

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Central Sterile Supplies Department (CSSD), where all instruments used on patients are sterilised as per international guidelines.

Apart from the unique learning programs, the institute is also focusing on providing global exposure for better future opportunities.

Global Exposures

As a part of upgrading dental education, the college provides training programs for undergraduates and postgraduates, exchange programs and affiliations with reputed International Universities.

While stating about the global exposure and facilities, Dr. Niranjan Kumar stated that, "Besides exchange programs, the college is providing state-of-the-art facilities to their students. The college is proud to have an advanced Cone Beam CT Scan (CBCT) machine (Radiologic Diagnostic aid) for procuring images for digital treatment planning of patients."

He also stated, "Advanced treatment facilities also include Computer-AidedDesign (CADCAM) milled prosthesis and 3D printed restorations and

Since the college's inception, it has treated more than 11,00,000 patients in 36 years, which includes many critical cases. The institute has also provided dental learning to more than 4,000 Undergraduates and more than 1500 Postgraduates.

The students trained here have made the institute proud by earning laurels at the University level through bagging Ranks and Gold Medals. The proud alumni of the college have been successful not

The college is proud to have an advanced Cone Beam CT Scan (CBCT) machine (Radiologic Diagnosc aid) for procuring images for digital treatment planning of paents.

only in India but also across the globe, serving as renowned dentists and academicians.

Apart from the students training programs, the faculty encourages research activities that facilitate healthcare improvements. The research has been approved by recognised Funding Agencies like ICMR and DST etc.

All these pedagogical programs not only educate the students but also bring achievements to the institution.

Awards, Accolades, and Accreditations

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SDM Dental College was initially being affiliated to Karnataka University Dharwad.

Envisaging the Future

After a long discussion with Dr. Niranjan Kumar about the institute's activities, awards and accolades, he further shares his future approaches for the students and the institute's development. He states, "The institution has imparted future plans in terms of infrastructure expansion in clinical departments and offering new courses/academic activities in the form of Ph.D. Fellowship and Diploma

courses in all the clinical and nonclinical departments of dentistry. The institution's future direction in dental educationincludes:

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Developing a competency-based curriculum.

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Blending dental education into the mainstream of health professions education

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Reform of the environment in which clinicaleducationoccurs."

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From 1996 to 2018, the college was part of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore.

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The institute was the first outside college in the United States to host a team from the American Dental Association for accreditation of international dental colleges.

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SDM dental college has been the only dental college accredited by NAAC consecutively for three cycles 2002, 2009, and 2015 with an 'A++' grade.

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The institute is one of the premier dental institutes that is recognised by the NIRF (National Institute of Ranking Framework) Ministry of Education Ranking for its quality education.

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The college also holds rank in the top 5 private dental colleges in ranking surveys by various reputed agencies.

Being an inspiration for the institution, Dr. Niranjan Kumar also shares his future plans and approaches for holistic development.

Shri D. Veerendra Heggade

Honorable Chancellor, SDM University

Poojya