Punjab should pay more attention to dental care, says Dr Verma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 13

Padma Shri awardee and director-cum-principal Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Science, New Delhi, Dr Mahesh Verma feels that Punjab should give more attention towards improving dental care services.

Dr Verma said, “I feel that Punjab should make efforts to improve dental care scenario that includes use of modern technology, specialist dentists, institutional quality improvement and availability of dental radiology to people of the state, especially the poor. Dental course pass outs are mostly jobless and their morale should be given a boost. Specialisation is the need of the hour.”

He said it was sad that people and students had become disillusioned by the dental profession but the real growth of dentistry was yet to kick off in India. So far, the dental practice was problem-driven only because patients report to the dental surgeon only when they have dental problems, he added .

Dr Verma said the day the insurance sector would start covering the dental disease in the country, the dental surgeons shall be awfully busy.

He said that on a personal note, he thought that people had taken dental profession too lightly. He personally felt that dental profession was a white collar job, it gave freedom to dentists to work on appointments only and still generate a decent revenue. Since emergencies were not a routine, the dental surgeons enjoy a good quality of life.

However, making of a dentist was a very tough job and demanded aptitude and hard work from students, just as everyone cannot make a singer or an artist. Similarly, everyone cannot become a dentist. A high level of commitment and flair towards the profession is demanded.

He said the fresh dental surgeons should think of starting their practices in sub urban and rural areas where the need of this profession was very high. When everyone thinks of starting a career in city it leads to a glut of professionals and an unnecessary price war.

When asked if the dental education in the country was comparable to the West, he said the colleges were putting in their best efforts under the guidance of Dental Council of India and were ensuring the best quality education to students.

Dr Amanish Singh, eminent orthodontist of the town and Principal of Adesh Dental College and Hospital who was with Dr Verma, came to the city to attend the convocation of the Adesh Dental College.