Laser Dentistry has been a part of one of those specialization courses which were not a part of the curriculum for students to graduate in the Dental Education, but might soon add up as a subject for both the Graduate and Post-Graduate level students. Dental Council of India (DCI), a regulator of the dental schools in the country, is considering seeking a debate in the sector on the issue through workshops and seminars.
Dr Dibyendu Mazumder, the DCI President, said that its time to consider Laser Dentistry as a course and the students need to be extensively taught about the same, as the technique is very advantageous to both the students and patients, marking an innovative way to carry out treatments along with minimizing bleeding and other problems.
As of now, there are a few colleges and hospitals that are providing treatment in the Dental Sector using Laser devices, and the courses of the same are quite highly priced because of the equipment cost. DCI is keen to expand the academic syllabus from the next year, and this would help students get intensive hands-on training programme while they are graduating, thus knowing what all are the different types of lasers to be used in the clinical procedures.
Dr. Mazumder said, “Once we get positive response from the stakeholders we will approach the Health Ministry for go ahead.”
DCI secretary Dr SK Ojha said that the laser technology is not only useful for eye and skin treatment but is effectively useful in many branches of dental field such as periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral implantology and endodontics. Caries removal and cavity preparation without significant thermal effects, collateral damage to tooth structure, or patient discomfort, minimal bacterial infections due to sterlisation of the particular area by the high energy beam are just a few among various advantages of the laser technique for problems related to soft and hard tissues of the mouth.
Dr AK Chandana, vice-president of Delhi State Dental Council said that the treatment cost would eventually come down in the next five years, because more and more dentists would adapt the procedure and use lasers as the technology for the painless procedures. As of now, estimates say that there is not even 1% of dentists who are using Lasers in India.
Some of the Advantages of Lasers in Dentistry:
- No bleeding
- No pain and no need of needles for anesthesia
- No damage to adjacent structures to the tooth
- Wisdom tooth removal using lasers without flap reflection using blade
- Treatment of sensitivity and caries in easiest way
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