Department Of Public Health Dentistry
Dr. Sahana S. serves as Professor and Head of the Department and a Professor, with over 17 years of extensive experience to her role. She is a dedicated academician with a strong commitment to research, demonstrating her profound expertise and passion for advancing the field.
Department:
The aim of Public health dentistry, is to promote oral health and prevent dental diseases among the population. It focuses on providing accessible and affordable dental care, particularly to underserved communities. Public health dentistry also emphasizes education and awareness programs to encourage good oral hygiene practices. Additionally, it aims to conduct research and implement policies that improve overall dental health outcomes in the region.
Postgraduate and Undergraduate teaching:
- The department admits 3 postgraduate students annually.
- It provides education and training to 100 undergraduate students each year.
- The postgraduate clinic is equipped with advanced equipment, offering state-of-the-art facilities.
- The undergraduate clinic is equally well-equipped, ensuring comprehensive training and patient care.
Health Education Museum:
- The department features a health education museum dedicated to promoting oral health awareness among the community.
Satellite Centers:
The department operates two satellite centers:
- One at MHK
- One at Hinouti Sadak
- These centers provide essential dental care to underserved and underprivileged populations, ensuring access to quality oral health services.
Tobacco Counselling Centre
The Department includes a dedicated Tobacco Counselling Centre, where over 100 individuals have received guidance and support to quit tobacco use. The department actively conducts tobacco capacity-building workshops, designed to train students in effective tobacco de-addiction counselling techniques. This hands-on training ensures that graduates are well-prepared to support patients in overcoming tobacco addiction. Furthermore, the department has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the JN Institute, fostering collaboration and enhancing the efficacy of its tobacco cessation initiatives. This partnership facilitates shared expertise and resources, significantly benefiting both institutions. The postgraduate students within the department receive specialized training in tobacco counselling, equipping them with the necessary skills to lead and contribute to these vital public health efforts.
Research activities
The department is highly active in research programs, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing dental science. Regular Continuing Dental Education (CDE) sessions on research methodology are conducted, providing valuable insights and training to students and faculty alike. The department is proud to boast numerous Q1 peer-reviewed articles, patents, and books, reflecting the high quality and impact of its research output.
Additionally, the department collaborates with the Indian Council of Medical Research, further enhancing its research capabilities and fostering interdisciplinary studies. Certificate programs in systematic reviews, research methodology, and legalities in dental practice are also offered under the leadership of Dr. Sahana S. These programs aim to equip students and professionals with comprehensive knowledge and skills essential for conducting rigorous research and navigating the legal aspects of dental practice.
Outreach programmes
The Department is deeply committed to its community responsibility, providing essential services through a variety of outreach programs targeting vulnerable populations. These initiatives extend care to residents of old age homes, children participating in Special Olympics, and workers in industrial areas, ensuring that comprehensive dental services are accessible to those who need them most.
To further promote health and well-being, the department actively celebrates various health awareness days, organizing events and activities that emphasize the importance of oral hygiene and preventive care. Additionally, the department boasts a state-of-the-art mobile dental van, bringing services directly to those in need.
Counselling and support for public health programmes and initiatives
The Department places a strong emphasis on counseling and orientation for public health programs and initiatives. These efforts include comprehensive sessions designed to educate and guide both students and community members about the importance and impact of public health initiatives. The department regularly organizes workshops and seminars that provide detailed information on various public health strategies, preventive measures, and the role of dental professionals in promoting overall health.
CDE Programme On Bioethics and good clinical practice – 23 january 2021
This training workshop was conducted on Bioethics and good clinical practice on 23 january 2021. The various speaker s were Dr Sahana, Dr Shubangi Mhaske, Dr Shaji Thomas and Dr N Ganesh. It enlightened the audience on various ethical principles, its guidelines and violations.
CDE PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY ON “SCIENTIFIC WRITING AND RESEARCH PUBLISHING”
Department of Public Health Dentistry organised a half day CDE programme on “Scientific writing and research publishing” on 21st December 2019. The programme mainly focussed on post graduates and faculties of all departments who are involved in various fields of research.
