DT Pakistan No. 6, 2020

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PUBLISHED IN PAKISTAN

www.dental-tribune.com.pk
An exclusive
interview with
Dr M. Ahmad Javaid

Prof. Dr Nazeer
Khans citation
count crosses 5,000

NEWS

NOV-DEC 2020 - Issue No. 06 Vol.7

Page 2

INTERVIEW

Page 4

Periodontal status
may play role in
COVID-19 severity

NEWS

Page 9

Renowned dental experts and global presence
mark virtual edition of UHS conference

L

DT Pakistan Report

AHORE - Despite the effects
of the global COVID-19
pandemic on healthcare,
dental experts see the crisis as an
opportunity to rethink the future of
dentistry and address system-level
failures.
They stressed that another wave of
scientific discovery and innovation
should come along with the second
wave of coronavirus. International

than being isolated and separated from
mainstream healthcare, this crisis had
clearly shown that dental professionals
could be integrated into the more
comprehensive system.
The challenge ahead is to delineate
the clinical roles of dental personnel
in a more integrated model of care,
Dr Edwards remarked. He also said
that dentists had a substantial effect
in supporting health service delivery
during the pandemic and had,
therefore, developed new skills and

Dalhousie University, Canada
observed that current restrictions on
aerosol-generating procedures
provided an opportunity to reorientate dental care towards a less
invasive and more preventive
approach, one in which the dental
team worked in partnership to tackle
the shared risks for oral diseases and
other non-communicable diseases.
This is also a time to stop
delivering unnecessary and ineffective
treatments. A perfect example of this

Prof Khalid Almas
among worlds top
2% scientists
DT Pakistan Report

K

and local medical and dental experts
were addressing Pakistans first virtual
online dental moot held at the
University of Health Sciences (UHS).
The theme of the conference was
Redefining Trends in Dentistry
where speakers from the UK, Saudi
Arabia, New Zealand, Canada,
Malaysia, Palestine, Hong Kong,
Turkey, France and Pakistan presented
their papers.
Addressing the closing ceremony
of the three-day conference recently,
Dr Andrew Edwards, Vice President,
Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons Glasgow, UK said that rather

clinical knowledge in the process.
Prof Paul Anderson, Queen Mary
University, London said that the
pandemic had exacerbated
socioeconomic inequalities and would
undoubtedly worsen oral health
inequalities. He was of the view that
dental care systems now needed to be
more responsive to the needs of their
local populations and prioritise care
for groups with a high need such as
low income, marginalised and
vulnerable groups, including those
with multiple morbidities.
Dr Nader Hamdan, Assistant
Professor of Periodontology,

is the routine provision of tooth
scaling and polishing, a procedure
that does not have an evidence base
and is a costly waste of resources,
Dr Hamdan stressed.
Prof Margery McMahon, Head of
School of Education, University of
Glasgow, UK said that radical reform
of oral healthcare systems would
require brave and bold decisionmaking from professional leaders.
There had been a paradigm shift in
how universities and professional
organisations were led and how they
organised themselves to deliver
Continued on Page 11

ARACHI - Professor
Khalid Almas has been
figured in the list of the
world's top two per cent scientists
in a global list issued by the United
States' Stanford University.
The global list, compiled by Prof
John Ioannidis and his team, carries
names of 159,683 people from all
scientific disciplines.
All these authors have been selected
based on an international evaluation
of their research papers and
classified based on career-long
citation impact until the end of 2019
as well as for their citation impact
in a single year (2019).
Dr Khalid Almas, Professor,
Preventive Dental Sciences
Department, College of Dentistry,
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal
University has been figured in the
list for career-long citation impact.
A report on this list has been
recently published in PLOS Biology.
Dr Khalid completed his BDS in
Pakistan and currently working as
Professor, Preventive Dental
Sciences Department, College of
Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin
Faisal University, the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.

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NEWS

2 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition NOV-DEC 2020

Prof. Dr Nazeer Khans
citation count crosses 5,000

Dental house officers of
KMDC unpaid for 9 months

DT Pakistan Report

K

ARACHI - Dr
Nazeer Khan,
Professor of
Biostatistics & Director
of Research, Jinnah Sindh
Medical University has
recently crossed 5,000 attributed citations
in the Google database.
According to Google Scholar, 5,010
citations has been attributed to Dr Nazeer
Khan.
Google Scholar is a freely accessible web
search engine that indexes the full text or
metadata of scholarly literature across an
array of publishing formats and disciplines
and has been regarded as the worlds largest
academic search engine.

K

DT Pakistan Report

ARACHI - Dental house officers of Karachi Medical
and Dental College (KMDC) have been deprived of their
salaries for the past nine months and protested against
the administration outside Press Club.
Talking to Dental News, demonstrators told that dental house
officers performed their duties wholeheartedly during the pandemic
lockdown. House officers told that they were appointed in dental
OPDs of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Maxillofacial Surgery Ward
and Corona Filter Clinic.

K

Photo: DT Pakistan

Despite working, house officers have not received the announced
Corona Virus Risk Allowance and have not been paid for nine
months.
The protestors said that they did not receive the Rs 45,000 salaries
granted by the Sindh government and did not receive additional
risk allowance of Rs 30,000.
Protestors demanded Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chief Minister
of Sindh and senior officials of the Health
Department to take notice and pay them their due Corona Risk
Allowance as well as their salaries.

Gandhara University holds post-graduate course
on effective communication skills

P

ESHAWAR - A postgraduate course for trainee
medical officers was
recently held at Sardar Begum
Dental College. The event was a
joint venture of Pakistan Society
of Physicians and Gandhara
University. The course aimed to
highlight the importance of
effective communication in
patient's management.
The facilitators of the course
included Dr Aleina Badshah, Dr
Awais Naeem, Dr Samir Kabir
and Dr Jibran Umar Ayub. The
facilitators shared their experience
and gave constructive feedback
to the participants.
The course focused on various
aspects of communication like
addressing patient concerns,
maintaining their welfare and

Editor Clinical Research
Dr. Inayatullah Padhiar
Editors Research & Public Health
Prof. Dr. Ayyaz Ali Khan
Editor - Online
Haseeb Uddin
Designing & Layout
Sheikh M. Sadiq Ali
Dental Tribune Pakistan
3rd floor, Mahmood Centre, BC-11,
Block-9, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan.
Tel.: +92 21 35378440-2
Fax: +92 21 35836940
www.dental-tribune.com.pk
info@dental-tribune.com.pk
Dental Tribune Pakistan cannot assume
responsibility for the validity of product
claims or for typographical errors. The
publisher also does not assume
responsibility for product names or
statements made by advertisers. Opinions
expressed by authors are their own and may
not reflect of Dental Tribune Pakistan.

Royal College of Surgeons
honours Dr Noor ul Wahab

ARACHI President
Pakistan Dental
Association (PDA),
Karachi Chapter was
recently awarded by a
Fellowship in Dental Surgery of the Royal
College of Surgeons of England (FDSRCS
England). The fellowship has been a Dental
postgraduate professional qualification
which is bestowed by the Faculty of Dental
Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons
of England.
Continued on Page 11

Publisher and CEO
Syed Hashim A. Hasan
hashim@dental-tribune.com.pk

Photos:
DT Pakistan

developing sound clinical judgement.
Common scenarios like breaking the
bad news, end of life care, obtaining

a consent, genetic counselling,
breaking confidentiality, drug
errors were discussed at length.
There was also some focus on
history taking of common
symptoms that are encountered
in the clinical setting.
Rashid Ahmed Khan
Tahirkheli, vice-chancellor,
Gandhara University was the
chief guest of the event. He
appreciated the efforts of the
organisers. He also emphasised
on practical communication
skills, being the cornerstone of
clinical management and
suggested that we still need a
lot of improvement in this field.
The event concluded with the
distribution of certificates and shields
amongst the participants, organisers
and faculty. -PR

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Chief Content Officer
Claudia Duschek
Dental Tribune International GmbH
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are their own and may not reflect those of
Dental Tribune International GmbH.

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4 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition NOV-DEC 2020

INTERVIEW

Explanation given to patient
after procedure, is an excuse!
Dr Mohammad Ahmad Javaid

by Dr Muattar Hanif

Dental Tribune Pakistan: What made you choose
periodontology?
Dr Ahmad: During my graduation, all the
specialities were very well established in Pakistan,
except for Periodontology, in which we didn't have
a single fellowship program in Pakistan. Though
we have already learned almost all dentistry facets,
I knew it was the periodontology that touched my
heart the most during my undergraduate studies.
It all happened during my final year; I was genuinely
intrigued by the field. My mentor, Dr Khurram,
was the very reason who influenced me to pursue
periodontology more. He is one of the pioneers
who brought periodontology to Pakistan. He has
always been a role model for me. The rest of the
dental specialities in Pakistan are indeed top-notch,
but it needs more focus and attention when it comes
to periodontology. And that's how my interest was
developed.

Supervisors and mentors play a pivotal
role in developing interest in any field.
They are more like role models for the
young aspiring dentists
DTP: What are the biggest challenges that the
field of Periodontology is facing in Pakistan?
DA: The first thing I feel is that the domain of
periodontology requires time and attention. The
actual spotlight was shone on periodontology back
in 2016. Though baby steps are taken, I can assure
you that the speciality of periodontology is on the
right track. Secondly, in my experience, I felt that
supervisors and mentors play a pivotal role in
developing interest in any field. They are more like
role models for the young aspiring dentists. We
need such instructors who develop interests in the
young inquisitive minds of undergraduate students.
But it's just a matter of time, I believe, that the field
will get the due recognition that it deserves.
DTP: Are there opportunities available for fresh
graduates abroad in the domain of
Periodontology?
DA: We all are grown up in a country where

r Mohammad Ahmad Javaid graduated from the University of Health Sciences
Lahore, Pakistan in 2009. Following graduation, he moved to Canada to study
for a Master's in Dental Sciences from the McGill University, Canada.
After completing his graduate studies, Dr Javaid then enrolled in Diploma in Periodontics,
a three-year clinical residency program with a focus on advanced surgical techniques
in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, at The University of British Columbia, Canada.
Simultaneously, he also started his second Master's in Craniofacial Sciences at The
University of British Columbia. He also cleared the Fellowship of Royal College of Dentist
Canada (RCDC) Exam in Periodontics and is a Fellow Elect with the RCDC.
Dr Javaid has published numerous international articles and has peer-reviewed international
journals and has contributed to multiple book chapters in internationally published books
in the field of periodontics and implant dentistry. He is currently working as Clinical
Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, University of Alberta, Canada.
Recently he sat down with Dental Tribune Pakistan to talk about his journey as a
practitioner and discuss some pointers pertaining to Periodontology.

Myth Busters
DTP: Can scaling makes teeth weak?
DA: No! Please have your teeth cleaned. Scaling
doesn't make your teeth week.
DTP: Can scaling increase teeth sensitivity?
DA: It may cause teeth sensitivity. But then again,
it depends on case to case. However, the sensitivity
doesn't stay long and can be subsided using
toothpaste containing strontium or potassium salt.
But then again, we need to compromise on
temporary discomfort to have permanent benefits.
The same goes for scaling.
DTP: Which toothpaste is perfect for sensitivity?
DA: You are putting me in trouble [laughs]. I
don't believe that the type of toothpaste makes
any difference. It's the brushing technique that
matters more.
DTP: Tooth whitening vs. tooth cleaning, your
preference?
DA: Tooth whitening is an entirely different thing,
and one can only opt for if they are Instagrammers!
But tooth cleaning should be an utmost priority
because I have seen that people, even in their 40s,
have lost all their teeth due to lack of cleaning.
DTP: Is implant surgery a painful procedure?
DA: In my experience, I am evident to my patients
that the kind of experience one has during
extraction is way less discomforting for an implant
procedure.
DTP: Do implants fail very ofter?
DA: It depends. First is survival, like whether the
implant has been integrated into the bone solidly.
The other is a success, which means that even if
you apply pressure to the implant, it stays in the
same place even without any complication. There
are stringent criteria set by experts, which says
that if the implant meets 80% of those criteria,
it's a successful one. Hence, in a nutshell, implants
are the best substitute for a natural tooth, but they
can never compensate for losing a natural tooth.

opportunities are limited, and candidates are many.
So, thinking out of the box and being pushed to
strive for greatness is the only way to counter such
heavy competition. In my second year, I developed
this hobby, where I used to search for dental colleges
and programs offered abroad. I highly recommend
students prepare, even in their free time, and do
their bit of research. Be informed well, especially
about what you are aiming for.
If I speak about Canada, I can tell that it's a land
of opportunity. The scope of periodontology here
is immense. But just like any other domain, the
competition here is insane. Not just for
periodontology, but any field. Yes, the population
here is less than Pakistan, but then these people
who have migrated here possess great expertise
and mind-set skills. Thus further raising the bar.

Dentists usually create high
expectations for the patient, which will
never work. Explain before procedure
rather than post-procedure because then
thats not an explanation, its an excuse
DTP: Do you think there's a lack of a
multidisciplinary approach in Pakistan?
DA: Everything has its own set of pros and cons.
In Pakistan, private practice works in a limited
financial circumference. Dentists have to pay bills,
rent, and provide a salary to staff. They have to
manage things within earning. No matter how much
we like or not, a multidisciplinary approach is not
a choice. It is what they have to do. Hence, when
a patient comes and wants a root canal treatment,
one cannot let that patient go. They have to cater
to that patient, despite being an expert in that
domain or not. These patients are the source of
income for private dentists.
In Canada, a specialist cannot practice general
dentistry. The system followed here in Canada is
referral based. If specialists start doing general
practice, then instead of referring patients to
specialists, these general dental practitioners will
turn into competitors.
Continued on Page 11

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NEWS

6 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition NOV-DEC 2020

Colgate laboratory tests show toothpaste
and mouthwash inactivate 99.9% of
the virus that causes COVID-19

L

Clinical research program underway to validate potential of
oral health products to slow spread of the virus

aboratory studies show
that toothpastes
containing zinc or
stannous and mouthwash
formulas with cetylpyridinium
chloride (CPC) neutralize the
virus that causes COVID-19 by
99.9%. The studies are part of
a Colgate research program that
includes clinical studies among
infected people to assess the
efficacy of oral care products in
reducing the amount of the
virus in the mouth, potentially
slowing the transmission of the
SARS-CoV-2 virus.
In the laboratory studies -- the
first to include toothpaste -Colgate Total and Meridol
toothpaste neutralized 99.9% of
the virus after two minutes of
contact. Colgate Plax, Colgate
Total and Colgate Zero
mouthwashes were similarly
effective after 30 seconds. The
studies, completed in October,
were conducted in partnership
with Rutgers University's Public
Health Research Institute
and Regional Biosafety
Laboratories.
The results suggest that some
toothpastes and mouthwashes
may help reduce the spread of
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that
causes COVID-19, by
temporarily reducing the amount
of virus in the mouth. The virus
spreads through respiratory
droplets or small particles
produced when an infected
person coughs, sneezes, sings,
talks, or breathes, according to
the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
"While brushing and rinsing
are not a treatment or a way to
fully protect an individual from
infection, they may help to
reduce transmission and slow
the spread of the virus,
supplementing the benefit we
get from wearing masks, social
distancing and frequent hand
washing," said Dr. Maria Ryan,
Colgate's Chief Clinical Officer.
"We're at the early stages of our
clinical investigations, but our

preliminary laboratory and
clinical results are very
promising."
Said Dr. David Alland, Chief
of Infectious Diseases and
Director of the Center for
COVID-19 Response and
Pandemic Preparedness, who
led the Rutgers study along with
colleagues Drs. Pradeep Kumar
and Riccardo Russo: "While we
do not yet know the contribution
o f S A R S - C o V- 2 v i r u s
originating from the mouth to
COVID-19 transmission, saliva
certainly can contain amounts
of virus that are comparable to
that found in the nose and throat.
This suggests that reducing virus
in the mouth could help prevent
transmission during the time
that oral care products are
active."
Concurrent to the laboratory
study, a Colgate-sponsored
clinical study involving some
50 hospitalized subjects with
COVID-19 was conducted at
the Albert Einstein Institute in
São Paulo, Brazil. This study
demonstrated the ability of
certain Colgate mouthwashes to
substantially reduce the amount
of the virus in the mouth
temporarily. The researchers
plan to share their findings in
early December. Additional
Colgate-supported clinical
research studies on toothpaste
and mouthwashes are in early
stages at Rutgers, the Einstein
Institute, and at the University
of North Carolina Adams
School of Dentistry, with some
260 people with COVID-19
participating in these studies.
"Colgate is collaborating with
numerous investigators
throughout the globe to conduct
clinical research to explore the
potential of oral care products
to reduce oral viral loads as a
risk reduction strategy," Dr.
Ryan said. "We think oral care
has a role to play in fighting the
global pandemic, alongside
other preventive measures."
As the world's #1 trusted

dental expert, Colgate is
committed to leading in science
and to ensuring that its products
address health challenges and
meet consumers' needs. For
more information about the
effects of oral hygiene on overall
health and additional insights
on mask mouth and other topics,
v i s i t w w w. c o l g a t e . c o m .
About Colgate-Palmolive:
Colgate-Palmolive Company
is a caring, innovative growth
company reimagining a
healthier future for all people,
their pets and our planet.
Focused on Oral Care, Personal
Care, Home Care and Pet
Nutrition and reaching more
than 200 countries and
territories, Colgate teams are
developing and selling health
and hygiene products and pet
nutrition offerings essential to
society through brands such as
Colgate, Palmolive, elmex,
meridol, Tom's of Maine, hello,
Sorriso, Speed Stick, Softsoap,
Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex,
Filorga, eltaMD, PCA Skin,
Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline
and Suavitel, as well as Hill's
Science Diet and Hill's
Prescription Diet. Colgate seeks
to deliver sustainable, profitable
growth and superior shareholder
returns and to provide Colgate
people with an innovative and
inclusive work environment.
Colgate does this by developing
and selling products globally
that make people's lives
healthier and more enjoyable
and by embracing its
sustainability, diversity, equity
and inclusion and social
responsibility strategies across
the organization. For more
information about Colgate's
global business, its efforts to
improve the oral health of
children through its Bright
Smiles, Bright Futures program
and how the Company is
building a future to smile about,
visit
www.colgatepalmolive.com.
CL-C -PR

Residents of RCD attend IMM
TOACS preparatory course

P

ESHAWAR - IMM (intermediate module)
Task-Oriented Assessment of Clinical
Skills (TOACS) preparatory course was
recently arranged at Rehman College of dentistry
(RCD), Peshawar. The chief guest of the event
was Dr Bakhtiyar Zahid, Dean, Rehman Medical
Institute (RMI).
Photo:
DT Pakistan

The course was attended by around 25
orthodontic residents across the province. The
examiners included Prof. Dr Col Hameed Ullah
Jan, Dr Amber Saeed Khan from Abbottabad
International Medical and Dental College, Dr
Usman from Fauji Foundation Hospital, Dr Saood
from Khyber College of Dentistry (KCD), Dr
Samia from City hospital, Dr Imran Tajik and Dr
Nazir from SBDC, Dr Sohrab Shaheed Dr Nasir
Mushtaq, Dr Asif Qureshi and Dr Muhammad
Khan from RCD and Dr Shahab Adil from
Peshawar Dental College (PDC).
At the start of the session a detailed orientation
was given to the residents about IMM exam and
TOACS stations by Dr Ayesha Iftikhar. Later
participants took the IMM TOAC exam. They
were provided with thorough guidance and feedback pertaining to their queries.-PR

RCD installs inhalation
sedation unit

P

ESHAWAR - Rehman College of Dentistry
(RCD) recently announced the successful
installation of the inhalation sedation unit.
The unit is one of its kind in the province of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Photo:
DT Pakistan

Dr Madeeha Bangash, Consultant and Head of
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, RCD along
with assistance of Dr Ifra Sana Khattak, Internee,
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, RCD
Continued on Page 11

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NEWS

8 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition NOV-DEC 2020

Department of Paediatric Dentistry
celebrates second anniversary

ARACHI - The faculty of
Department of Paediatric
D e n t i s t r y, Z i a u d d i n
College of Dentistry (ZCD) recently
celebrated the second anniversary
of its establishment.
The Department of Paediatric
Dentistry was established in 2018
as a subspecialty of Department of
Operative Dentistry under the
Photos:
supervision of Dr Mervyn Hosein,
DT Pakistan
Dean, ZCD and Dr Asmat Jameel,
Head of Department of Operative
Dentistry, ZCD.
The faculty of Department of
Paediatric Dentistry included Prof.
Dr Asmat Jameel, Head of
Department, Dr Sadaf Ali, Senior
Registrar and Dr Farwa Shafiq, Dr
Farah Amin and Dr Zain Ahmed
Farooqui, lecturers.
The department organised free dental check-ups, and all the paediatric patients were given oral hygiene
instructions and counselling. Gifts, balloons and toothpaste samples were also distributed among patients.
Later, the cake cutting ceremony was held in the presence of Dr Nida Hussain, Pro-Chancellor, Ziauddin
University (ZU).
Engr. Capt (R) Syed Waqar Hussain, Registrar, ZU, Dr Nuzhat Hassan, Acting Principal, Ziauddin Medical
College Dr Mervyn Hosein Dean, ZCD and Prof. Dr Tasleem Hosein, Principal, Fatima Jinnah Dental College
joined along with all the Heads of the Departments of ZCD.-PR

Experts conduct workshop on dental implant

ARACHI - A workshop
was recently conducted
on dental implant
placement titled, Basics of implant
placement and prosthodontic
management was held at Dental
Solutions Clifton (DSC)- Center for
Dental Education.
The theme of the workshop was
to highlight necessary implant
placement skills, impression-making
and placement of the
prosthetic component.
The
surgical
component of the
workshop was covered
by Dr Abdullah
Salman, Assistant
Professor, Baqai Dental
College and prosthetic
component was
covered by Dr Naseer
Ahmed, Associate Professor,
Altamash Institute of Dental
Medicine.
Dr Adil Bin Irfan, Managing
Director, Dental Solutions Clifton
(DSC), welcomed participants and
speakers and spoke about the
importance of continuing dental
education. He said that fresh
graduates and upcoming dentists

should keep themselves updated
regarding dentistry, and they should
attend such workshops.
Dr Abdullah Salman gave a brief
introduction to implant dentistry.
He described the surgical aspect of
implant placement to the audience
and explained every step in detail.
Dr Naseer spoke about different
types of crowns and impression
techniques for dental implants.
every participant, and
more emphasis was
given
to
the
participants handling
techniques. After the
exercise, Dr Umer Bin
Irfan, Chief Executive
Officer, Dental
Photos:
Solutions Clifton,
DT Pakistan
thanked
the
Their courses were followed by participants, speakers. He said that
a question and answer session. DSC had a vision and mission to
Later, a demonstration on how to p r o v i d e k n o w l e d g e t o
place the dental implant and how undergraduates and fresh graduates
to take its impression was given. on areas which were neglected in
The session also contained a the past.
hands-on component in which
In the end, certificates were
participants placed dental implants distributed among the participants,
on goat head under supervision. and shields were presented to the
Individual attention was given to speakers. -PR

Sir Syed Dental College
holds a lecture on
restorative dentistry

ARACHI - Sir Syed Dental
College recently organised a
lecture to highlight ways to
minimize post-operative pain during root
canal treatment.
Photo: DT Pakistan

Prominent dental surgeon and
academician conducted the lecture, Dr.
Zain Rauf titled, 'Effects of occlusal
reduction on post-operative pain after
root canal treatment of teeth with
irreversible pulpitis in clinical practice.'
Dr Zain emphasised the importance of
restorative dentistry in clinical practice
amongst the participants. Furthermore,
he created awareness and promoted
restorative procedures in the hospital and
private clinical practice.
Prof. Dr HR Sukhia, Sir Syed Dental
College, also spoke on occasion. He
highlighted the advantages of root canal
treatment and orthodontic braces' success
on root canal treated teeth.
Participants much appreciated the
dental faculty's efforts in organising the
event and promoting medical and dental
education seminars in the college. -PR

SSCMS conducts oral
awareness program

ARACHI - Sir Syed College of
Medical Sciences (SSCMS),
Dental Section recently
conducted an oral awareness program for

Photo:
DT Pakistan

general medical practitioners. The event
organised by the Department of
C o m m u n i t y D e n t i s t r y, S S C M S
highlighted the oral heath complications
in children.
Dr Ali Raza and Dr Sandhiya Iqbal
briefed the audience on the importance
of promoting oral health in the
community. Prof. Dr HR Sukhia,
Principal, Dental Section, SSCMS also
Continued on Page 11

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NEWS

SEP-OCT 2020 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 9

Periodontal status
may play role in
COVID-19 severity

importance of improved oral hygiene during a
SARS-CoV-2 infection, since it can reduce the
bacterial load in the mouth and the associated risk
OS ANGELES, U.S. - The link between
of a bacterial superinfection. Patients reported to
periodontal disease and systemic conditions
have a severe case of COVID-19 had associated
such as cardiovascular disease is, by now,
higher levels of inflammatory markers and bacteria,
well established in the scientific literature. A new
leading the study's authors to conclude that poor
review study has now suggested that untreated
oral hygiene may be a risk factor for
periodontal disease may be indirectly
COVID-19 complications.
related to the intensity of COVID-19In the view of Molayem, provided
related complications, highlighting the
that they are practicing appropriate
need for good oral health during these
infection control, dental practitioners
difficult times.
should thus encourage their patients to
As outlined in the review, a recent study
continue receiving periodontal
conducted in the German city of Munich
treatment and other forms of specialized
found that elevated levels of interleukincare.
6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine,
acted as a powerful predictor for
"Though it may seem obvious that
respiratory failure and the eventual need
the mouth is not separate from the body
for mechanical ventilation among
and that oral bacteria can have negative
patients who had been hospitalized with
effects on other organs, delaying dental
COVID-19. When left untreated,
treatment underestimates the
periodontal disease frequently leads to
interconnectedness between the mouth
an increase of this pro-inflammatory
A new review study has concluded that patients with periodontal disease and body," he noted. Molayem added
cytokine. According to Dr. Shervin
may have an increased risk of developing COVID-19-related respiratory that conducting a serum test could
Molayem, a Los Angeles-based
quickly and easily measure a patient's
complications. (Image: zlikovec/Shutterstock)
periodontist and co-author of the review,
IL-6 levels to make sure that they are
it is therefore "not an overstatement to conclude by performing a scaling and root planing procedure within normal limits.
that periodontal disease can increase the risk of on a patient with periodontal disease, we can lower
The review, titled "The mouth-COVID
respiratory complications in COVID-19 patients." IL-6 levels by, on average, 3 pg/ml," Molayem told connection: Il-6 levels in periodontal diseaseConversely, lowering IL-6 levels can potentially Dental Tribune International.
potential role in COVID-19-related respiratory
reduce the likelihood of these complications from Oral hygiene correlates with reduced complications complications," was published in the October 2020
occurring, he added.
As reported by DTI back in June, a study published issue of the Journal of the California Dental
"From the existing literature, we know that simply in the British Dental Journal highlighted the Association. - Dental Tribune International
By Brendan Day, Dental Tribune International

L

S

New research may expedite regenerative dentistry

TOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Understanding of cell types
and the mechanisms of dental
growth is essential for the
reconstruction and engineering of
teeth. Therefore, researchers from
Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm
have investigated the cellular
composition of growing and nongrowing mouse and human teeth.
They believe that the new data on the
cellular make-up and growth of teeth
could accelerate developments in
regenerative dentistry and in the
treatment of tooth sensitivity.
Even though major tooth cell types
have long been identified, the
spectrum of various tooth cells and
stem cells, their differentiation, and
the interactions that enable tooth
growth remain poorly understood.
Teeth develop through a complex
process in which soft tissue, with
connective tissue, nerves and blood
vessels, is bonded with three different
types of hard tissue into a functional
body part.
In contrast to humans, whose teeth
are completed before adulthood, mice
and many other species have teeth
which continue to grow throughout

Researchers have identified and characterised all dental stem and differentiated
cell types in human teeth. (Image: Tefi/Shutterstock)
life. The incisor stem cell population
in mice continuously self-renews and
replenishes tissue that is lost owing
to gnawing, making this model
attractive for studies of stem cell
generation, cell differentiation and
injury-induced regeneration.
Mapping of dental cell populations
Using a single-cell RNA sequencing
method and genetic tracing, the
researchers examined the
characteristics of growing mice
incisors, compared them with non-

growing mice molars and evaluated
the extent to which the mouse model
reflects the growth of human teeth.
In this manner, the researchers at
Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration
with the Medical University of Vienna
in Austria and Harvard University in
the US, identified and characterised
all cell populations in mouse teeth, in
young growing human teeth and in
adult human teeth.
"From stem cells to the completely
differentiated adult cells we were able

to decipher the differentiation
pathways of odontoblasts, which give
rise to dentine [ ] and ameloblasts,
which give rise to the enamel," said
the study's senior author, Dr Igor
Adameyko, senior researcher in the
Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet,
and co-author Dr Kaj Fried, senior
professor in the Department of
Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute,
in a press release. According to them,
they also discovered new cell types
and cell layers which may play a role
in tooth sensitivity.
In addition, the findings might
explain complex aspects of the
immune system in teeth and help in
understanding the formation of tooth
enamel. "We hope and believe that
our work can form the basis of new
approaches to tomorrow's dentistry.
Specifically, it can expedite the fastexpanding field of regenerative
dentistry," added the authors.
The study, titled "Dental cell type
atlas reveals stem and differentiated
cell types in mouse and human teeth",
was published online on 23 September
2020 in Nature Communications.
- Dental Tribune International

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[11] => DTI-PDF.FH10

NOV-DEC 2020 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 11

Renowned dental experts ...
Continued from front page

world-leading research, excellence in learning and
teaching and positive experience for students.
Prof Martyn Cobourne, Professor of Orthodontics,
Kings College London was of the view that though
the field of remote orthodontics had expanded
significantly in recent times, the COVID-19
pandemic had further highlighted the role
teledentistry could play in the delivery of patient
care whilst adhering to high professional standards.
Prof Tara Renton, Chair and Professor of Oral
Surgery, Guys Hospital London said that there
were a host of severe diseases and conditions linked
to oral health, including cardiovascular diseases,
respiratory diseases, certain cancers, and also
pregnancy complications.
She held that the impact on overall health, coupled
with a track record of safely providing care
throughout the pandemic, was why dentists should
be allowed to continue treating patients, even in
the event of future pandemic-related shutdowns.
Dr Ghassan Habash, Al-Quds University,
Ramallah, Palestine lecturer at periodontology, said
that routine care was often preventive care and it
was essential in helping to avoid oral infections
and diseases. He added that the pandemic had
proven that it was time for dentistry to be recognised
as a form of essential healthcare.
Prof Javed Akram, Vice-Chancellor UHS said
the pandemic had posed many challenges for the
scientific community, including how to drive science
and medicine forward while sheltering at home.
Yet, the crisis itself highlights the urgent need
for sharing scientific insights to overcome the many
diseases that threaten humanity. Therefore, we must
rise to the current challenge and utilise new virtual
interfaces to stimulate the next wave of scientific
innovations, he added.
Those who presented papers at the conference
included Dr Mohamed M Al-Eraky from Saudi
Arabia, Prof Ling John Yu Kong Hong Kong, Dr
Roman Hossein Khonsari France, Prof Hakan
Ozyuvaci Turkey, Dr Ansa Akram the UK, Dr How
Kim Chuan Malaysia, Prof Shahid Mahmood Saudi
Arabia, Prof Arshad Malik Islamabad, Prof
Shahjahan Katpar Karachi, Prof M Farhan Raza
Khan Karachi, Prof Arham Nawaz Chohan Lahore
and Dr Saima Chaudhry UHS Lahore.

Royal College of Surgeons ...
Continued from page 2

Earlier, Dr Noor ul Wahab was awarded with two
more Fellowships i.e. Fellow of the Faculty of
Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons
(FFDRCS) and Fellow of the College of Physicians
and Surgeon (FCPS) in token of his experience
and qualifications. -PR

Interview with Prof Dr Arshad Malik
Continued from page 4

If a general dentist is experienced enough and
critically analyses himself, I am sure their clinical
practice would be far better than specialists. One
needs to work continuously on excelling their skills,
which even general dentists can.
DTP: Implant topic is not much included in the
curriculum at the undergrad level, your comment?
DA: During my time under graduation, the implant

was not much included in the curriculum. I
remember that the prosthetic side of the side was
not taught in detail. So I do understand that lacking.
But when it comes to the clinical side of the things,
the reality is that undergrad students don't do
implants, that's why general dentists prefer to take
courses or workshops to excel in the implantology.
It's the clinical skill in other fields such as
periodontology that I feel need more focus.
DTP: Who is an ideal candidate for implant
placement surgery?
DA: I don't categorize myself as an expert. Each
day I am coming across something new to learn.
So as per my limited knowledge, many things need
to be thoroughly considered before placement of
the implant. Before anything else, ensure that the
patient has periodontal stability, and there are no
deep pockets because that deep pockets can
alleviate the chances of periodontitis and implant
failure. Implant placement requires many minute
details to consider, like bone, soft tissues, probing,
and lack of periodontal disease, smoking status,
and overall oral hygiene habits. If these things are
not planned, then there are high chances of implant
failure. In my experience, patients are willing to
pay extra cash to get an implant. But, I politely
refuse them, due to their history. Every dentist
should understand that if the foundation is not
sound, then the implant can't be stable. Treatment
planning is essential. It's better to have plans A,
B, and C and discuss the reality of things with the
patient. Dentists usually create high expectations
for the patient, which will never work. Explain
before procedure rather than post-procedure
because then that's not an explanation, it's an
excuse.
DTP: What are the recent advancements in
periodontology and implantology?
DA: I believe that periodontology has started to
get more limelight in recent times. Firstly, most
researches, even the one directed to oral
maxillofacial surgery, are done in periodontology.
The studies done on periodontology touches the
domain of basic sciences and others. Also, another
reason that I feel is the marketing aspect. Every
manufacture companies try their best to create a
possibility where they can make something and
sell it. Hence such companies try their best to
promote it as well. Periodontology enables these
companies to open the doors for innovation. I am
aware that the trends and advancements in
periodontology are rapidly progressing. Each day,
new things are offered. But then again, one needs
to have a solid base as a dental practitioner.
We have guided surgeries for quite some time.
Then there is a 'nav-system' where we are looking
at the screen and navigating the CBCT implant
placement as per the live instructions displayed
on the screen. New developments are similarly
made in graftings, such as bone grafts and soft
tissue grafting. But then again, you cannot blindly
trust technology as these devices have their own
set of limitations. It would be best if you had your
fundamentals strong to pick when the technology
is going off the radar.
DTP: Any last messages for young dental
students?
DA: I request every young dental practitioner that
no matter how many cases you did daily. Do give

Hamdard University
organises event to highlight
importance of oral diagnosis

K

ARACHI - The Department of Oral
Diagnosis, Hamdard University
Dental Hospital, recently arranged
a presentation session for their students. The
students were given different topics pertaining
to dentistry, oral, and general health conditions.
Photos: DT Pakistan

The session was supervised by Dr Shikoh
and Dr Saima, Assistant Professors of the
Department of Oral Diagnosis. Students also
demonstrated coronavirus safety measures for
the prevention of the spread of COVID-19
among the patients and the dentists.
Presentations were conducted on topics
including periodontitis, oral submucous
fibrosis, and oral examination protocols.
Dr Imran, Head of Department of
Periodontology, and Principal, Dental Section,
Hamdard University, was invited as the chief
judge. Faculty members were also present and
acknowledged the students' hard work.
Certificates of appreciation were distributed
among the participants. -PR
yourself a favour and reflect on those cases
thoroughly. As a student of science, there has
always been an opportunity to learn more. Try to
look at all the options that could have been done
and could be done in future cases. I understand
that it's a competitive world we are in, so try to
study and work on shortcomings even in your spare
time. If there are dental programs or training that
can offer you more insight, then go for it. Make
the most of your time as a dental student and learn
as much as you can.

RCD installs inhalation ...
Continued from page 06

performed first procedure successfully in the unit.
Inhalation sedation has been a form of conscious
sedation, widely used all over the world with a
high safety margin. The patient could cope dental
fear and anxiety feel relaxed. -PR

SSCMS conducts oral ...
Continued from page 08

spoke on the consumption of chalia supari at a very
young age which can lead to early sub mucous
fibrosis in the population. He also appreciated the
efforts of Department of Community Dentistry
for conducting successful event to highlight the
efforts of betel-nut and tobacco chewing in the
population. -PR

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[cover] => DT Pakistan No. 6, 2020

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