DT Pakistan No. 4, 2021

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PUBLISHED IN PAKISTAN

pk.dental-tribune.com

An exclusive
interview with
Dr Qaiser Ali Baig

INTERVIEW

JULY-AUGUST 2021 - Issue No. 04 Vol.8

ADA not backing
compulsory
COVID-19 jabs
Page 4

NEWS

Page 9

Why emotional
intelligence in
dentistry is ...

NEWS

Page 12

Transparency International
recommends PMC to cancel MDCAT

I

DT Pakistan Report

SLAMABAD - The
Transparency
International Pakistan
(TIP) has declared the
tendering process of the
upcoming MDCAT by the
Pakistan
Medical
Commission (PMC) as
complete violation of Public
Procurement Regulatory
Authority (PPRA) rules and
recommended to cancel and
re-invite it, Dental Tribune
Pakistan learnt recently.
The TIP in its letter written
to the PMC has mentioned
violations of several
PPRA rules in awarding the
MDCAT contract to the
private company allegedly
established after the deadline
of the advertisement.
"The complete process of
tendering is in violation of
PPRA Rules 2004," said the
TIP letter available with
Dental Tribune Pakistan.
The TIP also said that PMC
following the PPRA rule
number 13 did not issue
complete bid documents, did
not post the evaluation report,
did not post the contract on
PPRA website as per rule 47
and there is no information
that whether it furnished the
compliance report with NAB
or not.
According to the letter, the
TIP said, "based on the
authenticity of documents, TI
Pakistan is of the view that
Prima facia PMC has
committed mis-procurement

Photo:
DT Pakistan

under rule No 50, by violating
PPRA Rules 7, 13, 23, 35, 47
and awarded this contract
without declaring the
information on PPRA website.
The tender may be cancelled
and re-invited accordance

with requirement of PPRA
rule 2004."
The PMC had allegedly
a w a r d e d t h e M D C AT
conducting contract worth
Rs115,500,000 million to a
Single Member Company

(SMC) SOAR Testing and
Evaluation Platform (SMCPVT) Limited (TEPS).
The PMC had advertised
that approximately 175,000
students in August 2021 will
appear in the test, while the

DELTA VARIANT ON THE RISE

Pakistan is heading towards fourth wave

I

DT Pakistan Report

SLAMABAD - People should mark
Eid-ul-Adha in a "limited, closed
environment" said Special Assistant
to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal
Sultan recently.
As per local news channel, the premier's
aide spoke about the alarming rise in the
new Delta variant cases of the
coronavirus, saying the data shows that
the fourth is starting in Pakistan.
Continued on Page 11

Photo:
DT Pakistan

said company was
incorporated 10 days after the
advertisement deadline.
Meanwhile, the company after
winning the contract in the
month of June submitted an
undertaking of release of
Rs115,500,000 in advance
and to adjust the amount from
fee.
The TIP also forwarded the
copies of the violations made
to the Prime Minister House,
Chairman NAB, Auditor
General of Pakistan, MD
PPRA and registrar Supreme
Court of Pakistan and
requested them to take action
on it according to their
mandate.
The TIP mentioning the
PPRA rule no 13, said that
response time to the
advertisement is minimum 15
days, whereas, PMC has
provided only seven days.
According to PPRA rule no.
13, all advertisements or
notices shall expressly
mention the response time
allowed for that particular
procurement along with the
information for collection of
bid documents which shall be
issued till a given date,
allowing sufficient time to
complete and submit the bid
by the closing date.
According to NAO 1999,
section 33 B, all ministries,
divisions and attached
departments of the federal
government, all departments
of provincial and local
governments, statutory
Continued on Page 11

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NEWS

2 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2021

China to provide 100mn doses
of COVID vaccine by year end

I

DT Pakistan Report

SLAMABAD - China's
Ambassador Nong Rong
recently called on President
Arif Alvi and conveyed that the
country would provide 100 million
doses of COVID vaccine to Pakistan
by year-end.
The ambassador informed that
China would provide six million
COVID vaccine doses this week
while 100 million vaccine doses
would be provided by the end of the
year.
He also referred to the recently
held Strategic Dialogue between the
two countries foreign ministers last
month. He expressed the hope that
the Dialogue would further push
forward the relations between the
two countries.
According to a handout released
on Radio Pakistan, both sides
emphasized the need for making
collective efforts to promote peace,
prosperity, and development in the
region. The meeting also underlined

Photo:
DT Pakistan

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

the need to enhance cooperation in
the field of Information Technology.
The president reiterated Pakistan's
commitment to "One-China Policy"
and firm support to China on core
issues of its national interest besides
also lauding the country's support
for Pakistan's core national issues
like the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,
Nuclear Suppliers Group and
Financial Action Task Force.
Arif Alvi underlined that Pakistan
is committed to the timely
completion of the CPEC project that
has huge potential to contribute to

Moot blames tobacco
industry for pushing
children towards smoking

I

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

DT Pakistan Report

SLAMABAD - Pakistan National
Heart Association (Panah) general
secretary, Sanaullah Ghumman, said
recently that children were the country`s
future, and the tobacco industry was
adopting various tactics to push them
towards smoking.

the socio-economic development of
Pakistan.
"Certain hostile players are not
happy over the project and are trying
to sabotage it, but they would not
succeed as both iron brothers are
strongly committed to implementing
the project," he said.
The president underscored that the
security of Chinese nationals
working on various projects in
Pakistan is the highest priority of
Pakistan. The government is making
all-out efforts for their protection
and security.

DRAP cancels registration
of conventional syringes

I

DT Pakistan Report

SLAMABAD - The Drug
Regulatory Authority of
Pakistan (DRAP) has
recently cancelled the registration
of conventional syringes as now
only single-use syringes will be
available across the country.
The authority said that the

syringes were taken into effect to
stop the spread of novel
coronavirus and HIV/AIDS. The
authority detailed that its medical
device section cancelled the
registration of 24 products of 21
firms. The DRAP also started
bringing reforms and introduced
an online application
management system named

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.
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Photo: DT Pakistan

He said the tobacco industry misled
policymakers in the name of generating
more revenue by involving influential
stakeholders, actors, singers and athletes.
"We all must expose this propaganda,"
he said while addressing a press
conference organized by the association.
"According to the Pakistan Institute of
Development Economics (PIDE), the
availability of cheap cigarettes in Pakistan
Continued on Page 11

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Photo: DT Pakistan

non-availability of conventional
needles and syringes would stop
its usage more than once. It added
that auto-disable (single-use and
disposable) syringes will now be
available across the country. The
restrictions on conventional

Pakistan Integrated Regulatory
Information Management.
Moreover, the authority issued
letters to the Pharma Bureau,
Pakistan Pharmaceuticals and
regional officers to use the online
system.

Dental Tribune International GmbH makes
every effort to report clinical information
and manufacturers' product news accurately
but cannot assume responsibility for the
validity of product claims or for
typographical errors. The publisher also
does not assume responsibility for product
names, claims or statements made by
advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors
are their own and may not reflect those of
Dental Tribune International GmbH.

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4 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2021
What inspired you to
select this particular
speciality?
Public health
dentistry is rarely the
primary goal for most
dentists, but the
potential it carries is
exponential. I was
searching for

will help us achieve preventive and oral health
promotion regimes.
What are the causes of mouth diseases in
Pakistan?
We a r e l i v i n g i n a w o r l d b e t w e e n
commercialization, poverty and hunger. Branding
even in food and products has shaken our oral
health. The life patterns and practices have shifted
the severity and pattern of diseases among
individuals. We see different patterns of oral diseases
linked to different socio-demographic and sociopolitical factors. Therefore, to control these
diseases, we need to control the factors causing
them to happen. Tobacco use, high sucrose diet,
and poor oral hygiene will always remain

INTERVIEW
In Pakistan, community dentistry
gets the limelight for a limited time
in academia only. The true essence
of this noble discipline lies in serving
the community itself
officers or interns in tertiary care hospitals as well
as in smaller hospitals located either outside the
city or in its rural vicinities. Their house job should
be supervised by senior faculty members, already
deputed or hired in those areas. At this time, they
can be offered attractive remunerations and provided
with all necessities. Once they have served their
house job or internship in different hospital settings,

The potential of public health
dentistry is exponential;

Dr Qaiser Ali Baig

various post-graduation options locally and
internationally after the completion of my
undergraduate education. I happened to stumble
upon an opportunity to flourish my skills in
Research Governance, Global Health and Public
Health Project Management, and I immediately
seized that opportunity. This field was not everyone's
cup of tea, so I decided to venture into something
different and make space for myself there.

Exposure is the key to getting
better at research. You will never know
what the world is working on unless
you collaborate with international
researchers and educate yourself
about their inclinations
What is your opinion about the scope of
Community Dentistry in Pakistan?
In the current scenario, unfortunately, in Pakistan,
Community Dentistry gets the limelight for a limited
time in academia only. The true essence of this
noble discipline lies in serving the community
itself. We rarely witness field trips and health camps
specially designed to address prevalent dental public
health-related issues. However, those are not enough
to serve the purpose. In my opinion, scaling up an
entire network of services will bring the change,
starting with one National Oral Health Policy. It is
time to realize the importance and integration of
oral health into general health. Luckily our statistics
are not in a horrible condition in all parameters,
but we must ask ourselves that are we waiting for
something bad to happen so our priorities can be
shifted towards oral health? A multi-sectorial
collaborative approach in the Ministries of Health,
Information and Education will bring a trickledown effect to educate and serve the population at
the grassroots level. Allocation of Public Health
Dentist jobs in schools, dispensaries and hospitals

by Dr Sonia Sameen

r Qaiser Ali Baig is currently serving as
the Vice Principal of the Dow
International Dental College, Dow University
of Health Sciences. He received his professional
education (BDS) at the Baqai Medical
University. He pursued his graduate studies
(MSc in Dental Public Health) in the UK at the
University of London, England.
A skilled professional and a true educationist
at heart, Dr Baig has many accolades to his
name. He is the author of more than 22 research
studies and a founding member of the IADR
Pakistan Section. In 2008, Dr Qaiser developed
the first-ever preventive dental OPD in any
dental college in Lahore. He has received
various awards, including an Outstanding
Teaching Excellency Award from the DUHS
in 2018. He has presented his studies in multiple
conferences, both locally and internationally,
for which he has gained significant recognition.
In recognition of his efforts in dentistry in
Pakistan, Dental Tribune Pakistan decided to
share a conversation with Dr Qaiser Ali Baig
himself.

eminent risk factors. We have to think out of the
box to tackle the social extended factors contributing
to the problem.
What steps can be taken to address the issues of
people living in rural areas?
The biggest issue of Pakistani doctors and dentists
is the brain drain. We don't see an equitable
distribution of doctors but rather see them moving
towards better opportunities, resulting in no service
provision in rural areas. In my personal opinion,
one thing that can be done which has already been
in practice in a few countries, students, after
graduating from dental school, must serve as house

they will be better equipped to practice in any part
of the country. This scaling-up of networks will
tackle human resources with minimal expenditure
in small towns and rural areas. I think this is the
part where feasibility and possibilities can be
explored.

Public health dentistry is
rarely the primary goal for
most dentists, but the potential it
carries is exponential
What are the rising trends in dental research
these days?
In my opinion, completing one well-formulated
research project that contributes even the bare
minimum to the literature of already published
topics is better than conducting flawed research on
novel ideas. On the other hand, this does not mean
that people should keep on conducting KAB studies.
Science has advanced into a phase where even the
finest details are being looked into vigorously. We
work on genomics, molecular epidemiology,
technology, and material development in dentistry.
Similarly, so many projects and so many horizons
can be explored in research; it all depends on the
topic that interests you.
Do you think research at the undergraduate level
has any worth? Would you recommend it to
students?
Even if it is not worth publishing, researching at
an undergrad level can provide students with an
idea about the process in the future. If not for
anything, then just for the sake of learning. You
learn with trial and error. No one is born a skilled
researcher. So, yes, I believe undergraduate students
should conduct at least one research part of their
academic activity.
Continued on Page 11

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NEWS

6 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2021

4TH BUMDC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021

K

Health Care: challenges and innovation

ARACHI - Bahria
University Medical and
Dental College (BUMDC)
recently organised the 4th International
Conference themed "Health Care:
Challenges and Innovation". It
comprised of pre-conference
workshops, poster presentations,
webinars, scientific sessions,
inauguration and closing ceremonies.
Pre-conference workshops
The pre-conference workshops were
conducted by both the medical and
dental sections of BUMDC. Dr Shama
Asghar and her team supervised and
managed the dental conferences. The
pre-conference sessions were held on
"Bonding in Orthodontics",
"Temporization for Fixed Prosthesis",
"Screening of Hepatitis B and C" and
"Rotary Endodontics. Dr Tabassum
Ahsan, Prof. Dr Saman Hakeem, Prof.
Dr Daud Mirza were the organisers
of their respective workshops. At the
same time, Dr Maria Habib, Dr Omair
Majeed, Dr Farnaz Ilyas, Dr Talha
Tanwir, Dr Afshseen Maqsood,
Dr Hasan Hameed, Dr Meisha Gul
facilitated them.
Poster Presentation
One of the key features of the
4th International BUMDC

K

Photos:
DT Pakistan

Conference, the
poster presentation,
was organised by
Prof. Dr Hassan Ali.
Twenty-five posters
were presented by
researchers from
Medical, Dental and
Allied Sciences
specialities. The Chief guest was Rear
Admiral (R) Nasir Mehmood (HI)
(M), Pro-Rector Research Innovation
& Commercialization, BUMDC. All
the Director Generals, Principal, Dean,
Head of Departments, students of

BUMDC showed
keen interest in the
scientific posters and
appreciated the
presenters. In the end,
certificates of
Appreciation was
distributed among the
presenters.
Inauguration Ceremony
The 4th International BUMDC
Conference inaugural ceremony was
held triumphantly amid Covid -19
pandemic at BUMDC. Major General
Aamer Ikram, (HI) (M), (SI) (M),

BUMDC conducts clinical case
presentation competition

ARACHI - The
Department of
Prosthodontics,
Bahria University Medical and
Dental College (BUMDC),
recently organized clinical
case-based presentations. The
competition was held amongst
the final year BDS
students posted in
Prosthodontics
OPD.
Dr Talha Tanveer,
MClinDent,
Prosthodontics, was
the event's judge,
and Prof. Dr Saman
Hakeem, Head of
Department of Prosthodontics,
BUMDC, presented the
awards to the winner. The
event was facilitated by Dr
Fatima Hassan, Senior
Registrar, Prosthodontics,
BUMDC and Dr Asim
Monpuri, Senior Registrar,

Prosthodontics, BUMDC. All
students were judged based on
their performance and the
content of the presentations.
Recognizing the need for
research in dentistry, the
concept behind this
competition was to indulge the

the preplanned outline
provided to the students by the
facilitator. The presentations
i n c o r p o r a t e d h i s t o r y,
examination, and framing of a
problem list based on cast
analysis, leading to treatment
plans. Moreover, the final
treatment was
backed up by a
literature search in
case report studies.
The presentations
were followed by
the interactive
session between
Photo: j u d g e s a n d t h e
DT Pakistan
participants.
clinical students in the
At the end of the
research-based phenomena and competition, the winners,
acknowledge them about Shehzadi Rubab, followed by
literature searches related to Ammara Noor and Saleha
their clinical cases. The Mahmood, were awarded the
competition was based on their Certificate of Appreciation for
clinical cases. Each of those their excellent presentations
cases was made according to skills. -PR

Executive Director, National Institute
of Health(NIH), Major General Aamer
Ikram, (HI) (M), (SI) (M), Executive
Director, NIH, Prof. Dr Tipu Sultan,
Chancellor, Malir University and Prof.
Dr Syed Mehmood Haider, a
renowned Maxillofacial Surgeon, were
the chief guests and speakers of the
event. Prof. Dr Ambreen Usmani,
Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and
Principal, BUMDC and Chairperson,
Organizing Committee, moderated the
event. She expressed her gratitude to
the patron of the conference Vice Admiral (R) Khalid Amin (HI) (M),
Director General, BUMDC, for being
immense support throughout the event.
Webinars
An International webinar preceded
the inaugural ceremony. The
presenters for the webinar were Dr
Jane Hislop, Academic Coordinator
and Clinical Educator, Edinburg
University, UK and Dr Nader M.
Hamdan, Associate Professor,
Consultant Periodontist and Dental
I m p l a n t S u rg e o n D a l h o u s i e
University, Canada. They delivered
the sessions on "The Role of wellbeing
and compassion in Healthcare" and
"Partial Extraction Therapy (PET) for
Continued on Page 11

Dr Qurat ul Ain joins as
Incharge of Research and
Outreach Programs at AIMI

A

BBOTTABAD - Dr Qurat Ul
Ain, Assistant Professor,
Abbottabad International
Medical Institute (AIMI), joined the
Community Dentistry Department at the
Dental College of AIMI as In-charge of Research and
Outreach Programs with effect from July 12, 2021.
The purpose of the program was to improve learning,
promote public engagement, and strengthen
communities by addressing their societal needs. It
also built partnerships between the communities and
the educational institutions. -PR

L

APPOINTMENT

AHORE - Professor Dr Beenish
Qureshi was recently appointed
as Head of Department of
Operative Dentistry, HITEC-IMS.
Prof. Beenish graduated from
de'Montmorency College of Dentistry, University of
Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore. She, later on,
completed her residency and gained a Fellowship of
the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) in
Operative Dentistry. -PR

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NEWS

8 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2021

DTMA announces the
new executive body

Photos:
DT Pakistan

FJDC, TIH take part in the
blood donation drive

ARACHI - Fatima Jinnah Dental
College (FJDC) recently collaborated
with The Indus Hospital (TIH) for a
Voluntary Blood Drive at Azam Town General
Hospital.
An awareness session was held the day before
at FJDC's clinical campus. The instructor
enlightened the potential donors with the entire
blood donation process and its benefit in
improved heart health, reduced cancer risk, and
enhanced production of new blood cells.
Students, faculty members and other volunteers

donated blood during the drive. Stations were
set up, and TIH representatives initially took a
medical history from the donors under strict
WHO guidelines and SOPs. The process went
very smoothly.
Certificates of appreciation and blood test
results were given promptly to the donors the
next day. FJDC and TIH thanked all the
participants for making that drive successful.
The purpose of this cause was to benefit
Thalassemic and Cancer patients, who were
always in dire need of blood for transfusion. -PR

Experts raise awareness at
Hepatitis B vaccination program

AXILA - HITEC-Institute
of Medical Sciences
(HITEC-IMS) Dental
College recently resumed
on-campus classes and other
activities. The decision took place
after ensuring that all the staff and
students were fully vaccinated.

AXILA - HITEC-Institute of
Medical Sciences (HITECIMS) Dental College recently
arranged a Hepatitis B vaccination
program free of cost for the staff of
clinical departments by following
the guidelines for the
immunisation of the health
care workers. The vaccine
Photo:
would administer in
DT Pakistan
three doses over six
months (0, 1, and
6 months).
The program took place under the facilitation of Maj
(R) Azhar Iqbal and in collaboration with Vikor
Enterprises. Dr Muhammad Mudassar Saleem, Associate
Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
(OMS), HITEC-IMS, Dr Maimoona Siddiq, Assistant
Professor, Department of OMS, HITEC-IMS, Dr Zuhair
Mehdi, Registrar, Department of OMS and Dr Farhat
Zahid, Department of OMS, HITEC-IMS, arranged the
activity.
The dental college is striving for the betterment and
safety of the faculty and staff. The program's purpose
was to raise awareness about the Hepatitis B virus.
Editorial note: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly
infectious and causes serious health problems worldwide.
It is a major infectious hazard for healthcare workers.
Workers coming in contact with blood or bloodcontaminated body fluids, therefore, should be
vaccinated. Vaccine-induced antibodies are produced
that provide immunity against clinical disease or
detectable viremic HBV infection. -PR

Photo: DT Pakistan

The dental college students were
anxiously waiting for the
resumptions of their classes and
rotations in different clinical
departments so that they would start
honing their skills again. During the
lockdown, modern methods and
technology like online teaching
came to aid. They helped fill the
vacuum created by the shutting
down of institutes, but on-campus
Continued on Page 10

SFCC holds a dental
pinning ceremony

EW MEXICO - Department of Dental
Health, Santa Fe Community College
(SFCC) recently conducted an SFCC
Dental Pinning Ceremony at SFCC Campus Center.

Photo:
DT Pakistan

Students received pins for completing different
courses. Among them, 12 students received pins
for getting a Certificate in Dental Assisting and
seven students for completing the Expanded
Functions Dental Auxiliary [EFDA] course. Two
students were awarded an Associate in Applied
Science (AAS) in Dental Health, and one student
Continued on Page 11

SSCMS presents the
Teaching Excellence Award

ARACHI - Prof. HR Sukhia, Principal,
Dental College, Sir Syed College of
Medical Sciences, SSCMS, granted Dr
Hijab Fatemah, Head
of Department and
Assistant Professor,
Oral Biology, SSCMS,
with the Sir Syed
D e n t a l Te a c h i n g
Excellence Award
2021.
Dr Hijab has been a well-known Oral Biologist
with years of teaching experience. The SSCMS
admin has firmly recognized the hard work and
devotion of the dental faculty in these hard times.
The dental faculty and students congratulated Dr
Hijab on this milestone achievement and wished
her the best. -PR
Photo: DT Pakistan

Dental College HITEC-IMS
recommences on-campus
academic activities

AHORE - Dental Trade and
Manufacturers Association
of Pakistan (DTMA) recently announced
its new executive body.
Ashraf Ali Ghauri, President, Liaquat Ali
Humayun, Chairman, Azhar Ali Khan, General
Secretary, Farrukh Hamid, Vice Chairman, Mazhar
Hussain Mirza, Vice President Punjab, Rashid
Chugtai, Vice President KPK, Nasir Feroz, Vice
President Sindh, Saleem Hayee, Secretary Finance
and Dr Wasib Hanif, Joint Secretary were the
members of the new executive body with the
respective designations.
DTMA has been a non-profit organisation founded
in 2002 by a group of manufacturers, wholesalers,
distributors and suppliers of products to provide
services to the dental profession and safeguard the
mutual interests of the small community. -PR

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NEWS

JULY-AUGUST 2021 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 9

ADA not backing compulsory
COVID-19 jabs
By Jeremy Booth
Dental Tribune International

HICAGO, U.S. - The
American Dental
Association (ADA)
says that dentists should be
vaccinated against COVID-19
but has stopped short of backing
compulsory inoculation within
the oral care workforce. As the

The parties added: "While we
recognize some workers cannot
be vaccinated because of
identified medical reasons and
should be exempted from a
mandate, they constitute a small
minority of all workers."
The statement, which said
that the number of experts and
institutions that supported
universal vaccination of health

Dentists are essential health
care providers whose
leadership, counsel, and
example will go a long way in
building vaccine confidence in
our nation," Klemmedson
wrote. "Let's do our part to
move public health forward. If
you haven't already been
vaccinated, please get
vaccinated and encourage your

SIOHS shares insight
on basics of research

ARACHI - Jinnah Sindh Medical University
(JSMU) recently conducted a lecture on
research methodology. The lecture titled
'Basics of Research Methodology' was conducted at
the Sindh Institute of Oral Health Sciences (SIOHS),
JSMU. Dr Ammar Ahmed Siddiqui, Associate
Professor, Department of Community Dentistry,
Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College, Multan,
supervised the lecture.
Photo:
DT Pakistan

The FCPS trainees under the department of
Operative Dentistry, Orthodontics and Prosthodontics,
SIOHS, attended the event. The speaker addressed
their queries regarding study designs and sample size
calculation for their various research projects.
Professor Syed Yawar Ali Abidi, Dean of Dental
Faculty, JSMU, Prof. Zubair Ahmed Abbasi, Principal,
SIOHS, JSMU and Prof. Irfan Qamaruddin, Head of
Department of Orthodontics, presented a certificate
of appreciation to the speaker. -PR
Almost 90% of U.S. dentists are fully vaccinated and ADA President Dr. Daniel J. Klemmedson
says that dental professionals are doing their part to limit the spread of COVID-19.
(Image: s-ts/Shutterstock)

Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2
continued to spread in the U.S.,
the association broke ranks with
other health and medical groups
by advocating for voluntary
vaccination in order to show
leadership and help to build
nationwide vaccine confidence.
In late July, dozens of U.S.
health associations and groups
jointly called for COVID-19
vaccine mandates for all health
care workers. In a statement,
the more than 50 signatories
wrote: "Due to the recent
COVID-19 surge and the
availability of safe and effective
vaccines, our health care
organizations and societies
advocate that all health care and
long-term care employers
require their workers to receive
the COVID-19 vaccine. This is
the logical fulfilment of the
ethical commitment of all
health care workers to put
patients as well as residents of
long-term care facilities first
and take all steps necessary to
ensure their health and wellbeing."

care workers was growing, was
signed by influential health
bodies including the American
Medical Association, the
American Academy of
Pediatrics and the American
Public Health Association.

Let's do our part
to move public
health forward
remain hesitant
Dr. Daniel J.
Klemmedson, ADA

In an email to ADA
members, ADA President Dr.
Daniel J. Klemmedson called
on dentists to be vaccinated but
said that the association was
following guidance from the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), which
currently does not recommend
universal vaccination for health
care workers.
"As we continue to hear about
rising infection rates due to the
Delta variant, I want to repeat
to you what I noted in my
December 2020 message:

team members and patients to
do the same."
No compulsory COVID-19
vaccination without full FDA
clearance?
CDC has not recommended
mandates for inoculation for
COVID-19 for health care
workers and, according to
former U.S. Surgeon General
Dr. Jerome Adams, the agency
is unlikely to do so until the
vaccines have been fully
approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration. "We can't
have mass mandates, we won'tyou're hearing this from the
military and from other
businesses-until you have full
licensure of these vaccines,"
Adams told broadcasting
network CBS on July 25.
ADA health policy data shows
that, in the U.S., close to 90%
of dentists are fully vaccinated
and that 93.4% have had at least
one vaccine dose.
"Clearly, dental professionals
are doing their part to limit the
spread of the virus, but we must
keep at it," Klemmedson wrote.

SSCMS holds a workshop
for dental students

ARACHI - The
Continuing Dental
Education (CDE)
Department of Sir Syed
College of Medical Sciences
(SSCMS) recently held a
workshop titled "Prevention
& Rehabilitation in
Dentistry".
Prof. HR Sukhia, Principal,
Dental College, SSCMS, led
the workshop with Dr Zain
Rauf, Assistant Professor,
Community Dentistry,
SSCMS and Dr Syed Ali
Raza, Assistant Professor,
Community Dentistry,
SSCMS.
Prof. HR Sukhia delivered
Pakistan
Photos: DT
the lecture on the role of
mini-implants in orthodontic anchorage. Dr Zain
shared insights on the role of implants in modern
dentistry and their impact on rehabilitation in
hypodontia and anodontia. Whereas Dr Syed Ali
Raza emphasized the role of implants in young
patients to prevent extra-cutting in crowns and
bridges. He also explained that early implant
placement creates more stability of bone in the future.
In the end, the admin of SSCMS greatly appreciated
the efforts of the dental faculty in promoting CDE
programs in the college. -PR

[10] => DTI-PDF.FH10

NEWS

10 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2021
By Franziska Beier
Dental Tribune International

P

HILADELPHIA, U.S. - Taste
disorders and other
neurosensory defects have
been reported postoperatively in a
number of patients who have
undergone extraction of the
mandibular third molars. Although
taste deficits are generally expected
to resolve within one year, the longterm effects of the surgical procedure
remain unknown. A recent study
conducted by researchers at the
University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia has challenged the notion
that third molar extraction only has
negative effects on taste, as it found
that patients who underwent the dental
procedure had improved taste abilities
decades after the surgery.
"Prior studies have only pointed to
adverse effects on taste after extraction
and it has been generally believed that
those effects dissipate over time," said
lead author Dr. Richard L. Doty,
director of the Smell and Taste Center
at the university, in a university press
release. "This new study shows us
that taste function can actually slightly
improve between the time patients
have surgery and up to 20 years later.
It's a surprising but fascinating finding
that deserves further investigation to
better understand why it's enhanced
and what it may mean clinically."
The researchers compared data from
891 patients who had undergone third

Third molar extraction
may have positive
effect on sense of taste

A recent study, conducted by the University of Philadelphia, represents one
of the first studies to analyze the long-term effects of third molar extraction
on taste. (Image: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)

molar extractions (on average two
decades earlier) with data from 364
individuals who had not undergone
the surgical procedure.
All participants had been tested for
chemosensory function at the
university's Smell and Taste Center
over the course of the last 20 years.
The whole-mouth identification test
incorporated presentations of five
different concentrations of sucrose,

sodium chloride, citric acid and
caffeine. Participates had to indicate
whether the test solutions tasted sweet,
salty, sour or bitter.
It was found that participants who
had undergone third molar extraction
showed a better overall test score in
all four tastes than the control group.
In addition, women outperformed men
in both groups, and taste function
generally declined with age.

"The study strongly suggests that
extraction of the third molar has a
positive long-term, albeit subtle, effect
on the function of the lingual taste
pathways of some people," said coauthor Dane Kim, a third-year student
in the university's School of Dental
Medicine.
Mechanism remains unknown
According to the researchers, there
are two possible explanations for the
enhancement of the sense of taste.
Firstly, the fact that hypersensitivity
can occur after peripheral nerve injury
caused by a surgical procedure such
as an extraction has already been
documented in other contexts.
Secondly, damage-caused by the
extraction of the tooth-to the nerves
that supply the taste buds in the
anterior region of the mouth may
cause inhibition of the nerves that
supply the taste buds in the posterior
region, resulting in an increased
sensitivity of the entire mouth.
"Further studies are needed to
determine the mechanism or
mechanisms behind the extractionrelated improvement in taste function,"
said Doty. "The effects are subtle but
may provide insight into how longterm improvement in neural function
can result from altering the
environment in which nerves
propagate."
The study, titled "Positive long-term
effects of third molar extraction on
taste function," was published on June
23, 2021, in Chemical Senses.

BUMDC organises workshop for screening of Hepatitis

K

ARACHI - The Department of Oral
Pathology, Bahria University Medical
& Dental College (BUMDC) recently
arranged a workshop for screening of Hepatitis
B and C as part of the 4th International BUMDC
Conference. Students and dental house officers
attended the workshop.
Prof Wahab Buksh Kadri, Principal, Dental
College, BUMDC, was the event's chief guest.
Prof. Daud Mirza, Head of Department of Oral
Pathology, BUMDC, chaired the event. While
Dr Afsheen Maqsood, Associate Professor, Oral
Pathology, BUMDC, facilitate the event with Dr
M. Shahrukh Khan Sadiq and Dr Jaweria Zeeshan.
Dr Shama Asghar, Head Of
Department of Operative Dentistry,
BUMDC and Dr Kiran Fatima,
Department of Dental Education,
BUMDC, were also present.
The workshop was comprised of
lectures and practicals. Prof. Dr Daud
Mirza delivered an interactive lecture
on the basics of the liver, its associated
diseases, their epidemiology and
pathophysiology. Afterwards, Dr

Photos:
DT Pakistan

Afsheen Maqsood elaborated Hepatitis B and C
comprehensively, along with their types,
transmission modes, and relevance in dentistry.
She later focused on different screening methods
used to diagnose hepatitis B and C. Multimedia
videos regarding ELISA and PCR were displayed
afterwards to aid the participants to understand
the newer technologies used for hepatitis screening.
Later, the demonstrator performed the practical
at the Oral Pathology laboratory, where the speaker
elaborated the device method for Hepatitis
screening to the participants. The participants
were encouraged to perform the test themselves
to improve their learning.
The students actively participated
throughout the whole session. The
workshop was designed to make the
students conscious regarding the
significance of Hepatitis in dental
practice.
In the end, the chief guest distributed
the certificates and shields to the
speakers. While appreciating the
efforts of organisers, he promised
more such events in future. -PR

[11] => DTI-PDF.FH10

JULY-AUGUST 2021 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 11

Transparency International ...
Continued from front page

corporations or authorities established by the federal
government or provincial government and holders of
public office shall furnish to NAB a copy of its contract
entered into. PMC is not known to have complied this
or not.
The PMC in its response issued had said that after
evaluating the proposals and credentials of 14 companies
to set up a computer-based examination system in
collaboration with the PMC selected SOAR Education
(Private) Limited, was required by the PMC to set up
a special purpose vehicle to enter into the joint venture
agreement with the commission to ensure that the joint
venture partner would not have any other conflicting
business.
In response to this request, SOAR Education (Private)
Limited immediately set up SOAR Testing and
Evaluation Platform (SMC-Private) Limited as the
special purpose vehicle to be the joint venture company.
The Joint Venture Agreement was thereafter executed
between PMC and SOAR Testing and evaluation
Platform (SMC-Private) Limited.
The payment made to the joint venture partner was
not a payment made by PMC from its funds. It was
the first payment representing the joint venture partners
share from the fees received from registered students
as provided for under the joint venture agreement.

Delta variant on the rise
Continued from front page

Dr Sultan said that the mutations in each new variant
of the virus make it very easy to "jump from one person
to another".
"This variant is spreading at a pace of 50-60%," he
said.
Speaking about the importance of the coronavirus
vaccines, Dr Sultan said the present COVID-19 vaccines
work on all types of variants of the virus.
He said, however, that each vaccine has an efficacy
rate and that it is possible that people who have been
previously vaccinated can contract the virus again.
Dr Sultan said that as per data collected by the NCOC,
it is evident that Pakistan is facing a fourth wave of
the coronavirus. He said after a decline in the number
of cases of the infection, large cities like Karachi were
reporting high positivity ratios.
When asked to identify the main cause of the cases
spiking in Pakistan, the prime minister's aide said
people were tired of business activities shutting down
again and again due to the different waves of the
infection. He said, as a result, many people forego
wearing masks and taking other precautions, which
leads to a spike in cases of the infection.
"However, we must keep in mind that coronavirus
vaccines are the most effective weapons against the
coronavirus," he said, adding that every person must
at least get one dose of the vaccine.
Answering a question about the coronavirus
vaccination certificate, Dr Sultan said the government
has established a portal that would help solve people's
problems related to obtaining certificates.
He said from August, people will be required to show
coronavirus vaccine certificates if they wished to travel
within Pakistan.
Pakistan's coronavirus positivity rate crossed 5%
after almost a month on July 15 as the country continues
to report a spike in its daily case count.
On May 24 this year, Pakistan had recorded a 5.21%
coronavirus positivity ratio, according to the NCOC
data. Currently, the infection rate stands at 5.52%.

The NCOC's data from July 15 shows that 48,910
tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and 2,545 of
them came back positive for coronavirus.
With 47 new fatalities from the virus, the national
death tally soared to 22,689.

The tobacco industry blamed for ...
Continued from page 2

is a major cause of smoking among the youth, 60pc of
smokers start smoking during adolescence."
"According to Sustainable Development Policy
Institute (SDPI), the annual consumption of cigarettes
in Pakistan was Rs86.6 billion. This is a worrying
moment for us," he said.
On the other hand, he said, the tobacco industry was
misleading the government by claiming a loss of Rs77
billion on illicit trade.
"Given the fact that the illicit trade in tobacco in the
country is not more than 10 to 15pc, if the illicit trade
had exceeded the limit, a copyright case would have
been registered by the tobacco industry,` he said, adding
cigarette consumption increased by 90pc in 2017-18
after implementation of the third tier due to poor
strategy.
"A recent report by the World Bank has made it to
impose 30pc federal excise duty (FED) on tobacco
every year to reduce tobacco consumption and increase
revenue in Pakistan. The annual revenue of Rs134
billion will be achieved," he said.
Ministry of National Health Services Deputy Director
Dr Samra Mazhar said the nation's health was the basic
duty of government.
"As we are aware, laws are being strengthened to
prevent health hazards; children are our future, every
propaganda will be exposed to save our children," he
said.
Health Services Academy Vice-chancellor Prof Dr
Shehzad Ali Khan said children of the nation are the
government's priority; effective measures should be
taken to protect young boys and girls from tobacco as
health cannot be compromised in any way.
"Effective action is a matter of urgency," he said.
Punjab Advisory Committee Chairperson Iram
Mumtaz, former MPA Tehseen Fawad, Khalil Ahmed
from SPARC, Sharq Khan from Chromatic, and others
said that smoking is the first step towards drug
addiction.

Interview with Dr Qaiser Ali Baig
Continued from page 4

Any suggestions you want to give for dental students
who are thinking to do research work in the future?
Research is not like doing a composite filling at the
clinic to get instant satisfaction in terms of both
aesthetics and monetary compensation. Research needs
passion and unconditional dedication. Yes, it does not
support you financially initially, but it will help you
build your career immensely once you know how to
conduct it.
Research projects done in Pakistan are still struggling
to level with the ones being conducted internationally;
how do you think this difference can be eradicated?
Exposure is the key to getting better at research.
You will never know what the world is working on
unless you collaborate with international researchers
and educate yourself about their inclinations. National
and international collaborations both are essential to
help us progress in the field of health research.
Teamwork is crucial in this regard as well. Many
international projects are being conducted in Pakistan
at present, but we need to do more, especially when

it comes to dental research. Expand your reach with
the help of effective teamwork and collaborations.
What advice do you have for aspiring dentists?
It is difficult to become a dentist; it is even harder
to become a specialist, consultant, or faculty member.
While the road ahead is a challenging one, it does not
mean that you should settle down after graduation
only. If you have a passion, pursue it and work towards
achieving the best of your capabilities. Always have
a vision of how you wish to progress whenever you
are presented with an opportunity. There is competition,
and it can be demotivating at times but never lose
hope; everyone will settle down one day, sooner or
later. It is your effort that will make you stand out in
a crowd. Secondly, empathy should be your prime
tool; become a good human being first. People should
remember you for your good deeds. When you reach
a good and respectable position in your life, try to
mentor, if not multiple, then at least one more person.
Inculcate in them values about professionalism,
knowledge, and hard work the same way your mentor
did for you. The struggle is a prominent part of life,
but you must learn to tackle any obstacles, big or
small, that come your way with resilience and patience.
Lastly, I will say that the key to success lies in respect,
persistence, hard work and faith. Put in everything
you have got to achieve your goals. Keep your
intentions pure and hope for the best.

4TH BUMDC international ...
Continued from page 6

the preservation of buccal plate." respectively.
Vice Admiral (R) Khalid Amin (HI) (M) DirectorGeneral, BUMDC, expressed his gratitude towards the
guest speakers and appreciated them on very informative
sessions. He also acknowledged his team's efforts and
congratulated them for successfully executing the 4th
International BUMDC conference 2021.
Dental Scientific Session
The sub-theme for this hybrid session was "Innovative
approaches for comprehending and treating dental
diseases". Rear Admiral (R) Nasir Mehmood, Prof. Dr
Navid Rashid, Principal, Liaquat College of Medicine
and Dentistry and Prof. Dr Kashif Ikram, Principal,
Baqai Medical University were the chief guests of the
session. Prof. Dr Mehmood Hussain, Dr Chander
Kumar, Dr Shahrukh Khan, Dr Mamoora Arsalan,
Dr Wajiha Anzar, Dr Saba Tabassum contributed as
the speakers. Dr Farzeen Tanwir, Chairperson,
Prof. Dr Saman Hakeem was the Co-chairperson, while
Dr Tabassum Ahsan was the Secretary of the session.
Dr Natasha Zaidi coordinated it.
The chief guests appreciated the speakers for the
enlightening sessions. They presented the appreciation
shields to the organisers of the session while Dr Wahab
Kadri, Principal, Dental College, BUMDC, presented
the shields to guest speakers and certificates to the
speakers.
The ceremony ended with Prof. Dr Nasim Karim,
Chairperson, Scientific Session, who declared the
conference's closing and thanked all the facilitators,
delegates and the entire team of BUMDC who had put
in all their efforts to make it a success.

SFCC holds a dental pinning ...
Continued from page 8

received a pin for getting a certificate in Advanced
Dental Assisting Skills.
SFCC's dental programs have helped dental students
to polish their skills and let them work alongside the
dentists in little time.

[12] => DTI-PDF.FH10

12 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2021

NEWS

Studies have shown that emotionally intelligent people are more likely to be successful in both their personal and professional lives.
(Image: inimalGraphic/Shutterstock)

Why emotional intelligence in dentistry is a vital skill
Dental Tribune International

EIPZIG, GERMANY Emotional intelligence (EI)
relates to the ways in which
an individual can understand and
manage his or her own needs as well
as recognise and deal with the needs
of others and the abilities to do this.
As a dental professional, these are
important skills to have because every
activity during a treatment process
requires connecting emotionally with
patients, and those who can put their
EI into practice effectively will be
more successful in the long run.
Even though dental professionals
work with people all day, they are not
necessarily the best at doing so and
often lack EI. For example, a study,
titled Emotional intelligence among
dental undergraduate students: An
indispensable and ignored aspect in
dentistry, showed that only 11.55%
of 186 undergraduate dentistry
students who were questioned in a
survey had good EI. In a paper
on the topic, author Dr Mohlab
Al-Sammarraie stated that, as a
dentist having many years of
leadership experience, he believes
that sustainable progress of the
profession depends on the ability of
all dentists to strike a balance between
meeting the emotional needs of the

patients and adequately performing
the required operational techniques.
Is trying to increase ones knowledge
a waste of time?
What Al-Sammarraie is referring to
here is the combination of EI and
intelligence quotient (IQ). This
relationship has been extensively
established, and studies have shown
that IQ correlates with cognitive
control abilities. In summary, research
suggests that EI matters more than
technical competence when it comes
to being a successful manager, that
individuals with better social skills
make better decisions and that the
return of investment on working to
improve EI is far higher than that for
working to increase ones knowledge.
This might be a hard pill to swallow
for practitioners who love to refine
their operative techniques (or
whatever their aim might be) to
utmost perfection. In fact, those
technical skills are worth very little
when they cannot be put into practice
because dentists cannot connect with
their patients emotionally and
continuously encounter frustrating
recurring leadership and staff
problems.
EI is central to success
The good news is that EI can be
learned. EI is described as the
existence of four dominant

behavioural traits called selfawareness, social awareness, selfmanagement and the ability to manage
relationships. The following
paragraphs investigate each
characteristic and consider some tips
as to how those traits can be translated
into everyday work life at a dental
practice.
1. Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the foundation
for being a good leader, but it requires
self-reflection. Assessing oneself
objectively daily can be a good way
to understand strengths and
weaknesses that were shown in certain
situations throughout the day. Asking
trusted co-workers to describe oneself
can also be a good source of insight.
Another great tip is to keep a journal
where goals, plans and priorities can
be written down for future reference.
2. Social awareness
To be more socially aware and,
essentially, a better leader, it helps to
practise some observational skills
which include learning to understand
what it means to truly listen to others.
In order to do that, it is essential to
pay attention to other peoples tone
of voice, watch facial expressions and
body language, develop a feeling for
the general mood in the office, and
try to notice the fine details which
can make a considerable difference.

3. Self-management
Often before someone has the
capability to concentrate on others
and pay attention to the seemingly
subtle things that happen in a practice,
he or she needs to gain control of his
or her own workload. Planning for
each workday and coming to meetings
prepared can make a big difference
and provide a feeling of control.
Another great way to practise selfmanagement is to set a goal, focus
the attention on this one task, reflect
on the task and then, mindfully, move
on.
4. Ability to manage relationships
All these tips should ultimately help
to improve relationships around the
workplace because people who work
on themselves develop a better
understanding of what is going on
inside the heads of the people around
them. To deepen connections with coworkers, it is important to identify
relationship needs, manage
boundaries, appreciate others and
schedule time to build relationships.
Essentially, the reason why EI is
central to ones success is that more
real-world problems can be solved
with people skills rather than with
pure intelligence. Luckily, everyday
life has many situations in store where
all four dominant behavioural traits
can be practised.

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