DT Pakistan No. 2, 2023DT Pakistan No. 2, 2023DT Pakistan No. 2, 2023

DT Pakistan No. 2, 2023

News

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DTI-Mar-Apr'23.FH10






Published in Pakistan

pk.dental-tribune.com

MAR-APR 2023 - Issue No. 02 Vol.10

PRESIDENT ALVI FOR MORE
FOCUS ON PREVENTIVE
DENTISTRY

LATEST ORAL CANCER
DETECTION DEVICE
AVAILABLE IN PAKISTAN

LITHUANIAN RESEARCHERS
DEVELOP DENTAL
EQUIPMENT

President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the
dentists to think out of box to create
awareness about oral hygiene to
promote preventive dentistry.
Page 02

SBK International, a leading
importer of medical equipment in
Pakistan, has launched FDAapproved VELscope.
Page 06

The work of dental professionals
was significantly affected by the
COVID-19 outbreak. For this reason,
researchers from Lithuania.
Page 12

Oral hygiene awareness soars during
world oral health day in Pakistan
DT Pakistan Report
KARACHI: The World Oral Health
Day (WOHD) 2023, organized by
Dental Tribune Pakistan (DTP), the
official partner of the FDI World
Dental Federation, and Dental
News Pakistan. In collaboration

clinics across Pakistan to assess
their oral health status. If
diagnosed with any oral ailments,
individuals were urged to seek
treatment to safeguard their
overall health in the future.
Despite being preventable
through timely medical

Mouth'. These initiatives aimed
to raise awareness about oral care
and the prevention of oral
diseases among the population.
One of the most common oral
health issues highlighted during
the campaign was bad breath,
which can be caused by factors

platform to reduce the burden of
oral diseases by raising awareness
and educating the public, oral
h e a l t h p rof e s s i o n a l s , a n d
policymakers about the link
between oral health and overall
systemic health. Individuals were
encouraged to promptly report

Photos:
DT Pakistan

with its sponsor, Shield Pakistan,
the event effectively conveyed
the message of oral hygiene
awareness to millions of people.
The primary objective of the
campaign was to encourage
individuals to visit dental
university hospitals or reputable

inter vention, oral diseases,
including dental caries, gum
diseases, and tooth loss, remain
prevalent globally and regionally.
In light of this, various programs
were conducted during the
ongoing WOHD campaign, under
the theme 'Be Proud of Your

such as poor oral hygiene,
smoking, and underlying diseases
of the ear, nose, and throat. Bad
breath can have a significant
impact on a person's selfconfidence, well-being, and ability
to socialize and work comfortably.
WOHD serves as a global

any dental or oral problems by
visiting a dentist for routine
check-ups.
A s pa r t of t h e W O H D
celebrations, Dental Tribune and
Shield Pakistan collaborated with
various hospitals and dental
Continued on Page 4


[2] => DTI-Mar-Apr'23.FH10
NEWS

2

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2023

President Alvi for more focus
on preventive dentistry
DT Pakistan Report
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif
Alvi has urged the dentists to
think out of box to create
awareness about oral hygiene
to promote preventive dentistry
as the curative side was a bit
c o s t l y, pa r t i c u l a r l y i n a
d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r y l i ke
Pakistan.
The president was
addressing the inaugural
ceremony of the International
Oral Pathology and Aesthetic
Dentistry Conference held here.
Urging the par ticipants
including oral pathologists,
d e n t i s ts , p rof e s s o r s a n d
students, Dr Alvi said regular
brushing of teeth provided
almost 99 percent of prevention
from oral diseases. He said the
Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon
Him) also taught the frequent
use of Miswak as evident from
around 20 Ahadith in this
regard.
The president, highlighting
the importance of dentistry,
urged the dentists to establish
their collaboration with the
stakeholders to promote oral

Photo:
DT Pakistan

cancer registry, said after oral
hygiene, the focus should be
on the prevention of oral
cancer. He advised against the
use and sale of betel and other
addictive items that cause oral
cancer.
O n t h e o c c as i o n , t h e
president also launched the
Pakistan Federation of Laser
Dentistr y and distributed
shields among the organisers
and collaborators of the event.
Earlier, in her address, Pakistan
Society of Oral and Maxillofacial
Pathology (PSOMP) Federal
Zone President Dr Joharia Azhar
said Pakistan was among very
few countries where there was
no oral cancer registry. She also
highlighted the need for a body

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Tribune International GmbH.

Continued on Page 4

Pakistan’s first OSMF cell line
at Ziauddin University
KARACHI: The country's first-ever premalignant
primary Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) cell line
has been established at the Ziauddin University,
Karachi.
The cell line was established as a part of an
MPhil project of Dr M Shahrukh Khan Sadiq and
Dr Anaam Islam. Dr. Saima Akram Butt, Associate
Professor, Head of the Ziauddin University
Department of Oral Pathology, supervised the
project, while Dr Shumaila Usman, Assistant
Professor at the Department of Molecular
Medicine, was the co-supervisor and technique
expert.
OSMF is a chronic, progressive and
premalignant condition of the oral mucosa that
vitiates the quality of life of the patient.
The development of the oral submucous cell line
would serve as a reliable, safe and convenient invitro platform for experimentation for the disease.

Publisher and Chief Executive Officer
Torsten R. Oemus
Chief Content Officer
Claudia Duschek

hygiene and recalled the
successful oral hygiene
campaign run during the Covid19 pandemic.
He said the professional
dentists needed to reorient
their approach and increase the
quantum of preventive
healthcare in their education.
They should broaden their
focus to help people benefit
from prevention against oral
diseases, he added.
He said the professionals
would have to change their
paradigm for the maximum
benefit of the people to pay
back the huge financing made
by the country on their higher
education.
The president, who earlier
also inaugurated the first oral

DT Pakistan Report

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INTERNATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS

Photo:
DT Pakistan

Publisher and CEO
Syed Hashim A. Hasan
hashim@dental-tribune.com.pk
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 project was also shortlisted for the Hatton
Award Oral Presentation Competition at the 8th
Pakistan Association of Dental Research Conference
and bagged second prize at the 2nd International
Conference of Pakistan Society of Oral and
Maxillofacial Pathology.
Ziauddin College of Dentistry Principal
Prof Dr Mervyn Hosein lauded the efforts of
the entire research team for achieving
this significant milestone in dental research in
Pakistan. -PR

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Dental Tribune Pakistan cannot assume
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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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4

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2023

LCMD contest honours top
researchers from Sindh
KARACHI: As many as 60 dental
professionals and researchers
from various cities of Sindh,
including Karachi and
Hyderabad, submitted 30
articles and 33 synopsis for the
Sindh Research Icon 2023
contest, organised by the
Liaquat College of Medicine &
Dentistr y (LCMD) in
collaboration with its
Committee of Post Graduate
Medical Education (COPGE).
The initiative was aimed to
honour outstanding research
conducted in Sindh and to
reward excellence in research,
contribution to intellectual
development, social welfare
and promote publications with
higher impact.
The event's chief organisers
included LCMD College of
Dentistry Principal Dr Navid
R as h i d Q u re s h i , CO P G E
Chairperson Prof Dr Asif
Qureshi and Co-Chairperson
Prof Dr Tahera Ayub. Dr Asad
Farooq and Dr Rizwan Hassan
were the moderators and coordinators of the event that
was hosted by Dr Rizwan ul
Hassan and Dr Yusra Nasir.
"Following the vision of our
principal, College of Dentistry,
to emphasise the significance
of evidence-based practices as
health care professionals, our
faculty's mission is to focus on
basic principles of teaching,
research and innovation .This
marks the special day as all the
top performing researchers
a n d i n n o va to r s w i l l b e
acknowledged for their
contribution towards dentistry

Latest oral cancer
detection device
available in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: SBK International, a
leading importer of medical equipment
in Pakistan, has launched FDA-approved
VELscope - Vx-enhanced oral
assessment system in the country used to trace mucosal abnormalities
leading to oral cancers.
It is a unique device which centres
on a wireless, handheld scope that uses
natural tissue fluorescence to enhance
the way clinicians visualise oral mucosal
abnormalities that might not be visible
to the naked eye.

Photos:
DT Pakistan

and thus serving the
community. The purpose of
conducting the competition
was to provide a platform to
update the research knowledge
of the residents from different
fields of dentistry, which has
always been the prime aspect
of our institute," reads a press
release issued by the LCMD.
More than 60 participants
from public as well as private
s e c to r s g o t t h e m s e l v e s
registered for the competition,
submitting 30 articles and 33
synopsis, from across the
province.
Asia Pacif ic Dental
Federation President Dr
Mehmood Shah was the chief
guest of the event.
The judges of the research
contest included Prof Dr
Arshad Hassan (PhD Operative
Dentistry, HoD Operative
Dentistry & Endodontics at
DDC DUHS), Dr Nabeel Naeem
Baig (BDS, MPH, IPFPH(UK),
FRSPH(UK), FICCDE(Singapore)
Consultant Epidemiologist,
College Of Physicians &
Surgeons Pakistan, Dr Farah

Oral hygiene awareness soars ...
Continued from front page

colleges to organize on-ground oral health
activities in 17 cities across Pakistan. Free oral
health camps were set up in these locations,
allowing the masses to benefit from dental
care services. Additionally, free samples were
distributed to the visitors, ensuring adherence
to Covid-19 safety protocols during the
activities.
With oral diseases affecting 90 percent of
the global population during their lifetime,
WOHD serves as an important occasion to
shed light on the significant burden caused

(MBBS, MCPS,MS, PhD Public
Health), Dr Mahwish Kashif
(BDS, FCPS-OMFS), Dr Saleema
Gulzar (PhD., MScN, BA, BScN,
RN Associate Professor, and
Director of Research and
Innovation, Aga Khan
University, School of Nursing
and Midwifery Member, Haile
T Debas Teachers' Academy,
AKU).
The four in-house judges
included Dr Amna Rehman, Dr
Anjum Fahad, Dr Samreen
Malik and Dr Yusra Nasir, who
also conducted a question
answer session to enable the
trainees to understand the
research process thoroughly.
Out of 30 articles, the top 10
which were shortlisted were
submitted by Dr Muhammad
Nasir (JSMU), Dr Asad Farooq
(LCMD), Dr Aisha Salim (LCMD),
Ms Hadiqa Afzal (Altamash
Institute), Prof Dr Naheed
Najmi (LCMD), Dr Sehrish
Rehman (DUHS), Dr Saim
Siddiqui (LCMD), Dr Leelan
Kanwal (AKU), Dr Saeed Ullah
Shah (AIDM).

Supported by clinical studies, illustrating
the efficacy of the VELscope's tissue
fluorescence visualisation, more than
25 million VELscope Vx examinations
have been performed by over 15,000
dental practitioners in 23 countries
worldwide.
Keeping in view the necessity of the
device in the country, the Drug
Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP)
has registered it for sale in the country.

Continued on Page 8

Continued on Page 8

by these ailments. The event motivates the
public, oral health professionals, and
policymakers to take proactive measures in
their respective countries to improve the oral
health of citizens.
President Alvi for more focus on ...
Continued from page 2

of laser dentistry, considering the new trends
and innovations in the field.
She said the oral cancer registry would
help maintain the data of the disease in the
country, besides establishing collaboration
with the partners to broaden the network.

Photos:
DT Pakistan

PSOMP President Nauman Rauf said the
conference would help broaden the network
of professionals to help them embrace the
vision of innovations in the f ield.
Focal Person for Islamabad Women Chamber
of Commerce and Industry Naima Ansari
highlighted the role being played by women
chamber in the promotion of basic health
without any gender biases.
She said the chamber also had a special
focus on the importance of reproductive
health, including family planning, through
the collaboration of businessmen as well as
professionals.


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DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2023

AIDM holds a manuscript writing workshop
KARACHI: At a workshop on
manuscript writing held by the
Research Development and
Review Cell of Altamash Institute
of Dental Medicine (AIDM), for
house
surgeons
and
postgraduate residents, guest
speaker Dr Sohail Lakhani, senior
instructor at the Aga Khan
University (AKU), explained the
process in a professional way.
Manuscript writing is a crucial
aspect of the research process,
as it involves communicating the
findings of a study to the scientific
community. In simple terms, it is
the process of organising and
presenting the results of a
research study in a written form
that meets the requirements of a
specific journal.
Explaining the process, Dr Lakhani
said the f irst section, the
introduction, should contain an
overview of the research problem
and explain the significance of

the study, besides summarising
previous research on the topic
and identifying gaps in the
knowledge.
He further explained that the
second section should describe
the
research
methodology and
procedures used in
the study, including
the sample
size, data collection
methods, and data
analysis techniques.
And the last section,

Dr Lakhani explained, should
contain the findings of
the study, usually in the form of
tables, graphs, or figures. It should
also include a description of any
statistical analyses conducted.
The discussion is
the crucial part of
any study and
should contain
points
that
interpret the results
of the study and
discuss their
implications. It also
Photos:
DT Pakistan

compares the f indings with
previous research and addresses
any limitations or weaknesses of
the study.
And then we need to conclude
our research paper by
summarising the main findings
of the study and providing
recommendations for future
research.
The event was attended by the
faculty, house surgeons, and
pos tgraduate residents in
particular.
Altamash Institute of Dental
Medicine is known for its
brilliance and scholarly
repertoires, and it shall continue
to excel in the near future as well.
The research cell plans on finding
out new ways to educate,
empower, and enlighten their
doctors, they promises nothing
but excellence and strive to bring
a lot more exciting stuff for the
near future as well. -PR

A hands-on rotary endodontics workshop at BUDC

KARACHI: Bahria University Dental College, as
a part of its efforts aimed at honing skills and
knowledge of its students and giving them
exposure to a wide array of topics, treatment
modalities and the latest developments in the

dental sphere, holds different seminars and
workshops.
To this end, the BUDC Department of
Operative Dentistry and Endodontics
organised a hands-on rotary endodontics
workshop for the House Officers aimed at
equipping the fresh graduates with skill and
confidence of performing root canal treatment,
using rotary machines.
The event featured a presentation by Dr Hasan
Hameed, Assistant Professor of Operative
Dentistry, followed by a hands-on workshop.
In his lecture, Dr Hasan elaborated upon
the mechanics behind the rotary files and how

Photos:
DT Pakistan

they accomplish the cleaning and shaping of
the root canal system.
He gave a thorough overview of the steps
involved in rotary preparation and explained
the importance of each step. -PR

LCMD holds workshop on dentistry crown ceramics
K A R AC H I : A o n e - d a y
workshop on 'New
technological advances in
dentistry crown-ceramics'
was conducted at the
Liaquat College of Medicine
and Dentistry, organised by
the Continuous Dental
Education Commit tee
(CDEC).
After opening remarks
by CDEC Chairperson Prof Dr
Uzma Zareef, guest speaker Dr
Insiya Hussain, Clinical Assistant
Professor at Houston Dental
School, USA, who also runs a state
of the art multi-specialty private

Photos:
DT Pakistan

clinic in Texas, equipped with
scanner and in-house milling
equipment, conducted a session.
The session discussed milling of
all ceramics crowns, E-max and
zirconia in a dental clinic and the

advantages associated with it.
It also discussed the ability to
repair broken teeth with full
coverage crown in one
appointment and giving the
patient full mouth smile makeover

in a single visit.
Dr Insiya Hussain also
gave a live demonstration
on crown preparation of
PFM, zirconium, E-max and
veneers.
The participants termed
the workshop fruitful in
terms of improving their
clinical skills and refinement
of t h e i r p rof e s s i o n a l
knowledge.
The session ended with
presentation of a shield to
the guest speaker by CDEC
Chairperson Prof Dr Uzma
Zareef. -PR


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8

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2023

LCMD video contest
generates innovative
oral health ideas
KARACHI: The Liaquat College of
Medicine and Dentistry (LCMD)
organized World Oral Health Day
Video Competition to create
awareness regarding oral health
that is considered a gateway to
overall human health.

Haque, Head of Department of
Community and Preventive
Dentis tr y, enlightened the
audience on issues related to
public dental health.
College of Dentistry Principal Prof
Navid Rashid Qureshi highlighted

Photos:
DT Pakistan

Keeping in view the
importance of modern audiovisual techniques in the age of
social media to reach the target
audience and to promote oral
h e a l t h , LC M D c o m m u n i t y
dentistry department organized
the video contest.
The aim of this event was to
design innovative videos to
disseminate oral health ideas and
popularise oral hygiene practices
among the public to help prevent
various oral diseases.
The first, second and third year
BDS students were imparted video
designing techniques to make
high- quality videos, under the
supervision
of
Dr
Munnawarulhaque, Dr Asf ia
Anwar, Dr Nousheen Zehra, Dr
Sara Maqbool, Dr Afshan Faizan
and Dr Muhammad Hassaan
Sadiq of LCM Department of
Community and Preventive
Dentistry.
The BDS students were divided
into 12 groups and were assigned
the task of making oral health
v i d e o s a i m e d a t c re a t i n g
awareness among people about
the issue on the theme of 'Be
proud of your mouth for the
lifetime of smiles.'
On the occasion, in his
welcome note, Dr Munawarul

the importance of oral health in
maintenance of general health
and emphasised on educating the
people regarding oral hygiene, to
prevent oral health problems and
improving quality of life and
reducing the financial burden, in
later stages.
The event's chief guest Prof
Ambrina Qureshi, Chairperson,
Department of Community and
Preventive Dentistry and Principal
of the School of Dental Care
Professionals, Dow University of
Health Sciences, lauded the
innovative oral health ideas
expressed by the students through
their videos in connection with
the World Oral Health Day.
The first winner of the competition
was Group 11 (Second Year BDS),
while Group 8 (Second Year BDS)
stood second and Group 6 (First
Year BDS and Group 7 - Second
Year BDS) bagged third position
in the contest. A special prize was
presented to Group 1 (First year
BDS) to appreciate their hard work
at the preliminary level.
A special vote of thanks was
given by Prof Uzma Zareef,
Chairperson of Continuous Dental
Education Committee (CDEC) to
appreciate the efforts of all the
students and faculty for holding
the contest. -PR

Photo:
DT Pakistan

Free dental camp for
children with special needs
KARACHI: A free dental check-up camp for differently-able
children was organised by the Sindh Boys Scouts Organization
at its Training Centre in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi.
The aim of the camp was to conduct free dental examinations
of the children with special needs, who often face barriers in
getting health care services.
A team of four volunteer dentists -- Dr Ali Mustafa, Dr Tafseer
Fatima, Dr Farwa Abbas and Dr Kinza Jamil -- under the
supervision of Dr Sana Mirza conducted the camp.
The team, equipped with all the necessary dental tools and
equipment, set up two dental stations for the check-ups for the
children who arrived with their parents and other caregivers.
The dentists explained the check-up process to each child.
They first examined their teeth and gums, for any signs of decay
or infection, then demonstrated the proper way to brush and
floss through 'Tell, show and do technique'. They also gave the
children personalised tips on taking care of their teeth.
Some of the children who needed further dental treatment
such as fillings, root canals or extraction, were guided accordingly.
The team maintained the medical and dental record of each
child for further treatment and follow-ups.
Despite their special needs, the children were full of energy and
enthusiasm.
"Volunteering is a powerful way to make a positive impact
in the world, and we would encourage everyone to consider
volunteering their time and skills to help those in need. The
dental check-up camp for differently able children was just one
example of the many ways we can give back to our communities
and make a difference in people's lives," a team member said,
summing up his experience. -PR
LCMD contest honours top ...

Conference on Oral &
Maxillofacial Surgery held last
Similarly, out of 33 synopsis, at the Armed Forces Institute
the top five were submitted by of Dentistr y, Rawalpindi.
Dr Naqqash Ismail (LCMD), Dr
SBK International, held free
Hina Hameed (LCMD), Dr Safia seminars and demonstrations
Anwer (FJDC), Dr Wafa Idress at major hospitals of the
(AKU) and Dr Sana Zainab country for educating dentists,
(LCMD).
hygienis ts, maxillofacial
A poster competition was surgeons and ENT specialists.
also held in which participants
According to SBK CEO Mr
from different institutes like Saad Bin Kamil, it is need of
LCMD, AKU, FJDC, Bahria t h e h o u r t h a t r e g u l a r
University, Baqai Dental screenings for any mucosal
College, Ziauddin University abnormalities should be made
and Liaquat University of part of regular dental checkup
Medical and Health Science, at dental clinics and hospitals.
Jamshoro, took part. -PR
According to him, in the
past, due to non-availability of
Latest oral cancer detection ... such a screening tool in
Continued from page 4
Pakistan, a majority of the oral
The device was formally cancers remained undetected
launched and demonstrated at initial stages, resulting in loss
during the 13th Pakistan of human lives. -PR
Continued from page 6


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9

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2023

IDMC dentists
serve impoverished
school children
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Medical and
Dental College (IMDC) dentists provided free
oral healthcare guidance and services to
underprivileged students at a community
school in Rawalpindi in connection with the
World Oral Health Day.
The outreach programme was conducted
at the Qalam School, a trust-funded institute
for impoverished children.
The activity was organised by the IMDC
community dentistry department under the

ZDC house officers hold
OSMF awareness event
KARACHI: A team of house
officers of the Ziauddin
Dental College (ZDC)
arranged a programme to
create awareness about Oral
Submucous fibrosis (OSMF),
mostly caused by the habit

harmful items.
The ZDC team evaluated
around 50-100 people for
OSMF and provided them
useful information
regarding the harmful
impact of their habit of

also considers sweetened
and coloured areca nuts as
a potential carcinogen.
OSMF is a chronic,
precancerous condition
characterised
by
inflammator y reaction

Photos:
DT Pakistan

Photos:
DT Pakistan

guidance of the Head of the Department
(HoD)Dr Sheze Haroon, along with faculty
members Dr Saba Masoud and Dr Shandana
Sher. Other team members included house
officers from Islamabad Dental Hospital(IDH),
dental technicians and 2nd-Year BDS students.
The event included informative oral health
sessions, oral screening, and basic procedures
such as extractions of deciduous teeth, ARTs
and SDF fillings, while the complex cases were
referred to IDH for further treatment.
The college also distributed free dental
hygiene kits among the students and teachers.
The students appreciated the services
provided
by the team of dentists under the outreach
programme that
was a testament to the commitment of IDH
to promoting
oral health and hygiene, especially among
vulnerable communities. -PR

of chewing tobacco and
betel nut, among the
residents of Sikandarabad
and Shireen Jinnah Colony,
Karachi.
The aim of the exercise
conducted by the team,
comprising ZDC house
officers Dr Ali Mustafa, Dr
Zarmeen Intesara, Dr Tafseer
Fatima, Dr Dua Tariq and Dr
Mahlaqa Maroof, was to
warn the people of the
adverse effects of chewing
tobacco, betel nut, areca nut
and gutka on the oral cavity
and ultimately on the
overall health of those
getting addicted to these

Refresher courses for dentists
KARACHI: Ziauddin Dental College's operative dentistry department
conducted a series of refresher courses under the guidance of Prof Dr
Asmat Jameel, for its entire faculty and the faculty of Virtual Simulation
lab in February, 2023.
The refresher courses were conducted as a part of continued dental
education and for the professional development of the faculty.
The restorative dentistry course was facilitated by Prof Dr Asmat
Jameel, Head of the Operative Dentistry department. The endodontic
course was conducted by Prof Dr Hina Ahmed and the Paediatric dentistry
course was conducted by Assistant Professor Dr Sadaf Ali.
After attending all the demonstrations, the faculty performed all the
procedures on extracted teeth and phantom teeth in the skills lab. -PR

chewing tobacco. They were
also given toothpastes by
Colgate for better oral
hygiene.
The team also guided
people about the nutrition
that can help reduce the risk
of OSMF.
The habit of chewing
sweetened and artificiallycoloured areca nuts is
especially popular among
the youth due to its
addictive nature. Owing to
its sweet and addictive taste,
these items are termed
'sweet poison' by the dental
professionals. The World
Health Organisation (WHO)

inside oral mucosa. These
alterations cause fibrosis
and stiffness of oral mucosa
leading to limited mouth
opening and related
problems.
OSMF is one of the
commonest, potentially
malignant, disorders
amongst the Asian
population.
Arecoline, an enzyme
found in the areca nut is
found to be the commonest
cause of OSMF that has a
high prevalence in
Southeast Asia due to
use of tobacco and areca
nut. -PR

Photo:
DT Pakistan


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11

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2023

Novel coating material expected to accelerate
bone regeneration for dental implant procedures
By Franziska Beier,
Dental Tribune International
POHANG/SEOUL, South Korea:
Guided bone regeneration is
widely used for dental implant
surgeries. However, in patients
with insufficient bone quantity
and quality, this approach is less
successful and requires a longer
treatment period. Depending on
the configuration of the defect
s i t e s , t h e u s e of ba r r i e r
membranes alone to prevent the
ingrowth of non-osteogenic cells
is not sufficient to significantly
facilitate bone regeneration.
Therefore, researchers from South
Korea have developed an
osteogenic barrier coating
material that is expected to
improve the success rate of
implant treatment, regardless of
the bone quality of the implant
site.
Guided bone regeneration
maintains the space for bone to
g r o w a n d p r e v e n ts n o n os teogenic cells, such as
fibroblasts, from populating the
bone defect site, allowing the
bone to grow without
inter ference. Even though

Researchers from South Korea have developed a coating material for titanium mesh to accomplish
more reliable clinical outcomes using guided bone regeneration. (Image: Nihkuom/Shutterstock)

titanium mesh, one of the most
commonly used membranes for
guided bone regeneration,
performs well and is
b i o c o m pa t i b l e , i t c a n b e
susceptible to soft-tissue ingrowth
through its pores.
Therefore, the joint research team
from Pohang University of Science
and Technology (POSTECH),
Kyungpook National University
in Daegu in South Korea and
Korea University Anam Hospital
in Seoul developed a coating
material to accomplish reliable
clinical outcomes using guided
bone regeneration.

The research team coated a
titanium mesh with the
osteogenic barrier material
loaded with bone morphogenetic
protein-2 (BMP-2), an
osteoinductive growth factor, and
found that it performed
excellently as a bioactive physical
barrier and was capable of
sustained release of the BMP-2.
The coating prevented the
ingrowth of soft-tissue cells and
attracted osteogenic cells in vitro,
significantly facilitating bone
regeneration. When used on a
titanium mesh in vivo in calvarial
defects in rats, the novel coating

led to a distinguishable
acceleration of the formation of
new bone.
Lead author Prof. Hyung-Joon
Cha, head of the Department of
Chemical Engineering at
POSTECH, commented in a press
release that the study findings
demonstrated the possibility of
improving the success rate of
dental implants, regardless of the
original bone condition.
The researchers concluded
that their “osteogenic barrier
coating can open new avenues
to accomplish satisfactory clinical
outcomes in bone therapies as a
promising and practical [guided
bone regeneration] approach with
further expansion to more general
bone tissue engineering including
titanium-based prostheses”.
T h e s t u d y, t i t l e d “ C e l l
recognitive bioadhesive-based
osteogenic barrier coating with
localized deliver y of bone
morphogenetic protein-2 for
accelerated guided bone
regeneration”, was published
online on 18 January 2023 in
Bioengineering and Translational
Medicine, ahead of inclusion in
an issue.

Creator of Anterior Growth Guidance
Appliance is now under federal investigation
By Anisha Hall Hoppe,
Dental Tribune International
SILVER SPRING, US: The Anterior
Growth Guidance Appliance
(AGGA) was already undergoing
a US Food and Drug
Administration
(FDA)
investigation into its safety, when
the US Attorney’s Office for the
Western District of Tennessee and
the US Department of Justice
announced that they were also
conducting an investigation
which could result in criminal
charges for AGGA inventor Dr
Steve Galella, his company, the
Facial Beauty Institute, and
product manufacturer Johns
Dental Laboratories.
Nearly three dozen patients
have sued for injuries caused by
the device, which was never

Photos submitted to CBS News of a 21-year-old male patient who was fitted with an AGGA
device and later examined by Dr Kasey Li, a California maxillofacial surgeon. Dr Li says that images
A and C show the patient at the start of his AGGA treatment and images B and D show the end,
after the AGGA had created gaps behind his canines. (Image: Kasey Li/CBS News)

registered with the FDA as a
medical device. Dr Galella argues
that he did not submit it for FDA
evaluation because he did not

believe the entity had jurisdiction
over his product, although it is a
medical device. Pitched as being
able to treat conditions such as

temporomandibular joint disorder
and obstructive sleep apnoea, the
device has never been clinically
evaluated. According to the FDA,
injuries can include tooth
dislocation, bone erosion,
exposed roots, tooth loss and
damaged gingivae.
The device was rebranded as
the Osseo-Restoration Appliance
and is intended to produce
m a n d i b u l a r “ re m o d e l l i n g ”
through using pressure. In video
training footage shown as
evidence during an AGGA lawsuit,
Dr Galella states: “You can sell
good health. You can help people
and at the same time you’re going
to make a wheelbarrow full of
money. And it’s all OK, and it’s all
fair. We’re not cheating anybody
and we’re not being greedy, but
that just comes with the territory.”


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12

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2023

Lithuanian researchers develop dental
equipment that destroys viruses
By Iveta Ramonaite,
Dental Tribune International
KAUNAS, Lithuania: The work of dental
professionals was significantly affected by the
COVID-19 outbreak . For this reason,
researchers from Lithuania have recently
developed protective equipment that reduces
the risk of dental professionals becoming

area to be disinfected, and the greater the
distance, the longer the surface should be
irradiated,” explained project manager Prof.
Vaidas Gaidelys of the School of Economics
and Business at KTU.
“HINS rays have a high degree of efficiency
in destroying SARS-CoV-2 virus cells, but [they]
can also be used to protect against various
forms of influenza or other viral cells,” he noted.

dental professional. This transparent protective
barrier is disinfected with UV radiation via
lamps integrated into its frame as particles
produced during dental procedures settle on
it.
The dental water disinfection module uses
HINS light sources to disinfect the liquids
collected via a saliva ejector during dental
treatment. Disinfection of this liquid, which is

Lithuanian researchers have recently developed three pieces of equipment to enable access to oral healthcare during virus outbreaks by protecting dental care providers. (Image: astarot/Shutterstock)

infected with viruses such as SARS-CoV-2
during the provision of care. They hope that
this will avoid the constraints on accessing
oral healthcare experienced by patients during
the pandemic.
The equipment, consisting of an air purifier,
a protective shield and a dental water
disinfection module, was created by scientists
from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU),
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and
the Senamiescio Stomatologijos Klinika dental
clinic. The devices use short-wave high-intensity
narrow-spectrum (HINS) ultraviolet (UV) rays
to destroy the viability of various viruses.
Although UV disinfection methods are not
new in dentistry, the researchers noted that
most products on the market use different
wavelengths of UV-C, and these radiation
sources have limiting usage requirements.
“For example, the quartz lamps that are
still used for indoor disinfection complicate
the specialist’s work, because during
disinfection people have to leave the area.
Also, the effectiveness of these lamps in
destroying virus cells declines in the wider
operating range—there should be a small
distance between the germicidal lamp and the

The devices
The air purifier consists of an aerosol
disinfection module, which is placed such that
it does not interfere with the dental
professional’s work, and an air suction pipe,
which is directed at the patient’s face at a
distance of 20 cm. “The air then travels through

Project manager Prof. Vaidas Gaidelys from Kaunas University
of Technology School of Economics and Business. (Image: KTU)

the primary filter to the closed container inside
the air purifier, where the virus cells attach
[themselves] to the secondary filter. For a
certain time, this filter is illuminated with HINS
rays, which destroy the virus cells,” Prof. Gaidelys
explained.
The protective shield is a glass barrier
module that separates the patient and the

typically drained into the general sewage
system, ensures that virus cells do not enter
the environment. According to Prof. Gaidelys,
the module can be integrated into existing
dental systems.
Entering the global market
According to Prof. Gaidelys, the dental
equipment was created in less than a year and
is now in the commercialisation stage. The
researchers have applied for a patent, have
presented the devices to the US market and
hope to enter the global market soon.
“Mass production requires a production
base and experience in adopting innovations,
so we chose the US market as they are very
interested in innovations and are ready to
invest in them. However, we are also interested
in distributing the product in the European
Union,” Prof. Gaidelys concluded.
The devices were developed on the basis
of market research on products intended to
protect against SARS-CoV-2. That research
was published online on 1 February 2023 in
Sustainability in a study titled “Changes in the
competitive environment and their evaluation
in the context of COVID-19: A case study”.


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