DT Pakistan No. 2, 2021

News / Interview

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PUBLISHED IN PAKISTAN

www.dental-tribune.com.pk

An exclusive
interview with
Prof. Dr Shahjahan Katpar

INTERVIEW

Page 4

MAR-APR 2021 - Issue No. 02 Vol.8

Only a few countries
enable denitsts to
administer vaccines

NEWS

Page 9

Low SARS-CoV-2
infection rate among
dental hygienists

NEWS

Page 10

Global celebration of healthy mouth

2

By Dr Sumaiya Hasan

020 certainly taught us that
health is prosperity and the
greatest blessing. Health
demands persistent efforts for
maintenance and is not a one day
job. However certain significant
dates throughout the year are
designated for various dimensions
of a healthy mouth.
One such example
is the World Oral
Health Day
(WOHD) which
is observed every
year on 20 March.
Healthy mouth and
WOHD: Reflecting
back over the years
WOHD, first
declared in 2007 and
fully activated in
2013, unites the
world to dedicate
efforts to reduce the
burden of oral
diseases, and
therefore shape the
future of societies.
Each year, a precise
theme on this day,
convey a strong
oral healthrelated message.
For the past few
years, the FDI
Wo r l d D e n t a l
Federation,
through powerful themes, has been
motivating people to attend their
dental hygiene. Few such themes
include 'Healthy Mouth, Healthy
Body.' 'Think Mouth, Think Health",
'Act on Mouth Health' etc. Last year
when the public observed this day
and the world united against the surge
of COVID-19, FDI urged the public
to unite for oral hygiene. FDI

announced the theme will be
'Say Ahh: Unite for Mouth Health.'
2021: Be proud of your mouth
This year's theme 'Be proud of Your
Mouth' is yet another card to swiftly
transform the attitude of the general
public towards oral health. The
message targets multiple oral healthrelated goals in the following ways.
. In order to be proud of your

of owning their dental health.
Owning their oral health will not just
motivate them to work for its
betterment but also consider it as an
integral part of their systemic health,
something which the dental
associations have been unanimously
working for many years.
Need of time
Regardless of date and time, dental

mouth, you have to strive for its
improvement. Therefore, the
thoughtful slogan of WOHD 2021
is indirectly motivating people to
nurture their dental health. This will
not only allow them to maintain their
oral hygiene but also get their dental
problems treated.
. "Be Proud of Your Mouth"
inclines individuals towards the idea

professionals around the globe have
been working remarkably well for
the oral healthcare of the public.
Nevertheless, WOHD can be
considered as a golden opportunity
to disseminate the message of oral
hygiene and to work in spheres where
there is room for improvement. Few
examples of such spheres include,
. Focussing on preventive aspect

and not just treatment.
. Focussing more on specific age
groups such as children and aged
people. Without a shadow of a doubt,
every individual is equal in terms of
dental treatment. But, certain
characteristics of the aforementioned
groups make them an important
target population. This is due to the
following reasons.
. Children are
at a stage
where they are
developing
habits including
dental hygienerelated protocols.
If the emphasis is
on correcting and
making them
habitual of
following correct
dental hygiene
protocols,
changes can be
seen. They may
follow it for the
rest of their lives
and
save
themselves from
the hassle of
dental treatment.
. The elders are
at a stage of life
when ageing
and
other
m e d i c a l
problems
interplay to
catastrophically impact the health.
This impact may also be observed
on dental health. The absence of
effective dental treatment may allow
nutritional deficiencies and further
add up to their problems.
Working on strategies that may be
helpful in providing basic oral
hygiene necessities to certain
populations.

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NEWS

2 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2021

I

DT Pakistan Report

SLAMABAD - Prime Minister
Imran Khan and first lady
Bushra Bibi have tested positive
for the novel coronavirus, it emerged
on 20th March 2021.
The premier's diagnosis was
confirmed by his aide on health Dr
Faisal Sultan. He said that PM Imran
was self-isolating at home after
testing positive.
Later in the evening, PTI Senator
Faisal Javed announced that Bushra
Bibi had also tested positive.
The news comes two days after the
premier received his first shot of the
COVID-19 vaccine. His diagnosis
was also later confirmed by the Prime
Minister's Office.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of
National Health Services clarified
that the premier was not "fully
vaccinated" when he contracted the
virus.
"He only got the first dose merely
two days ago which is too soon for
ANY vaccine to become effective.
Antibodies develop 2-3 weeks
after the second dose of 2-dose
COVID vaccines," it said.
Later in the day, Dr Sultan
addressed a media briefing to clear
up misconceptions about the prime
minister's diagnosis two days after
being vaccinated.
He said PM Imran had been
advised to isolate at home and rest.

"We are monitoring his health and
clinical parameters." He said that
currently the prime minister was not
in need of treatment or medical
intervention.
He went on to say that it was
important to understand how
vaccines worked. "No vaccine works
immediately after being
administered. Antibodies can take at
least two to three weeks to develop."
He said that for two-dose vaccines,
such as the one from Sinopharm,
antibodies could take two to three
weeks to develop after the second
dose.
"Therefore, it is obvious that the
premier's immunity had not
developed when he was vaccinated.
It is possible that he was exposed [to
the virus] before and it was already
present in his body," the PM's aide
said, adding that it was important to
clarify these questions.
Dr Sultan said that all those PM
Imran had been in contact with
would be tested and urged them to
isolate themselves for the time being.
He concluded by urging citizens to
follow precautionary measures to
stem the spread of the disease. "We
are seeing a huge number of cases
and the country's positivity rate is
9.5pc.
"The positivity rate has doubled
in the past week. In some cities,
it has crossed 10pc. So follow
precautionary measures, stay at home

Photo: DT Pakistan

PM Imran, first lady tests
positive for COVID-19

when possible, use face masks,
maintain a distance of six feet from
each other, refrain from visiting
crowded places and regularly
wash/sanitise your hands," he said.
PM Imran, 68, has been holding
regular and frequent meetings lately,
including attending a security
conference held in Islamabad that
was attended by a large number of
people.
He addressed the conference
without wearing a mask, and
attended another gathering to
inaugurate a housing project for poor
people in a similar fashion on
Thursday. Special Assistant to the
Prime Minister on Overseas
Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari was also
present on the occasion.
Yesterday, the premier had visited
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he
toured Malakand University,
inaugurated a new academic block
and addressed a gathering of
students. He had also visited the Swat
Motorway, where he inaugurated the
S w a t E x p r e s s w a y Tu n n e l s .
Special Assistant to Prime Minister
Shahbaz Gill added that PM Imran's
symptoms were not severe and he
had a "mild cough and fever".

DT Pakistan Report

Photo:
DT Pakistan

I

Editor Clinical Research
Dr. Inayatullah Padhiar
Editors Research & Public Health
Prof. Dr. Ayyaz Ali Khan

DRAP approves countrys first anti-corona
drugs phase II/III clinical trial
SLAMABAD - The country's first indigenously
developed anti-COVID-19 drug C-IVIG has got
approval for Phase II/III clinical trial from the Drug
Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).
According to an official of DRAP, the authority gave
approval for anti-COVID-19 drug C-IVIG developed
at Dow University of Health Sciences to enter phase
II/III clinical trial.
He said that the multi-centre trial will recruit 310
severe COVID-19 patients to further evaluate the safety
and efficacy of the drug.
He added the Phase I/II clinical trial report was
submitted to the clinical study committee by Principal
Investigator, Dr Shaukat Ali which showed 100%
recovery in severe COVID-19 patients and 56.5%
recovery in critical COVID-19 patients.

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

The committee appreciated the development of
indigenous treatment and also noted that it was the first
biological drug of Pakistan that had completed clinical
trials registered both nationally and internationally.
The official said that the Clinical Study Committee was
chaired by Dr Abdur Rasheed, Director, Division of
Continued on Page 11

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INTERVIEW

4 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2021
Dental Tribune Pakistan: This pandemic has
affected dentistry a lot especially the education
system. How was your response to such an
unprecedented situation?
Prof. Shahjahan Katpar: Yes, the COVID-19
pandemic has shaken the world. Everyone,
including
us, and the education
system has also been
affected negatively.
Post-graduate and
u n d e r- g r a d u a t e
training has been
suffered due to
lockdown. DUHS has
three dental colleges, so
the task to maintain and
regulate education was

which was established by Prof. Dr Mervyn Moin
Hosein, my mentor and supervisor. I am trying to
follow in his footsteps at the same time.
There's a difference in the degree's completion
time in various places. It takes four years in
Pakistan while it is five years in the USA. In
2012, we started a five-year program, but that
didn't seem to go well. What is your opinion on
this?
You are talking about my mission, vision, passion
and the main goal for this country, Alhamdulilah.
The five-year program that began at DUHS in
2012 had to be discontinued within three months
when they realized that certain things were not on
point and hence the process was halted.
Unfortunately, my senior colleagues who

succeeded, didn't catch up with the process and
hence it was delayed and eventually it was stopped.
God was kind to me when I was at LUMHS,
Jamshoro things started to look better again, all
thanks to Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Naushad Sheikh.
He allowed us to conduct Pakistan's first and
pioneer in dental education conference. We were
able to identify the setbacks in dental education
of Pakistan and concluded that the solution lies
in turning it into a five-year graduate program.
We conducted seminars and invited all the
honourable speakers from Pakistan. They suggested
that we need to have seven new dental specialities
taught as separate teaching and examination
subjects. This was something which does not exist
in Pakistan. All of these specialities are trained
internationally, and they have a different exam. I

Dental community requires their separate PDC

Prof. Shahjahan Katpar

By Dr Muattar Hanif

our priority and it was also our biggest challenge
as well. We tried our best by providing online
teaching, assignments, and lectures to continue
the process of education and not compromise it
in any form. DUHS took special measures to
ensure that the gap developed by online teaching
methods can be overcome by uploaded some
lectures ahead of time. It was impossible to escape
from the impact of pandemic, but we tried our
best and continue to do so.

The biggest dilemma is where
does letter of 'D' for dentistry
exist in the PMC?
You have an amazing career as dental
academician to sustain your passion for spreading
knowledge. How has been your journey so far?
It has been unique, beautiful, challenging,
thrilling, and crazy. You see, life is all about ups
and downs. I may appear calm and composed on
surface, but you don't know what went behind my
back. This is life! Every day is a new challenge.
I graduated in 1991 from Liaquat Medical College,
Jamshoro. A house job followed that, and I came
back to Karachi. Here I did my first membership
and then fellowships from the CPSP. I was very
fortunate by the grace of Allah. I am one of the
pioneers in the fellowship of the CPSP in dentistry.
I happen to be the first dental graduate from my
parent institute to do a fellowship in any dentistry
speciality.
So, hard work pays off, and Allah made things
very easy for me. I started my teaching career at
Hamdard University as an Assistant Professor in
2002 and moved to DUHS in 2006. I joined Bahria
University in 2010 or 2009 and then LUMHS in
2017. I am now back at DUHS and Insha'Allah
plan to retire from here whenever the time is right
in this whole process. I did my training in Pakistan's
first FCPS training centre in any dental speciality

P

rofessor Shahjahan Katpar is Dean and
Chairman Board Faculty of Dentistry at
Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS).
After completing BDS from Liaquat
University of Medical and Health Sciences,
Jamshoro, Pakistan in 1991, Prof. Katpar
passed both Fellowship and Membership
Examinations (FCPS/ MCPS) in Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) from the
College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan
(CPSP) in the year 2000 and 2001 respectively.
He formally started his career as Assistant
Prof. OMFS and Head of Oral Biology
Department in 2002 at Hamdard University.
In 2010, Prof. Katpar worked as Vice Principal
Dentistry, Associate Professor and Head of
OMFS department at Bahria University
Medical & Dental College (BUMDC) Karachi.
Later, he served as Associate Dean,
Post-Graduate Programs Dentistry and Masters
of Dental Surgery (MDS) Program Director
at Dow University of Health Sciences from
2007-2009. Prof Katpar then moved back to
his alumni varsity and joined as Professor
Maxillofacial Surgery and in-charge of Dental
Skill Lab in 2014.
Prof. Katpar is currently serving as Head of
OMFS Speciality, Dow Dental College (DDC)
at Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi
and Shaheed Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto
Institute of Trauma, DUHS from Nov 2017
till date.
Among many feathers in his cap, Prof.
Katpar has developed a new OMFS surgical
procedure, to treat fractured mandible infant
cases. The published document is available
on Google as 'Prof. Katpar's Innovative Splint
Technique.'
Dental Tribune Pakistan recently spoke to
him about his contributions to the dental
profession and representing Pakistan on the
international level.

think this was where the future lies. We need to
follow the international guidelines and introduce
behavioural sciences, forensic odontology and
research methodology, which are equally important
subjects. However, let me tell you that University
of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore did an excellent
job. They have started teaching behavioural
sciences in dentistry and got one step ahead. I still
think that to attain international standards; dentistry
has to move forward. We need new dental
specialities and faculty as well to improve the
profession. This will allow fresh dental graduates
to be more qualified and trained than us. That is
my aim.
What do you think is the crucial difference
between education here and abroad?
They are more focused in terms of research and
clinical skills and have structured training
programs. Their teaching is directed as they are
not very commercial oriented. They will produce
dental graduates based on society's need, whereas
we are in a commercial rat race. Growth in dental
colleges is exponential, and the focus lies in
quantity rather than quality. Another significant
difference is that they have standardised criteria
all set, which we lack. I also feel that only those
passionate about dentistry are enrolled abroad.

Growth in number of dental colleges
is exponential, and their focus lies
in quantity rather than quality
Everyone in the medical society took part in
helping the masses during the current situation
of pandemic, but dental community was sidelined. What is your view on this?
Unfortunately, political corruption has a major
role. Some of the stakeholders didn't allow us to
come forward and contribute. This is where the
Continued on Page 11

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NEWS

6 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2021

BUM&DC welcomes a new batch
with white coat ceremony

ARACHI - Bahria
University Medical
and Dental College
(BUM&DC) recently
welcomed the 9th batch of
BDS with a white coat
ceremony.

induction in this prestigious
institute.
T h e D i r e c t o r- G e n e r a l
congratulated the students on
their admission in the field of
dentistry. Dr Kulsoom Fatima,
Vice Principal, Dental Section,

the students for devotion to
their profession, hard work
and disciplinary rules in
university. Principal, Vice
Principal medical and nursing
institute and all faculty
members attended the

AMDC presents endodontic cases

ARACHI - Under the supervision of Dr Nabeel
Naeem Baig, Director Ameen Medical and
Dental Centre (AMDC) and Chairman ERCCIRS recently organised one-day workshop on
Endodontics-Case Presentation.
The course coordinator was Dr Bisma Anwar,
Administrative Officer AMDC and Educational Research
Centre-Centre of International Research Sciences
(ERC-CIRS).

Photo:
DT Pakistan

Photos:
DT Pakistan

Vice Admiral (R) Khalid
Ameen HI (M), Director
General, BUM&DC, was
invited as the chief guest.
Dr Wahab Bukhsh Kadri,
Principal, Dental Section,
BUM&DC, gave the welcome
address and acknowledged the
e ff o r t s o f s t u d e n t s o n

BUM&DC, addressed the
audience about the academic
years of the study program of
BDS, development programs
and seminars conducted in the
university.
Prof. Dr Ambreen Usmani,
Dean and Principal, Medical
Section, (BUM&DC), guided

ceremony. The Head of various
departments distributed the
white coats, while the
Principal, Dental Section took
oath from the students. The
program ended with group
photographs followed by a
sign in ceremony for the
students.-PR

BUMDC highlights the fundamentals about research

ARACHI - Bahria Medical & Dental
College (BUM&DC) recently conducted
a seminar on dental research seminar.
The seminar titled 'Fundamentals of Research' was
organised by Dental Research Cell (DRC). T h i s
seminar was headed by Dr Muhammad Khawaja
Hammad Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department
of Science of Dental Materials, BUMDC and
Organiser at DRC. He has been recently awarded
and recognised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the postgraduate degree program.
Prof. Dr Wahab B Kadri, Principal Dental Section and Head of Department of Oral Surgery,
BUM&DC, was invited to be a chief guest.
Dr M K Hammad Uddin, Dr Kiran Fatima and Dr Akbar Abbas Zaidi spoke on occasion.
The event concluded with distribution of certificates of appreciation was distributed among
organisers and speakers. -PR
Photos:
DT Pakistan

The lecture was delivered by Dr Amber Ahtesham,
Dental Surgeon, AMDC.
She discussed the endodontic case diagnosis, tooth
anatomy and morphology, methods of working length
determination, obturation techniques, procedural errors
its prevention & postoperative complications.
She also shared her experience and clinical cases with
the participants. -PR

HBS celebrates orientation
and white coat ceremony

SLAMABAD - The Dental Section of HBS
Medical and Dental College recently organised
'Orientation Day- White Coat Ceremony' for the
newly inducted BDS batch. The event was lead by Dr
Qurat-Ul-Ain, Head of the Department of Community
Dentistry.

Photo:
DT Pakistan

The event aimed to allow students to learn how things
work at their new institute and meet other students,
faculty, and staff members. A good orientation program
helps students feel enthusiastic about starting college
and smooths the transition to campus life and the
independence that comes with it.
The event started with students taking the Hippocratic
Oath and celebrate the White Coat Ceremony. During
the ceremony, a white coat was placed on each student's
shoulders. The Hippocratic Oath was recited by
Prof. Zahir Abbasi, Principal, Medical Section,
Continued on Page 11

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NEWS

8 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2021

FJDC holds orientation day of batch 29

ARACHI - Fatima
Jinnah Dental College
(FJDC) recently
hosted an Orientation Day of
Batch 29 with strict Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The event was held at the
Preclinical Campus. Every year
the orientation day is held to
help students get acquainted
with the environment and
explore the campus.
FJDC is the pioneer of dental
colleges in Karachi. It has
treated over one million patients
and produced top-notch dental
graduates who are excelling in
different fields worldwide. It
is a translated vision of Her
Excellency, Mohtarma Fatima
Jinnah, to establish a dental
college par excellence that
produces dental graduates who
are the best in the country.
The event started with
Quranic recitation followed by
the National Anthem. An
onscreen presentation was held
by Dr Hussain Askary, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO),
FJDC, who introduced the
esteemed faculty and
enlightened the audience about
the arduous task of opening the
first private dental college in
Karachi. He also summarized
FJDC's successful journey of
29 years of existence, including
the uphill regulatory task and
getting the learned faculty on
board. He shared the vision and
expressed it to make it evident
for the eventual stakeholders,
students, and guardians.
The white coat ceremony has
been part and parcel of FJDC's
culture. Unfortunately, this

International Womens Week

ARACHI - Fatima Jinnah Dental College
(FJDC) recently celebrated International
Women's Week to acknowledge women's
achievement, work toward eliminating challenges
faced by women today, and provide a platform for
women to raise their voice. It is necessary to have
women's rights because they are half the population
on earth. If we ignore them and not address their
issues, the world would be in great peril.

Photos: DT Pakistan

ceremony was not convened
due to COVID restrictions.
Therefore, to give the students
a visual feel, video footage of
the White Coat Ceremony 2020
was also shown. It was inspiring
to the students and comforting
for the parents.
Prof. Dr Tasleem Hosein,
Principal, FJDC) talked about
the college's promising future
for the new batch. She spoke
about priming students for
discipline, integrity, empathy
and compassion. Dr Babur
Ashraf, Vice Principal, Clinical
Campus, FJDC, said that the
ideology of FJDC is to make
the students responsible, ethical,
professional, life-long learners
who can practice independently.
D r S a b i h a M i r z a , Vi c e
Principal, Preclinical Campus,
FJDC, mentioned that she
would be monitoring the

students' progress daily since
assessment tests are taken place
weekly. She also pointed out
that the students can come to
her anytime to seek counselling
and that parents will be kept in
the loop.
Moreover, it was highlighted
that to cope with the upcoming
challenges, especially in the
context of compulsive
lockdowns, the college is
adopting innovative solutions,
including blending learning.
New flavours of time tested and
evidence-based teaching
methodologies are also to be
introduced to this new
induction. Staying connected
on WhatsApp was emphasized.
The new students will be trained
accordingly.
After the event was over,
students and their parents took
a tour of the campus. -PR

HITEC-IMS holds a one-day workshop on designing MCQs

FJDC celebrates womanhood on

AWALPINDI - The
Department of Medical
Education, HITECIMS Dental College, HITECIMS recently held a workshop.
The event aimed to highlight the
most critical method of
assessment through Multiple
Choice Questions (MCQs).
Dr Ambreen Gul, Head of
Photo:
Department (HOD) of
DT Pakistan
Biochemistry, facilitated the
comprehensive workshop. The workshop was attended by the HODs and senior faculty members
of all dental departments.
The event put a spotlight on various types and difficulty indexes of MCQs. The assessment of
students can be fair and impartial and honing faculty skills in making good quality MCQs. -PR

Dr Hussain Askary, Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), FJDC, said, "There is a lot to be desired
starting with gender equality, access to education,
health, equal job opportunities and even elimination
of domestic violence However I am glad that those
days are behind us when women needed platforms
and organizations to make statements like women
are equal to men. Today we have reached general
understanding that men and women both have
their strengths and weaknesses and that women
can also excel in any field. I see no reason why
men and women both should not work shoulder
to shoulder and progress towards a successful
Nation. In education and healthcare, women have
a very important role. They have many qualities
that makes them most suitable. The biggest
challenge in organizations is to provide women
an environment which is safe, congenial and
friendly for women, where they can have a good
work-life balance. FJDC is an institution which
is known for the healthy environment for girls and
women especially the women leaders that have
come up."
Dr Sabiha Mirza, Vice President, Pre-Clinical
Campus, FJDC, stated, "Women started out by
saying they want equality but now I think we are
looking at the world where there is no gender gap.
Each person is judged as an individual, be it a man
or a woman and you are judged on your qualities,
your productivity, your thoughts and how much
you can contribute to whatever work you are doing
in your home or any other environment. I think
FJDC is doing extremely well. I can safely say
80% of the students are females and also the faculty
staff is around 70% dominated by women.
This is really telling you that we are on the right
track".-PR

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NEWS

MAR-APR 2021 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 9

A recent FDI World Dental Federation global survey revealed that two-thirds of the responding countries are not allowing dentists to administer
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. However, dentists will be among the first to receive the vaccine in half of the responding countries. (Image: Leremy/Shutterstock)

FDI survey: Only a few countries enable
dentists to administer SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
By Iveta Ramonaite
Dental Tribune International

ENEVA, SWITZERLAND Like other oral health
professionals, dentists are
front-line workers who provide an
essential healthcare service.
Accordingly, many countries have
included dentists in priority
vaccination groups. But what about
allowing dentists to administer
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines? A recent
survey conducted by FDI World
Dental Federation revealed that only
one-third of the responding countries
permitted vaccine administration by
dentists. In light of the results, FDI
has urged more countries to enable
dentists to administer the vaccines.
Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are
considered crucial by many as they
could potentially help relax certain
control measures that are in place to
help slow down the spread of the
virus. The US Food and Drug
Administration has already granted
emergency use authorisation to three
vaccines: those developed by
BioNTech and Pfizer, Moderna and,
just recently, Janssen. In Europe,
besides the BioNTech and Pfizer and

Moderna vaccines, a vaccine from
AstraZeneca has been recently been
accepted as safe and effective by the
European Commission. According to
the World Health Organization, there
are currently 262 vaccines either in
preclinical or clinical development,
and FDI recently stated that, by late
January 2021, approximately 100
million SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses
had been administered in over 50
countries.
Vulnerable populations, including
the elderly and at-risk groups such
as healthcare workers, are among the
first to receive the vaccine. Dentists
have regular interactions with patients
about their oral and overall health
and have received extensive training
in the medical field, which is why
FDI believes that they are well
positioned to support the national
COVID-19 vaccination programmes.
However, the survey showed that
many member countries do not share
this opinion.
Survey results
The survey included 57 member
national dental associations from all
over the world and was facilitated by
FDIs COVID-19 Task Team. It
revealed that nearly two-thirds of the

responding countries had not granted
dentists permission to administer
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as part of
national vaccine roll-out strategies.
European countries that do not permit
dentists to administer the vaccine
include Switzerland, Portugal,
Austria, Denmark, Slovakia and
Russia.
According to FDI, lOrdre National
des Chirurgiens-Dentistes (National
College of Dental Surgeons) in France
has urged the French government to
permit dentists to distribute the
vaccines, but without success.
Discussions are also taking place in
Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Australia,
Kenya, Hong Kong and Germany,
FDI noted.
Oral health is a fundamental
component of overall health and wellbeing and oral healthcare is an
essential public service, Dr Gerhard
Konrad Seeberger, president of FDI
World Dental Federation, said in a
press release. Efforts should be made
to enable dentists to administer
COVID-19 vaccines when possible
within national legislation and
regulations, and with minimal
disruption to oral healthcare services,
he continued.

According to the survey results, the
countries that have granted vaccine
administration authorisation to the
profession include Cambodia,
Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Lebanon, Nigeria, Serbia, Slovenia
and the UK. In the US, approximately
20 states currently permit dentists to
administer SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
FDI noted that some of the
aforementioned countries have not
previously allowed dentists to
administer vaccines, or at least not
the influenza vaccine.
Besides vaccine administration by
dentists, the survey also examined
the prioritisation of dentists in
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine roll-out
programmes. According to the
findings, 53% of the responding
countries said that dentists would
be included in priority vaccination
groups, 12% said that they would
not, and 18% responded that the
vaccination programme and
priority groups were still pending.
Countries that did not include dentists
in the first phase of SARS-CoV-2
vaccine roll-out include Cambodia,
Colombia, Kazakhstan, Romania,
Saudi Arabia, South Korea and
Thailand.

[10] => DTI-PDF.FH10

NEWS

10 DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition MAR-APR 2021

Study reports low SARS-CoV-2 infection
rate among dental hygienists in the US
By Franziska Beier
Dental Tribune International

By Franziska Beier
Dental Tribune International

C

HICAGO, U.S. - As no
studies have reported on the
SARS-CoV-2-associated
experiences of dental hygienists in
the U.S., the American Dental
Hygienists Association (ADHA) and
the American Dental Association
(ADA) together conducted a survey
to investigate infection prevalence,
infection prevention and control
procedures, and associated trends in
mental health. They found that the
infection rate among dental hygienists
was lower than in nondental health
care workers, but higher than in the
general U.S. population. A significant
number of respondents reported
elevated anxiety and depression.
In October, a study regarding the
prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among
U.S. dentists based on a web survey
was published by the ADA. The
current survey was conducted
between Sept. 29 and Oct. 8 and a
total of 4,776 dental hygienists from
all 50 U.S. states and from Puerto
Rico participated in it.
The survey questions covered
probable and confirmed
SARS-CoV-2 infection results,
COVID-19 related symptoms
experienced in the last month,
and level of concern about
SARS-CoV-2 transmission to patients
and the dental hygienists themselves.
The questionnaire screened
respondents for depression or anxiety
and asked about their use of personal
protective equipment (PPE).
The researchers found that, at the
time of the survey, an estimated 3.1%
of the dental hygienists had or had
had a SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the
month preceding the survey, 70.3%
of the respondents had provided
dental care to patients, and for 90.7%
of them, this care included dental
procedures likely to generate aerosols.
Of the respondents who had
provided care in that month, 99.1%
reported at least one enhanced
infection prevention or control effort
in their primary dental practice in
response to the pandemic; however,
28.2% reported not following the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) interim guidelines
for PPE use for patient care. At the
time of the survey, these CDC
guidelines included wearing eye

Study paves way for
targeted therapy of
periodontitis

H

ALLE (SAALE)/LEIPZIG,
GERMANY - A new
approach to the treatment of
periodontitis could make the use of
antibiotics obsolete, as it targets only
the bacteria that cause the disease
while sparing those that are harmless.

According to a survey, 3.1% of dental hygienists in the U.S. were infected
with SARS-CoV-2 as of last fall. (Image: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock)
protection in addition to a mask during
all patient care encounters and using
an N95 respirator or the equivalent
during dental procedures likely to
generate aerosols. Among the
respondents, PPE use was
significantly associated with years of
experience as a dental hygienist, level
of concern about SARS-CoV-2
infection and level of PPE supplies
available, but was not associated with
any particular type of dental practice.

These practices and the low
infection rate assure the public
that seeking dental and dental
hygiene care is safe
The low infection rate among
dental hygienists can be attributed to
following many of the national
guidance practices in dental practice
settings, including telescreening
patients, taking temperatures of
patients and frequent hand sanitizing,
incorporating appropriate disinfection
practices, screening all dental team
members and taking their
temperatures, using face coverings
and practicing physical distancing for
all dental team members while in the
office setting, avoiding aerosolgenerating procedures when possible
and wearing appropriate personal
protective equipment, said Dr. JoAnn
R. Gurenlian, a lead author of the
study and chair of the ADHA Task
Force on Return to Work.
She added: These practices and
the low infection rate assure the public
that seeking dental and dental hygiene
care is safe.
The survey also asked participants
about their mental health and found
that approximately 25.70%
experienced elevated symptoms of

anxiety and about 16.05% experienced
increased symptoms of depression.
These symptoms were significantly
associated with age, the highest levels
of symptoms being among those aged
between 18 and 29 years and the
lowest levels among those aged 64
years or older.
When asked how these mental
health concerns may be addressed by
authorities, Gurenlian responded:
One of the most important things to
address elevated symptoms of anxiety
and depression is to acknowledge that
these symptoms exist and to then
encourage seeking of support.
National organizations can encourage
our professional colleagues to pursue
activities that relieve stress and
sadness through either professional
mental health counseling or engaging
in experiences such as mindfulness,
stress reduction, yoga, exercise, etc.
that provide a sense of being centered,
calm and at peace.
She went on to say that it is
important to appreciate the fact that
this is an exceptional time in the lives
of dental hygienists and that no one
should feel shame or embarrassment
about feeling anxious or depressed.
Taking care of ourselves allows us
to continue to be able to care for
others, she emphasized.
The researchers highlighted the need
to further support access to and use
of PPE. This may improve adherence
to CDC interim guidelines on PPE
use during dental procedures, the
researchers said.
The study, titled COVID-19
prevalence and related practices
among dental hygienists in the United
States, was published in the February
2021 issue of the Journal of Dental
Hygiene.

New research results indicate that a drug
could be developed in the future that
exclusively kills those bacteria in the oral
cavity that cause periodontitis.
(Image: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock)

It has been developed as a result of
a collaboration between the Martin
Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
(MLU), the Fraunhofer Institute for
Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI in
Leipzig and PerioTrap
Pharmaceuticals in Halle. The
researchers expect the new method of
treatment to cause few side effects.
To date, the treatment of
periodontitis has mainly involved the
use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that
combat all the bacteria in the oral
cavity. However, according to one of
the lead authors of the study, Dr Mirko
Buchholz from PerioTrap
Pharmaceuticals, this has some
disadvantages. "One side effect of the
treatment is that it also destroys all
the harmless or beneficial bacteria in
the oral cavity. In addition, the bacteria
can ultimately develop resistance to
the antibiotics," he explained in an
MLU press release.
In order to find a method of
eliminating only the harmful bacteria,
the research team developed a test
substance that combats glutaminyl
cyclase, a specific enzyme of the
bacteria that plays an important role
in metabolism. The underlying idea
was that inactivating the enzyme
would damage the bacteria and prevent
the development of periodontitis.
The developed substance was tested
for effectiveness in different clinics
and universities in Switzerland, Poland
and the US and was found to
successfully suppress the growth of
pathogenic bacteria.
Continued on Page 11

[11] => DTI-PDF.FH10

MAR-APR 2021 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 11

DRAP Approves Countrys ...
Continued from page 2

Pharmacy Services, DRAP. He said that a virtual
training on clinical trials will be arranged on April
5 by the Division of Pharmacy Services, DRAP
in 57 Muslim countries with the support of
COMSTECH and the International Center for
Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS),
Karachi University.
The country situation on clinical trials will be
presented by Dr Abdur Rasheed. CoordinatorGeneral, COMSTECH, Prof. Dr M. Iqbal
Choudhary, and CEO DRAP will chair the session
while Prof. Raza Shah and the speaker from Jordan
will deliver the lecture on clinical trials in Muslim
Ummah.

Interview with Prof. Dr Shahjahan Katpar
Continued from page 4

gap lies. We were neglected by the government,
as well. Let me add something important here,
the SARS-CoV-2 is not only present in the
oropharynx but also in the salivary glands. Thus,
practicing dental professionals are at very high
risk. But this message was not promoted the way
it should be. Regardless, we take a lot of
precautions. The clinical training has been affected,
and there has been a financial loss to all the
clinicians. COVID-19 has shaken the whole world;
we are no exception. Still, we all are trying to
serve the community as much as possible, and
things are slowly improving. Social media has
educated us all, but at the same time, it has created
confusion.
How would you recommend dentists to cope with
this pandemic?
This is a challenge. COVID-19 is here for a
very long time. I guess precautions are the only
remedy. The vaccination has raised other questions.
It has to go through multiple stages while the trial
goes on. It has its own set of complications, and
some conspiracy theories have surfaced too. It
may not be the only solution. At the same time,
it is necessary to prevent COVID through
precaution. Its pity that even educated people are
not wearing masks. Everyone has to be aware
about the importance of how to follow COVID
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The
mindset has to be changed. In future, hopefully,
COVID-19 might be treated just like the flu, but
currently, people are dying and affected by it.
Social education is essential to change this mindset
and also the only way.
Do you find online classes beneficial for dental
students, and has it affected continuity of
education?
I guess the students suffered, and so did the
clinical training. When you're teaching in person,
the level of understanding is different as compared
to teaching online. Students were not happy, but
we as teachers could not help it. We tried a lot,
and it was not that bad of an experience as faculty
contributed their best. I believe it depends on the
teaching skills of the individual because it can
vary. Online teaching was a challenge for the
faculty because this method of teaching have its
own requirements. Some teachers are gifted with

excellent communication skills, so they may guide
others to teach online. Yes, teaching was affected,
but clinical training was affected more, as OPDs
were closed. Patient inflow was limited, and
everyone was scared to take responsibility if
something went wrong. We being a public sector
organization varsity have to be very careful.
However, I would suggest a solution to improve
online teaching. The CPSP has a fellowship
training program, where the viva has a component
in which a long case is assigned. You are given
a patient, and within a given amount of time, you
have to take their history, conduct a clinical
examination and devise a treatment plan. Questions
from two examiners follow this. Every dental
speciality should assign a case to a group of
students, on the guidelines of the CPSP, while
maintaining social distancing. This may include
procedures like simple tooth extraction, fracture
reduction, local anaesthesia administration,
Apicoectomy, root canal, scaling and polishing
or managing orthodontic cases. This will help
students a lot. This is something I plan to follow
with my colleagues and principles. This is how
teaching should be done because it will help
students with history taking, diagnosing,
interacting with patients and other soft skills.
What do you think?
So, what are your take on this Pakistan Medical
Council (PMC) issue and doctors' registration
because many dentists were facing this challenge?
PMC needs to reconsider its policies. The biggest
dilemma is where does letter of 'D' for dentistry
exist in the PMC? It's because of some of our
senior colleagues who did not possess good
leadership qualities to stand on their feet. Firstly,
they think dentists alone cannot do anything alone.
Secondly, the medical profession has been ruling,
so now it is time to change. The 13-member PMC
has only two representatives from the dental
community. Do you think they can represent dental
community enough among medical graduates?
Its high time we have a separate dental council,
like other countries, such as India. We are still
lagging behind.
With so many people doing FCPS and MDS, the
limited number of seats available for residency
is becoming a problem for post-graduates. What
do you recommend in such situations for the
post-graduates?
More training centres are required, but they
should be fully developed. People at higher posts
are not mature enough, and they lack intellectual
and leadership skills. I guess dentistry is evolving,
and more opportunities will sprout with more
training centres. The medical profession always
stands out when compared with our work. This is
because of us and our medical and national
stakeholders. During the '80s, the dental profession
lacked academic leadership. The number of postgraduates was a few to none. They were not
allowed to come up, and dentistry suffered because
of that.
A final message for your young dental graduates?
Yes, they must have big dreams and follow them
with humanity and dedication. Whatever you do,

do it with all your heart and devotion. Try not to
go for short cuts as it will give you temporary
benefits, but you will suffer in the long run.
Believe in merit as hard work always pays off
and leave the result on Almighty. It would be
best if you never gave up. These challenges, if
done with dedication, make us better humans.
Explore subjects that don't exist in Pakistan.
Medical and dental education is a new area, and
each dental college is going to need this
particular department to form the backbone of
academic growth of dental colleges. This is how
I see things.

HBS celebrates Orientation and ...
Continued from page 6

HBS Medical and Dental College and Prof. Dr
Arshad Mahmood Malik, Principal, Dental
Section, HBS Medical and Dental College. Dr
Riaz Shahbaz Janjua, Chairman, HBS Medical
and Dental College, spotlighted the path of
professionalism and guided the students in
becoming good doctor. He also emphasised
professionalism and professional identity that's
broadened the view of students. Dr Jamila Riaz,
Director, Medical Education, HBS Medical and
Dental College, welcomed students in her speech
and spoke about the authorities' hierarchy.

Study paves way for targeted ...
Continued from page 10

Prof. Milton T. Stubbs, the other lead author
of the study and a biotechnologist at MLU,
explained the different variants of the researched
enzyme: "Our target, glutaminyl cyclase, comes
in two different variants. Normally, plants and
bacteria have one variant of the enzyme and
mammals another. The two variants work in a
similar fashion, but they differ significantly in
their structure. It's a bit like flat-tip versus
Phillips screwdrivers."
To the surprise of the researchers, the bacteria
that cause periodontitis possess the mammalian
variant of the enzyme. "This is crucial for our
approach because it gives us a possible target
so we only kill the pathogenic bacteria and leave
the harmless ones intact," said Buchholz.
According to Stubbs, the research team found
small but significant differences between the
bacterial enzymes and the human variant. These
differences are probably sufficient for the new
substance not to affect the human enzymes,
which is why only minor side effects are
expected.
The researchers concluded that the study
findings demonstrate that glutaminyl cyclase is
a promising target for the development of drugs
to be used in the treatment of periodontitis and
associated diseases. Further in vitro and in vivo
studies are necessary, and it may, therefore, take
some years before the research results in a
marketable drug.
The study, titled "Mammalian-like type II
glutaminyl cyclases in Porphyromonas
gingivalis and other oral pathogenic bacteria as
targets for treatment of periodontitis", was
published online on 5 January 2021 in the
Journal of Biological Chemistry, ahead of
inclusion in an issue.

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[cover] => DT Pakistan No. 2, 2021

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