DT Pakistan No. 4, 2022

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ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
IS ESSENTIAL, NOT
COSMETIC
Dental practices across the
metropolis are being raided by the
Sindh Revenue Board, Government
of Sindh.
Page 02

JULY-AUGUST 2022 - Issue No. 04 Vol.9

DENTAL INDUSTRY IN
DOLDRUMS

SMILEDIRECTCLUB TO
LAUNCH SDC+

The continuous fluctuations in
USD is causing an acute shortage
of materials and equipment in the
dental industry.

The pioneer of direct-to-consumer
(D2C) clear aligner treatment will
begin selling a premium, dentist-led
treatment package within the next
six months.
Page 09

Page 04

PM Shahbaz dissolves PMC, NLE
and MDCAT issue hangs in balance
DT Pakistan Report
ISLAMABAD: A notification issued
in the Gazette of Pakistan states
that the Prime Minister of
Pakistan has withdrawn
nominations of the members of
PMC with immediate effect on
the 19th August 2022. New
members for the commission
shall be appointed in the coming
days.
PMC was set up in October
2019 after the former medical
and dental regulatory body,
PMDC was removed. Recently,
the PMDC bill had resurfaced and
the Senate was to decide whether
the bill should be passed.
The Islamabad High Court had
announced in April that the
appointment of members of the
PMC, including Dr Arshad Taqi
(President) and Mr Ali Raza (Vice
President) was illegal. The court
had instructed the removal of
these members immediately.
It was also requested by the court
to continue the daily functions
of the PMC until the new
appointments take place in office.
The notification published by
the national newspaper of the
country, The Gazette of Pakistan
has revealed that Mr Ali Raza and
Dr Arshad Taqi , along with other
members of the PMC have been
removed from the regulatory
body, with immediate effect. The

Photo: DT Pakistan

PMC, has therefore, been
disestablished.
While the issue of the PMDC
Bill 2022 is awaiting the green
signal by the Parliament, PM
Shahbaz Sharif ia all set to bring
PMDC back in office.
This has raised concern for the
students, set to give their NLE
and MDCAT exams this year. The
political turmoil has caused
bewildered students to stress
over the future of their careers
and education.

Speaking to Dr Ayyaz Ali Khan
on the situation, he said "We have
been informed that all decisions
passed by the PMC, shall continue
as scheduled. The interim
administration does not have the
authority to undo matters."
The MDCAT exams; shall be
taking place at the provincial
levels as per schedule unless
announced otherwise. The NLE
however, have been scrapped for
all undergraduate students all
together. All exams and processes

shall be on schedule during the
period of appointment of the new
members of PMC, which is
predicted to go on for the next
two to three months. Therefore,
any decision made prior to the
removal of PMC members shall
remain as is.
Regarding the question of
whether PMDC will come back in
place of PMC, Dr Ayyaz Ali Khan
said that it is unclear what the
future holds since this, is a
political matter.

[2] => DTI-PDF July-Aug 22.FH10

NEWS

2

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

PMC launches online portal for
aesthetic physicians, surgeons
DT Pakistan Report
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical Commission
(PMC) has recently launched an online platform
for the registration of aesthetic physicians and
surgeons in Pakistan. This registration will be based
on Pakistan's credentialing requirements for
aesthetic medical practice.
Aesthetic Medicine in Pakistan
T h e C o m m i s s i o n h as a p p ro v e d t h e
"Credentialing Pathways for Practice of Aesthetic
Medicine in Pakistan," in accordance with which
specialists in various medical fields, such as
dermatology, plastic surgery, etc., as well as general
medical practitioners and general dentists, will be
inducted into the respective "Aesthetic Physicians
Register" and "Aesthetic Surgeons Register."
Aesthetic Physicians and Surgeons
The Credentialing Pathways identify the
procedures that require formal training and
certification for an Aesthetic Physician or Surgeon
to be acknowledged. In addition, the Pathways
identify the procedures that an Aesthetic Physician
or Aesthetic Surgeon with particular certification
pathways can execute. Any future cosmetic medical
procedures that meet the requirements of
noninvasive and minimally invasive may be added
to the list as medical science improves.

The rising demand for Aesthetic Medicine
According to a PMC official,
the popularity of aesthetic
medical and surgical
procedures has increased
during the past several years.
Since it is a consumer-driven
service, the PMC feels it is
essential to protect both the
patients' and the public's best interests.
According to him, the commission recognised
the growing number of people who demand not
only a healthy environment but also one that is
aesthetically beautiful. According to him, a
substantial number of medical professionals as
well as ordinary medical practitioners were already
engaged in the practice of aesthetic medicine,
and the rising demand has proportionately piqued
the interest of others in entering this field.
Additionally, he claimed that the number of
individuals practising aesthetic medicine was
expanding.
He continued by stating that patient safety
issues are of the utmost significance and that this
practice, as well as all other medical specialisations
and practises, must be regulated through
specialised credentialing processes. This will allow
patients and regulators to understand the
capabilities and limitations of a given medical
practitioner.

Orthodontic treatment is
essential, not cosmetic
DT Pakistan Report
KARACHI: Dental practices
across the metropolis are being
raided by the Sindh Revenue
Board, Government of Sindh.
Dental clinics are being urged
to regis ter their practice
according to the Sindh Sales Act
2011.
According to the Act, any
services provided by the clinic
that the board considers
"cosmetic" or "aesthetic" would
require patients to pay a
handsome amount of tax, when
obtained.
However, the services that
SBR might consider cosmetic
may fall under essential dental
services. The Act states that
cosmetic or aesthetic surgery,
including plastic surger y,
c o s m e t i c d e n ta l s u rg e r y,

Photo: Unsplash

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Syed Hashim A. Hasan
hashim@dental-tribune.com.pk
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Sheikh M. Sadiq Ali

orthodontics and aesthetic
dentistry all fall under aesthetic
procedures.
The NHS (National Health
Service), England's national
health care providing body,

allows for certain essential dental
procedures to be provided to
British citizens, that would like
to attain public sector healthcare
services at reasonable costs.
Continued on Page 6

Dental Tribune Pakistan
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Fax: +92 21 35836940
www.dental-tribune.com.pk
info@dental-tribune.com.pk
Dental Tribune Pakistan cannot assume
responsibility for the validity of product claims
or for typographical errors. The publisher also
does not assume responsibility for product names
or statements made by advertisers. Opinions
expressed by authors are their own and may not
reflect of Dental Tribune Pakistan.

[3] => DTI-PDF July-Aug 22.FH10

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4

NEWS
DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

Dental industry is in
IADSR conducts
doldrums with uncertainty workshop on Exodontia
and unstable dollar
DT Pakistan Report
K A R AC H I : T h e c o n t i n u o u s
fluctuations in USD is causing an
acute shortage of materials and
equipment in the dental industry.
The industry which used to import
in bulk for better pricing and stock
availability is now reduced to
ordering small quantities resulting
in higher costs.
The industry is facing a big
drop of almost 50% in sales, and
government purchases are
almost negligible. The
demand for
materials is
still

there, but equipment demand has
fallen sharply.
The dental industry adopts
the policy of wait and see
amid rising dollar
Responding to a question,
Ashraf Ghauri, the president of
t h e D e n t a l Tr a d e a n d
M a n u f a c t u re r s A s s o c i a t i o n
(DTMA), said that sales are down,
and the industry currently has
adopted the policy of wait and
see till the US dollar stabilizes.
The price variation is such that
only in-stock items can be quoted
to the customer, and anything
which needs to be imported
cannot be quoted at all, he added.
The industr y is also facing
difficulty establishing letters of
credit, and sending remittances
are becoming increasingly
difficult, Mr Ghauri said.
It is difficult to raise prices
with declining sales
While talking to Dental News,
another major player in the
industry Idrees Qadri of Glow Pak,
said that things have become very
difficult, and ever-rising costs and
continuous upward flight of the

USD against the rupee is making
it even more difficult to cope. The
industry is also finding it difficult
to raise prices amid declining
sales.
T h e g o v e r n m e n t te n d e r
business has also come to a halt
with no budgets available to the
provincial or district health
departments. It is only the private
clinics which are generating some
Photo: iStock

sales. Young dental graduates are
also finding it difficult to set up
clinics after having paid million in
fees alone.
With
gas,
electricity and petroleum prices
going up, the patient in-flow is
also dented. "I am always thinking
p o s i t i v e l y, b u t t h e re c e n t
uncertainty is making the situation
more diff icult; no foreign
company is willing to sign up for
JVs", he concluded.
Inflation has also adversely
affected dentists and patients
alike.
The dentists are also finding it
difficult to raise their charges
based on the daily increase in
prices. The shortage of materials
makes it difficult to plan surgeries
and timely treatment of patients.
There is a trend in the market to
offer dental services against a
payment plan, which can no
longer be offered owing to new
prices every day. The recent trend
of dollar spikes is making life
diff icult across the industry.
The industry feels that it is time
that SBP intervenes to stabilize
the dollar lest it continues its free
fall and make things worse.

LAHORE: Institute of Advanced Dental Sciences and Research
(IADSR) conducted a two-day workshop on 'Exodontia'. The
workshop was organized as a part of the IADSR 14th Professional
Diploma in Advanced General dentistry (PDAGD) from July 2 to
July 3, 2022.
It was facilitated by Prof Arshad Mahmood Malik (BDS, MDS,
FICD, FPFA) and Dean - HBS Dental College, Islamabad. The
session was initiated with a brief overview of the history of
Exodontia.
Next, the
anatomy of each
tooth
was
discussed in
detail by the
facilitator.
F u r t h e r m o r e , Photo: DT Pakistan
g e n e r a l
considerations for root curvature and root angulation were
taught to the participants. Prof Arshad explained components
of pre-surgical assessment including history, review of the
system, physical examination, extra and intraoral examination,
radiographic examination and laboratory examination.
Furcation and the technique to measure the depth of furcation
was also demonstrated to the participants. The second day of
the workshop was completely dedicated to carrying out the
hands-on with an aim to address the complications faced by
the practitioners during their practices. Prof. Arshad demonstrated
the uses of different dentistry instruments such as elevator,
forceps, and impaction. The use of Coupland elevators, cryer's
elevator, and angular elevator in different procedures were
elucidated to the participants. A detail hands-on session was
carried out on tooth extraction on patients and problems faced
during procedures were solved by the facilitator. It was an
interactive two-day workshop which was concluded on positive
feedback by the participants. -PR

IADSR achieves
aesthetic excellence
with minimal tooth prep

LAHORE: The Institute of Advanced Dental Sciences and Research
(IADSR) held a one-day course titled "Restoration of
Endodontically Treated Teeth." The workshop took place as part
of the IADSR's 8th Professional Diploma in Advanced General
Dentistry (PDAGD).
Participants were
Photo: DT Pakistan
facilitated by Dr
Salman Ashraf Khan,
BDS,
FRACDS
(Australia), Head of
the Department and
Assistant Professor at
the University of
Lahore. His primary focus was on Class IV and the closure of the
diastema. Dr Salman Ashraf explained that achieving aesthetic
excellence with a non-aggressive minimal tooth reduction
technique and direct adhesive composite resin restoration is
possible. In addition, he lectured about shade choosing, colour
mapping, and various preparation techniques.
Continued on Page 6

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[6] => DTI-PDF July-Aug 22.FH10

6
IADSR hosts hands-on session
on pediatric dentistry
LAHORE: Considering the significance of paediatric
dentistry, the Institute of Advanced Dental Sciences and
Research (IADSR) hosted a one-day workshop on the
subject. It was held as part of IADSR's 14th Professional
Diploma in Advanced General Dentistry (PDAGD).
A specific one-day workshop on paediatric dentistry
was arranged to provide participants with the chance to
learn under the guidance of a highly experienced and
recognised facilitator. The facilitator was Dr Arham Nawaz
Chohan, professor of paediatric dentistry at CMH Lahore.
Dr Arham elaborated on paediatric dental patients'
examination and treatment planning, including the pros
Photo: DT Pakistan

and cons of working without a plan. In addition, he
instructed on treatment planning principles and
components, the significance of antibiotics in children,
and behavioural management approaches for children.
The students were provided with an in-depth discussion
of pulp therapy in primary dentition, ranging from clinical
diagnosis to treatment processes.
Under the direction of the professor, the students
placed posterior stainless steel crowns and anterior strip
crowns on typhodont teeth. The facilitator resolved all
difficulties the participants encountered during the process
performance. In an interactive session, Professor Arham
Chohan elaborated on Pulp therapy in young permanent
teeth and injuries to primary and permanent teeth. In
addition, he commented on iatrogenic instances in
paediatric dentistry and the function of radiography in
the primary dentition.
Moreover, he also instructed on apexogenesis,
apexification, space management in children, problems
of pulpotomy in primary molars, reattachment of fractured
tooth fragments, MTA pulpotomy, and local anaesthetic
in children. Hence, the workshop was completed by
achieving its desired educational results. -PR

Dr Naseer Ahmed completes
Ph.D in prosthodontics
KARACHI: Prof Dr Naseer Ahmed
successfully completes Ph.D. in the subject
specialty of prosthodontics from Universiti
Sains Malaysia.
Dr Naseer Ahmed is the only Ph.D. holder
in the subject so far in Pakistan after the late Prof Dr Fazal
Ghani. Dr Naseer is affiliated with the Altamash Institute
of Dental Medicine, Pakistan as head of the prosthodontics
department. Dr Naseer is the author of numerous research
articles with a cumulative impact factor of 100.
Dr Naseer is a member of the Malaysian Association
for Prosthodontics, International Association for Dental
Research Malaysian Section, Jury member of the Asian
Academy of Prosthodontics, IADR Pakistan Section, and
the Pakistan Prosthodontics association. -PR

NEWS
DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

Integrated Curriculum
workshop at BUDC

KARACHI: A workshop on Integrated
All the participants were divided
Curriculum was held in the VLC into a group of five and were asked
(Video link Conference) room by the to perform a task in which they had
department of dental education at to make a weekly timetable related
BUDC on 1ST July 2022.
to their f ield of a subject by
The Organizer of the workshop i n c o r p o r a t i n g a n i n t e g r a t e d
was Dr Syed Akbar Abbas Zaidi, curriculum in it and presenting it
Assistant Professor and Dr Kulsoom after the lunch break. All the groups
Zahir, lecturer dental
presented their
e d u c a t i o n
i n t e g r a t e d
department. The chief
c u r r i c u l u m
guest speaker of the
incorporated
session was Prof Syed
timetables and the
Moyn Aly (Director
s p e a k e r
academic JSMU). The
summarized and
workshop was
c o r re c te d t h e m
at tended by two
where corrections
faculty members from
were needed, then
Photo:
different dental
assignments were
DT Pakistan
departments.
shuffled among the
The session
groups,
and
s ta r t e d w i t h t h e
participants were
introduction of the workshop topic, asked to find out the strengths and
the roadmap of the workshop was limitations of each other making it
laid, and learning objectives were a learning experience for all the
given after which the speaker started participants.
with the brainstorming session
In the end, the speaker showed
in which he asked the participants the ar ticles and research on
about their concepts of an integrated integrated curriculum and how its
curriculum. On receiving different incorporation has been helpful for
views of integrated curriculum s tudents and guided all the
from the participants the speaker participants for further research on
started clearing their concepts an integrated curriculum.
through his lecture on "what actually The honorable guest speaker was
is integrated curriculum and how it awarded a shield by the Principal
can be incorporated into our Dental section of Bahria University
curriculum?"
Health Sciences. -PR
Orthodontic treatment is essential ...
Continued from page 2

Apart from root canals, crowns,
bridges and dentures, these included
orthodontic procedures as well.
According to the NHS, if a maligned
dentition causes discomfort to the
patient, or hampers their daily life,
as well as the position and function
of the teeth, orthodontic procedures
in those circumstances becomes an
essential service.
Maligned teeth can affect
circulation in the gums, affect
breathing patterns, and also increase
the incidence of dental caries in the
mouth.
SBR's imposed tax on orthodontic
procedures is an issue of grave
concern for those that will consider
orthodontic treatment, a far-fetched
option in the improvement of their
daily eating habits and lifestyle. The
Act should be reevaluated to allow

patients the freedom to attain
orthodontic treatment with ease.
IADSR achieves aesthetic...
Continued from page 4

He placed great emphasis on
dental photography and expounded
on how it might improve the quality
of professionals' work. The facilitator
also taught the composite layering
method, peg laterals, and finishing
processes, including shaping,
contouring, and polishing.
The participants were also given
a case study to solve and discuss
newly recognised challenges in clinical
practice. Participants made diagnoses,
devised thorough treatment plans,
and carried out practical treatments.
Dr Salman Ashraf provided extensive
hands-on procedures and their
discussion, as well as answers to
ques tions raised during the
performance of procedures. -PR

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[8] => DTI-PDF July-Aug 22.FH10

NEWS

8

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

Fundamentals of
research workshop
KARACHI: A workshop on the
Fundamentals of Research was
held in the conference room by
department of dental education
on 28th July 2022.
The Organizer of the workshop
was Dr Syed Akbar Abbas Zaidi,
Assistant Professor and Dr
Kulsoom Zahir, lecturer dental
education department. The chief

guest speaker of the session was
international speaker Dr Umer
Daood, Senior lecturer (Head
Restorative Dentistry Division,
School of Dentistry, International
Medical University, Malaysia). The
workshop was attended by the
faculty members from different
dental departments and house
officers.
Principal Dental section Dr
Wahab Kadri gave a brief
introduction of the guest speaker.
The speaker started the session
with the importance of need of

young scientists in Pakistan, how
far behind Pakistan is in research
and technology. The speaker
reflected on the importance of
research in academics and why
academics need more research.
Speaker guided the house officers
on how to select international
universities based on their world
ranking.
After a tea break
of 15 mins the session
Photo:
was continued again
DT Pakistan
in which the speaker
gave a lecture on the
tricks and tips of
writing a good
manuscript, how
introductions should
be written and the
importance of
reference in article
writing. The speaker also showed
his articles and research published
in world renowned journals and
his experimental invention of a
device which mimics human
mind. Dr daud also showed his
current research on the modified
bonding agent and how far he
has concluded. The speaker
guided all the participants and
especially young graduates house
officers to develop the habit of
reading articles every day and to
take interest in conducting
research. -PR

JMDC earns first place in
quiz competition
KARACHI: Jinnah Medical and Dental College earned first place in the
quiz competition at the APDC 2022 convention hosted by the AsiaPacific Dental
Photo:
Federation and
DT Pakistan
Pakistan Dental
Association.
K a r a c h i
Medical and
Dental College
hosted the
tournament,
w
i
t
h
participation
from sixteen
dental institutes in Sindh. The quiz tournament consisted of two
rounds, with the winning team consisting of BDS final year students,
including Saahil Rai Oad, Sarah Adnan, and Heeba Hanif.
The dental faculty of JMDC is pleased with the accomplishment and
intends to earn other honours for the institution in the future. -PR

LCMD considers
synergistic approach to
Intelligence Enhancement
KARACHI: The Department of
Health Professions Education
(DHPE) at Liaquat College of
Medicine and Dentistry (LCMD)
conducted a hands-on
workshop titled "Emotional
Intelligence".
Emotional intelligence (EI)
makes it possible for health
care providers to have positive
interpersonal relationships,
enhance communication, and
facilitates constructive conflict
resolution. Additionally, higher
EI has been shown to have a
favourable correlation with
higher performance levels.
Considering the requirement
to provide training for LCMD
instructors to enhance their
professional and personal lives,
DHPE invited Prof. Dr Shams
Nadeem Alam, a professor in
general surgery and a medical

Photo:
DT Pakistan

educator, to act as a facilitator
for the conference.
The facilitator conducted a
highly engaging and interactive
workshop, where participants
were asked to fill out the EI selfassessment questionnaire and
i n te r p re te d t h e re s u l ts .
Moreover, relevant action plans
w e re a l s o d i s c u s s e d to
strengthen EI. Prof. Dr Uzma
Zareef, Head of Oral Pathology
Department, LCMD, presented
a certificate to Prof. Shams
Alam. -PR

FCPS induction at BUDC
Karachi: Bahria University
Photo:
Dental College inducts 1st
DT Pakistan
batch of FCPS trainees in
the depar tments of
Orthodontics and
Prosthodontics
The team of College of
Physicians and Surgeons (CPSP) visited Bahria Dental College,
BUHS on 24th June 2022 and granted the approval to start FCPS
training in the departments of Orthodontics and Prosthodontics.
The first batch of trainees in these two departments has been
inducted and have started their training as FCPS residents. -PR

SSCMS organises dental
prosthetics session

Photo: DT Pakistan
KARACHI: The Continuing Dental
Education committee of Sir Syed
College of Medical Sciences (SSCMS)
recently held a session on dental
prostheses.
Professor Irum Raja from Dar-ulSehat Hospital Karachi presented
dental prosthesis cases to a packed audience of students and
teachers and discussed denture retention issues among patients.
She emphasised suitable lab practices for fabricating dentures
and touched on specif ic knowledge for addressing
denture-related issues.
Prof. HR Sukhia, Principal of the Dental College of
SSCMS, awarded Prof. Irum Raja with a guest speaker shield. The
speaker was complimented for her practical advice and clinical
expertise. -PR

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NEWS

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

SmileDirectClub to launch SDC+ premium
clear aligner treatment
By Jeremy Booth
Dental Tribune International
NASHVILLE, US: The pioneer of
direct-to-consumer (D2C) clear
aligner treatment will begin selling
a premium, dentist-led treatment
package within the next six
months. Having previously
announced its intention to
compete with market leader Align
Technology, the company has now
revealed the name, price point
and target demographic of its new
premium service offering, for
which it has been busy building a
partner network of dentists and
orthodontists.
SDC will launch SDC+ in
selected markets in the fourth
quarter of this year, or early in the
first quarter of 2023. The premium
treatment offering will be targeted
at high-income consumers and will
include in-office clinical care,
improved access to the company's
teledentis tr y platform and
additional post-treatment care,
such as retainers and SDC oral care
products.
CEO David Katzman shared the
new information with analysts
during a conference call on 9
August. During the call, he said:
"In our intense qualitative and
quantitative research, we learned
that higher income consumers will

Several research projects in Scandinavia have focused on improving the oral health of adolescent
patients. (Image: Shutterstock/Evgeniy Kalinovskiy)

be far more attracted to our brand
at a premium price when paired
with greater access to a general
practitioner throughout treatment."

[A] big chunk of that
extra US$2,000 is for
the doctor
Katzman said that treatment
with SDC+ will be priced at
US$3,900 (3,818) and that dentists
who oversee SDC+ cases will
receive "significantly more" cash
than they currently do when
treating patients with SDC's current
product offering. The average gross
sales price of SDC's clear aligner
treatment is currently US$1,917.

"[The higher price] improves
not only the economics to us and
our partner offices, but also
enables us to provide this
enhanced access to care while
remaining price competitive with
a premium service," Katzman said.
SDC's move into the premium
clear aligner category is more a
targeted sidestep towards a
higher-income demographic than
a capitulation to the critics of D2C
orthodontics. The company has
taken a battering during the
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic owing to
a change in spending behaviour
within its core demographic. With
a median household income of
US$68,000, SDC's target
demographic struggled to pay its

bills in the first waves of the
pandemic, and rising inflation and
the onset of a recession in the US
have since obscured the light at
the end of SDC's financial tunnel.
The company signalled a
major change to its business
model earlier this year and has
proceeded to drip-feed investors
with details about a new,
premium treatment offering.
The company began building
a partner network of general
dentists and orthodontists well
before it mentioned the launch
of a premium product. It currently
has a network of 690 practices in
North America that are either
active or pending training,
according to company
information. Katzman said that
its partner network has effectively
morphed into SDC+. He
explained: "It's really one initiative
now. So, every office that we sign
up will have two offerings. One
would be [SDC's teledentistry
offering], which is the current
partner network, and then they'll
also be able to offer that
US$3,900 dual approach where
that GP in that office will play a
bigger role in servicing that
patient."
"[A] big chunk of that extra
US$2,000 is for the doctor,"
Katzman stated.

IDS: High number of exhibitors confirm their presence
Almost all of the relevant key players have already registered

IDS, the International Dental
Show in Cologne is
demonstrating all of its
strengths. At the coming
event from 14 to 18 March
2023, almost all of the
relevant key players have
already conf irmed their
participation. In total, IDS is
currently recording well over
1,000 exhibitors as well as 11
country participations with
over 400 companies
represented.
"The global appeal of IDS
as the most important industry platform is
the driving force for both a successful present
and future of the international dental family.
100 years of IDS stands for innovation and

constant performance at the highest level
and is thus also a synonym for the strength
of the dental industry.
Together we will position IDS as the leading

international dental trade
fair over the next decades,"
M a r k St e p h e n Pa c e ,
Chairman
of
the
Association of German
Dental Manufacturers
(VDDI), and Oliver Frese,
Chief Operating Officer of
Koelnmesse, emphasised in
a joint statement.
Once again, IDS will
cover the comprehensive
spectrum of the dental
world - from the dental and
dental technology section,
infection protection and maintenance, through
to services, information, communication and
organisation systems as well as organisation
tools. -PR

[10] => DTI-PDF July-Aug 22.FH10

NEWS

10

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

ZU drives oral cancer
awareness campaign
KARACHI: Ziauddin
College of Dentistr y,
Ziauddin University (ZU),
organised an oral cancer
awareness and screening
programme in areas with
a high pan and betel quid
population.
Early-stage oral cancer
has no signs, making it
risky. The disease's severity
may not be apparent until
later stages. Community
outreach efforts must be
used to raise awareness
about oral cancer and precancerous lesions.
For this purpose, Dr
Af ifa Razi and her
colleagues in the
D e pa r t m e n t of O r a l
Medicine and Diagnosis
took the initiative to
organise an oral cancer

FJDC hosts
No Tobacco Day event
KARACHI: Fatima Jinnah Dental College (FJDC) held
the World No Tobacco Day event at its campus.
Dr Hussain Askary, Chief Executive Officer and Head
of Community Dentistry discussed the negative

Photo:
DT Pakistan

Photo:
DT Pakistan

awareness and screening
campaign in regions with
a large population of
people who eat pan and
betel quid.
The
campaign
comprised groups of
s t u d e n ts a n d h o u s e
off icers who created
awareness and screened

the patients for cancerous
and pre-cancerous
conditions and lesions.
The department
intends to continue this
educational and screening
activity to create
awareness about the
signif icance of the
disease. -PR

BMC conducts oral health
awareness session
QUETTA: Department of Community &
Preventive Dentistry, Bolan Medical
Quetta recently organized an Oral Health
Awareness session in SOS Village Quetta.
The program was planned by the BDS
Second professional students under the
supervision of Dr. Hammal Nasser Baloch

guest of the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ashfaq
Khawaja Khail briefed the participants
on the objectives of conducting school
oral health awareness programs and
promotion of positive oral health
behaviors. The presenters spoke on oral

impacts of tobacco and oral cancer. Students
presented speeches, plays, Ted presentations, and
songs about the issue. All competitors were presented
with certificates at the end.
The students also planned a Bake Sale. The
students and professors had the opportunity to
mingle in an informal setting while enjoying food
and exciting music.
Dr Hussain Askary lauded the efforts of all
departments and students for arranging such a
successful event and for their participation in
increasing awareness of the dangers of tobacco
usage. -PR

FJDC observes
World Blood Donor Day
KARACHI: Fatima Jinnah Dental College (FJDC)
celebrated World Blood Donor Day in collaboration
with The Indus Hospital (TIH).
The blood drives were arranged at both campuses.
TIH's team conducted brief awareness sessions, where
they highlighted the medical importance of donating

Photo:
DT Pakistan
Photo:
DT Pakistan

(Head of Department), Dr. Ashfaq Khawaja
Khail (Associate Professor), Dr Erum Sami
(Senior Lecturer), Dr Fazal Babar, Dr. Sami
Iqbal, Dr. Azad Khan, Dr. Mehwish Jaffrey,
Dr. Ayesha Ajmal, Dr. Palwasha Sher
and Dr. Fazeela Ismail. Prof. (R)
Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Baloch was the chief

hygiene maintenance, healthy dieting,
dental caries and prevention of oral cancer.
The faculty also visited the 'Dental
Clinic' of the SOS Village and extended
their support to administration for
necessary repairs, provision of supplies
and equipment. -PR

blood and the ethical and moral obligations we have
towards our community.
It was stated that just one bottle of blood could
go as far as saving 3 lives. Furthermore, they
emphasized that blood is recycled every 120 days,
and therefore rather than letting it go to waste, it
should be donated in an attempt to save lives.
This was followed by blood collection from the
students. A thorough history was taken of each
volunteer, including their weight, blood pressure,
haemoglobin levels etc., to find out whether they
were healthy enough to donate blood. In the span
of 2 days, 22 bags of blood were collected.
FJDC urges other institutes to hold similar events
in order to help save lives in the community.
TIH is well known for treating patients with
Thalassemia on a daily basis and providing treatment
that is totally free of cost and therefore relies heavily
on blood donations from the community. -PR

[11] => DTI-PDF July-Aug 22.FH10

NEWS

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

Hospital in South Korea to develop first
3D-integrated dental analysis platform
By Iveta Ramonaite
Dental Tribune International
SEOUL, South Korea: Kyung Hee University
Dental Hospital has recently signed a
business agreement with Osteoid, a
developer of 3D medical imaging solutions,
to create South Korea's first 3D-integrated
dental analysis platform, TWEeMAC. The
state-of-the-art dental platform will digitise
patients' oral health information in order to
facilitate diagnosis and treatment planning.
According to a recent press release, the
platform will be able to diagnose snoring,
sleep apnoea, dental asymmetry and
maxillofacial deformities. It will also be able
to analyse hard- and soft-tissue aesthetics
and maxillary arch narrowness, among
others.
"Based on the big data accumulated for
more than 50 years, we started with the
intention of helping other hospitals establish
accurate oral conditions and treatment plans
for patients," commented hospital director
Prof. Hwang Eui-Hwan. "We will strive to
become a dental hospital that leads
dentistry's research and treatment field
through pre-emptive responses in a rapidly
changing environment," he added.
Commenting on the platform, Prof. Kim
Seong-Hun, chair of the Department of

Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital is developing a 3D-integrated dental analysis platform that will help dental professionals design
optimised treatment plans for their patients. (Image: McLittle Stock/Shutterstock)

From left: Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital Director
Prof. Hwang Eui-Hwan and Osteoid CEO Dr Calvin Hur.
(Image: Korea Biomedical Review)

CPSP grants accreditation
for FCPS to AIDM

KARACHI: The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan
has granted accreditation to the Altamash Institute of Dental
Medicine (AIDM) for FCPS training.
On the basis of a physical inspection conducted by CPSP
on July 21, 2022, CPSP accorded accreditation rights to AIDM,
in the following subjects:
1. Periodontology
2. Prosthodontics
According to CPSP rules, in order to continue the status of
maintaining accreditation rights, AIDM has to apply for a
re-inspection 3 months prior to expiry.
This inspection is to take place again in 5 years to ensure
maintenance of quality standards and improvement.
The FCPS
Photo: DT Pakistan
training and PG
t r a i n e e
induction are to
be conducted
as per CPSP
policy in order
to remain in
accordance with
the rules of the
institution. -PR

Orthodontics at Kyung Hee University, stated:
"We can digitise the conditions of previous
patients to derive comprehensive analysis
results quickly based on [ar tif icial
intelligence]." He added that the data gained
from the platform will help develop
optimised treatment plans for dental
patients.
With this partnership, Osteoid seeks to
improve the digital dental diagnostic and
therapeutic market.

AKU, PAO conduct workshop
on wire bending

KARACHI: The Aga Khan University
(AKU) hosted an orthodontic wire
bending exercise in collaboration
with the Pakistan Association of
Orthodontists (PAO).
T h i r t y -t w o p o s t g r a d u a t e
or thodontic residents from

were addressed with participants
in order to clarify their conceptual
understanding and facilitate their
practical use.
Participants were instructed on
step-by-step design, fabrication, and
adjustments of removable and fixed

Photo: DT Pakistan

Pa k i s t a n i m e d i c a l s c h o o l s
participated in the exercise. Prof.
Dr Mubassar Fida of AKUH
facilitated the session.
The designs of both removable
and fixed orthodontic components

appliances in order to incorporate
them into their usual clinical practice.
The workshop concluded
with a discussion of participant
questions and various clinical case
situations. -PR

[12] => DTI-PDF July-Aug 22.FH10

NEWS

12

DENTAL TRIBUNE Pakistan Edition JULY-AUGUST 2022

Recent Scandinavian studies offer new
insights into the oral health of adolescents

Several research projects in Scandinavia have focused on improving the oral health of adolescent patients. (Image: Shutterstock/Evgeniy Kalinovskiy)

By Anisha Hall Hoppe
Dental Tribune International
LEIPZIG, Germany: Statistical
tracking has been a priority for
the governments of Scandinavian
countries in recent years, detailed
records being kept on national
registries, benefiting researchers
who seek to enhance patient care.
Some of the following studies
utilised those public records to
extract in-depth information on
adolescent dental care, including
possible improvements to the
diagnostic process for deep
carious lesions, the use of dental
examination f indings for
identifying suspected child abuse,
new perspectives on the use of
fissure sealing as caries prevention
and suggestions for supporting
adolescent patients in improving
their oral hygiene.

Finland
A Finnish study seeking to
establish the incidence and
treatment of deep carious lesions
among 14- to 15-year-olds in
public healthcare in the country
found that one-fifth had either
an untreated or a previously
treated deep carious lesion. It also

found that the prevailing
treatment method was complete
excavation, which does not align
with national or international
guidelines. The authors thus
highlighted the need for
continuing education to improve
diagnosis and management.
The study, titled "Deep carious
lesions and their management
among Finnish adolescents: A
retrospective radiographic study",
was published on 4 July 2022 in
Clinical Oral Investigations.

Norway
Research conducted in Norway
has compared the oral health
history of children suspected of
being victims of abuse to that of
a matched cohort. The results
indicate that children suspected
of being victims of abuse were
more likely to have caries and
miss dental appointments than
children with no history of abuse.
Children suspected of being
victims of sexual abuse were four
times more likely than children
suspected of being victims of
physical abuse to have caries or
fillings in permanent dentition.
The authors hope that the results
will help dental professionals

identify risk factors to better
report suspicion of child abuse.
The study, titled "Oral health
history in children referred to a
child advocacy center in Norway",
was published in the October
2022 issue of Child Abuse and
Neglect.
A study that examined the use
of fissure sealing to prevent caries
and associations between sealing
a n d c a r i e s p re va l e n c e i n
Norwegian children at 12 years
of age found that sealing of the
permanent dentition was used in
children considered to have the
highest risk of caries according
to past experience of dentine
caries in the primary teeth. These
children were also more likely to
develop caries in their permanent
teeth. Since sealing alone will not
reduce the development of caries,
the authors recommended
additional use of other caries
prevention methods and
considering enamel caries and
oral health behaviour in caries risk
assessment.
The study, titled "Fissure
sealing and caries development
in Norwegian children", was
published on 7 July 2022 in the
European Archives of Paediatric
Dentistry.

Sweden
A recent Swedish study
interviewed adolescents who had
participated in an individually
tailored oral health education
programme aimed at improving
oral hygiene. The interviews
revealed that the programme had
given the adolescents an
understanding of the importance
of oral hygiene and the personcentred approach to therapy had
contributed to the adolescents
feeling respected and
acknowledged. Being able to set
their own goals and planning and
monitoring their oral hygiene
behaviours, with guidance and
support, had facilitated a change.
However, there was the need for
external support from dental
hygienists, including reminders
and educational intervention, to
m a i n ta i n d e s i re d h y g i e n e
routines.
The study, titled "Adolescents'
experiences of a theory-based
behavioural intervention for
improved oral hygiene: A
qualitative interview study", was
published on 4 August 2022 in
the International Journal of Dental
Hygiene.

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