Departments @ The School of Dentistry

The Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics occupies the C block on the 3rd floor of Amrita School of Dentistry. The Department infrastructure consist of fully equipped undergraduate and postgraduate clinics, pre-clinical phantom head laboratory, seminar room, radiography room, sterilization rooms and faculty rooms, all of which spans about 10,000 sq.ft.

The Department teaches dental materials theory to the first and second year undergraduate students, along with the department of Prosthodontics. The students also get practical training in the manipulation of restorative materials.

Theory lessons on operative dentistry are also started by first year and continued through the second year, with a one-hour lecture weekly.

In addition, pre-clinical training with plaster models and typhodont is provided to familiarize the students with restorative procedures. A state-of-the-art phantom headlaboratory equipped with individual micromotor and airotor units for each student serves for the practical sessions and five hours in a week are allotted to these sessions. From third year, the students are trained in the clinical setting. Initially, simple restorative procedures and later, more complex procedures are handled by the students, with strict guidance from the faculty.

The Department also trains postgraduate students in the discipline of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. The infrastructure provided is state-of-the-art, and the trainees gain competence in providing a wide range of comprehensive restorative-endodontic procedures including microsurgeries. The first batch of postgraduate students passed out with flying colours in June 2013.

The clinical service provided in the Department ranges from simple restorations to comprehensive management of cases requiring complex and often interdisciplinary treatment approach. Statistics reveal a dramatic increase over the years, both qualitative and quantitative, in patient service.

Highlights

The Department is proud to report a dramatic 184% surge in the number of patients and corresponding treatment procedures over the last 5 years (2007 - 13), which reflects the high level of patient satisfaction accorded.

The undergraduate and postgraduate students have consistently exhibited laudable performances in various state and national level academic deliberations and conferences, bagging many awards for their presentations.

The Department organizes continuing dental education programmes regularly and has also hosted a state level conference in 2012, that had gathered great acclaim.

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology

This specialised branch of dentistry deals with the detailed study and identification of the pathologic processes affecting the oral and maxillofacial region at a microscopic level, and diagnosing them by correlating the clinical, radiographic and microscopic studies.

The practices of oral pathology include histopathology, cytology, biochemistry, hematology and more recent additions like PCR, In-Situ Hybridisation etc. Since a vast majority of the diseases affecting the oral region are infections caused by micro-organisms, the study of Oral Microbiology is also included within this specialty.

This department caters to the micro-diagnosis of oral lesions, thereby contributing to the exact recognition of the disease and charting the patient management including incidences of premalignancies and oral cancer.

Highlights

The Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology had a humble beginning in 2003 at the Brahmasthanam campus, with the functioning of the Hematology lab. In 2005, the Department shifted to the current place in the School of Dentistry building at AIMS Campus.

Located on the third floor ('A' block of the Dental School building), this is among the largest Oral Pathology departments in the dental colleges of the country.

The activities of the Department are spread into two main branches: Academic, which includes student training and conduct of examinations; and Clinical, which include the histopathology, hematology and cytopathology work related to clinical patients.

The student teaching and training activities of the department begin right from the Ist year BDS and continues through, till the IIIrd year of the BDS course. In the Ist year, the students are given a brief introduction to various normal structures of the head & neck region, focusing mainly on dentition and related structures. They are also given a preliminary training in wax-carving exercises, to make them familiar with the techniques involved in carving teeth as per the correct size and morphology. As part of this, they are expected to complete 5 basic exercises including carving of different geometric shapes and any design of their choice.

In the 2nd year, the students are trained in detail to carve teeth accurately, under the strict supervision of the faculty members. This helps them understand the exact structure of each tooth and makes the students competent to take up treating patients in the III^rd year. The students are also taught to identify the normal oral structures and various component structures of teeth under light microscope.

After having a sound knowledge of the normal oral structures in the Ist & IInd years, the students in the IIIrd year are taught in detail about the various pathologic processes affecting the oral and facial structures, including the teeth.

They are taught about the correlation of clinical, radiographic and histopathologic features of each disease process, investigations to be made in each case and arrive at a final diagnosis.

Histopathologic slides of important and common diseases are shown to the students in the practical classes. An overview of forensic odontology, an emerging sub-branch of the speciality is also given to the students. Special emphasis is given on identification of oral cancer and precancer, due to the increasing incidence of these cases in India. At the end of the IInd year & IIIrd year, the students take theory and practical exams in oral biology and oral pathology respectively.

The four members of the faculty take turns to involve in theory teaching, while the students in practical classes are divided into 5 small groups, each group containing not more than 12 members, for better individual attention to the students. Before taking the respective exams, each student is expected to present a seminar, the topic for which is given at the start of each session. Each seminar is always followed by active interaction between the students and the faculty members, who make it a point to be present for all the seminars.

To carry out the clinical duties in the department, the faculty members take weekly turns in the histopathology and hematology sections. The hematology laboratory caters to all the basic blood tests required to be done for patients who undergo invasive oral procedures in the dental school. The tests are performed by a qualified technician, and the faculty members in charge finalize the reports and dispatch them to the concerned departments.

The histopathology section deals with giving reports of biopsies and smears sent from various other departments of the dental school and from the Head & Neck Institute of the AIMS hospital. The processing and preparation of slides from the specimen are done by a qualified technician, and the faculty in charge give the reports to the concerned department.

A variety of rare cases have been reported from the department. All members of the faculty are involved in research work and paper publications. They routinely attend state and national level conferences, to update themselves in their respective fields.

Three of the members of the faculty are examiner panel of various universities and regularly go for conducting exams in other universities.

The Department is well spaced and includes a hematology lab, students lab, postgraduate area, histopathology lab, microscopy room, department library and enclosures for faculty members. The MDS training program commenced from May 2012, with an intake of 2 PG trainees per batch.

Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) is a dental and surgical specialty concerned with the surgical aspects of oral cavity, face and the jaws. From its austere beginnings as a ‘tooth puller’ subject, this specialty has, over the last 150 years, advanced immensely in its scope, expertise and technical proficiency to establish itself as a true surgical specialty of orofacial region.

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Amrita School of Dentistry is equipped to cater 100 out-patient cases daily.

The undergraduate and postgraduate divisions are housed in the ground floor of the Institution, and are served by separate well-equipped sterilization centers.

Highlights

The undergraduate training schedule aims to make the student proficient in minor surgical procedures like tooth extraction, biopsy, pre-prosthetic surgeries, infection management, etc. Training is also given in emergency care, minor trauma management and dental management of medically compromised patients.

The postgraduate clinic, where 12 students can work simultaneously, is equipped with all necessary equipment and instruments, as well as an exclusive sterilization wing. The teaching schedule is designed to make the PG student proficient in minor and major surgeries of facial region as well as general emergency and in-hospital patient management. The minor theatre unit attached to the postgraduate clinic has 2 operating regular rooms and a recovery section.

The in-patient division, the major surgery theatre, recovery room and intensive care units are housed in the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences located in the same campus. Thirty-five well-equipped in-patient beds in the hospital are exclusively dedicated to the Department. OMFS enjoys 3 exclusive routine operating days weekly. Trauma care facility, however, is available round the clock. The theatre section is fully functional with state-of-the art equipments and instruments, trained assisting staff, and a recovery room.

The service offers state-of-the-art treatment in craniofacial trauma, cleft and craniofacial deformities, temporomandibular joint pathologies, jaw tumours and malignancies, facial cosmetic deformities and reconstruction of facial defects.

Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology

The Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology is mainly concerned with the preliminary screening of all dental patients who report for dental treatment. For this, the Department is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and other equipments.

The department is in possession of intra oral camera, iontophoresis unit, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS unit), fibre optic diagnostic system, biopsy equipments, sialography unit, analog panoramic x-ray machine, digital panoramic x-ray machine, general x-ray unit (100 mA) and intra oral x-ray units.

There are intra-oral and extra-oral automatic x-ray film processors. The Department will soon procure the latest diagnostic modality in maxillofacial imaging, Cone Beam CT (CBCT) unit.

The Department has separate undergraduate and postgraduate clinical areas. The postgraduate section has eight dental chairs that are imported (Kavo make). Attached to the postgraduate section, there is a treatment room which offers privacy for carrying out procedures such as biopsy, iontophoresis or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The Department gets quite many referral cases with oral mucosal lesions and craniofacial pathologies.

Highlights

The Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology is actively involved in patient care as well as academic programmes. We experiment with innovative teaching modalities such as Problem-Based Learning (PBL). An interactive approach is adapted in the teaching activities to instill in the students a value-based approach.

One of the highlights is the application of Evidence-Based Dentistry (EBD) which is a current and upcoming concept that needs to be adopted by all the clinicians in their day-to-day practice.

The Department has congenial faculty members who make the patients and students comfortable which greatly enhances the experience of the patients and improves the learning capabilities of the students. The Department sticks strongly to the Latin Dictum, "Primum Non Nocere" (first do no harm) in effective patient care.

Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

The Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics is located on the first floor of Block ‘A’ housing the clinics and related auxiliary rooms.

The ‘B’ block has P. G. workstations, P. G. Dry and Wet labs, Seminar room, Faculty rooms.

The ‘C’ block houses Ortho Preclinical Lab.

Highlights

The Department’s academic goal is to:

• Plan treatment for cases that require limited orthodontic correction with removable appliances as part of the B. D. S. programme.

• Provide clinical knowledge to undergraduate students in identifying various components of malocclusions (Dental, Skeletal and Soft Tissue) so as to enable him/her to do limited Orthodontic treatment and give the correct advice/guidance to the patient/parent and refer patients with complex malocclusion to the specialists.
• To conduct research within the speciality for enriching and improving the knowledge of the subject.
• To impart quality postgraduate education (M. D. S.).
• To have a total (holistic) orthodontic vision.
• Orthodontic mission to achieve the goals, by integrating all possible resources and methods (Hardwares, Softwares, Interdisciplinary etc).

Training Program

The subject of Orthodontics starts in the second year (new DCI regulation) of the B. D. S. program.

• Second year : Preclinical theory & exercises.
• Third year : Theory and clinical postings.
• Fourth year : Theory and clinical posting.
• Internship : Exposure to patient management methods, Communications & Presentations (posters).
• Dental Mechanics Course : Metullurgy, Techniques, Orthodontic appliances.

MDS program - The program outlined, addresses both the knowledge needed in Orthodontics and allied medical specialties in its scope. A minimum of three years of formal training through a graded system of education as specifies, will equip the trainee with skill and knowledge and, upon completion to be able to practice basic and advanced Orthodontics.

Clinical Area

The layout is planned so as to have a centrally located sterilization which is easily accessible. The Department houses the necessary infrastructure and lab support for complete patient care, and academic activity.

Infrastructure

P. G. clinic, Labs and Workstation; U. G. clinic, Lab and Workstation; Ortho-pre-clinical lab, Dental technician labs, Computer room, Store room, Record room, Nurse’s room.

Future Projects

To establish necessary infrastructure and lab for conducting research in Material Sciences and Animal Studies.

Research Facilities

• With a full fledged Medical School, imparting super - specialty courses and basic sciences; Animal House, Pharmacy School and Nano Sciences Centre, Collaboration and Research support can be better, (that gave us the NAAC 3.2 GPA).
• Atmosphere conducive for research activity and publications.
• 'It is good to be in a team, it is better to be in a winning team' is the spirit of "TEAM ORTHODONICS" here.

Advanced Diagnostic Aids

Dolphin Imaging System is used for diagnosis, treatment planning in orthodontic and orthognathic patients. A digital cephalostat has been installed in radiology for acquiring digital cephalograms.

Department of Paediatric Dentistry

The Paediatric Dentistry department functions on early childhood oral health, working to improve the health of children and aims to promote the health of infants, children, adolescents and persons with special needs, through education, research and service. 

The Department of Paediatric Dentistry at Amrita School of Dentistry is the only paediatric department in Kerala to offer comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia for special needs such as :

• Medically Compromised
• Medically Handicapped including Mentally/ Physically Challenged
• Emotionally Immature
• Uncooperative Children

Highlights

• Started PG programme in Paedodontics in 2011.
• School health education and treatment programmes and camps are often organized by the Department and all children are offered the comprehensive dental care in a child friendly environment.
• The Department was a part of the National Rural Health mission, a major initiative of the Govt. of Kerala offering free health check-up for children from the State Govt. schools in the rural areas of Ernakulam District.
• The Department was instrumental in inviting paediatric dentists all over the state to form the Association of Paediatric and Preventive Dentists of Kerala.
• The Department offers full-mouth rehabilitation as well as functional and esthetic rehabilitation for children with rampant caries and early childhood caries.

Department of Periodontics

Periodontology is the branch of dentistry which deals with supporting structures of the tooth. The Department offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses with 23 dental chairs in the undergraduate section and 11 dental chairs in the postgraduate section. Postgraduate courses commenced in the year 2010 with 3 students in each batch.

The Department has a well equipped library and postgraduate seminar room. The Department library contains various text books and journals in Periodontology.

The seminar room has all the modern facilities including LCD TV. The department sterilization room has separate facilities for undergraduates and postgraduates. Clinical hours are from 8 am to 4 pm.

Undergraduate students do supragingival scaling, while postgraduates do subgingival scaling, root planing and curettage and various surgical procedures like flap surgery, abscess drainage, gingivectomy, mucogingival surgery etc.

Implantology procedures are done in the Implantology clinic, where postgraduates from the departments of Periodontology, Prosthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery work.

The faculties monitor and evaluate the work of undergraduates and postgraduates.

Undergraduates have clinical posting in the third and final year in the Department and 10 to 15 students will be there in each clinical batch. About 5 to 6 interns are posted in the Department.

Highlights

Postgraduate students have won several awards in various national and state level conferences.

Dr. Maya Rajan Peter

• 1st prize in scientific paper presentation[Nanotechnology in periodontics] - 2nd SPIK Midterm Conference
• Consolation prize in scientific paper presentation [Diagnosis of granulomatous gingival enlargement – A clinical dilemma] - 11th ISP Postgraduate Convention, Lucknow, 2012
• 3rd prize in Perio Quiz - 4th SPIK Midterm Conference

Dr. Saimegha Menon

• 3rd prize in Scientific poster presentation[Dental Tribology] -4th SPIK Midterm Conference
• 3rd prize in Perio Quiz - 4th SPIK Midterm Conference

Dr. Neethu Suresh

• 1st prize in scientific paper presentation [Titanium implants with a true periodontal ligament-An alternative to osseointegrated implants] - ISP INTEGRATE 2012 at Mahe by ISP
• 1st prize in scientific paper presentation [Ligaplants] - 4th SPIK Midterm Conference
• Outstanding paper award for scientific paper presentation [Green tea and the periodontium] - Third State level dental conference by FASCEP

Dr. Remya K S

• 3rd prize in Scientific paper presentation [Platform Switching-A Boon to the Periodontist] - 4th SPIK Midterm Conference
• Outstanding paper award for scientific paper presentation [“Plantibodies: An adjunct to periodontal therapy”] - Third State level dental conference by FASCEP

Dr. Keerthy S Menon

• Best paper award for Scientific paper presentation [“Build trust over Iontophoresis” !! In the management of dentinal hypersensitivity – A clinical study] - Third State level dental conference by FASCEP
• 2nd prize in Scientific poster presentation [Peri-Implant Biologic Width - The ‘No Encroachment Zone'] - 4th SPIK Midterm Conference
• 3rd prize in Scientific paper presentation [Comparison of the efficacy of the iontophoresis and desensitizing tooth paste in the management of dentinal hypersensitivity – A clinical Study] - 12th ISP Postgraduate convention -Greater Noida

Dr. Reshma Suresh

• 3rd prize in Scientific Poster Presentation [Cell Homing -A potential biological substitute for dental implants] - 4th SPIK Midterm Conference

Dr. Tessa Paul

• Consolation prize in scientific paper presentation [Modified osteo odonto kerato prosthesis – A boon to blind – A case report]- 12th ISP Postgraduate convention -Greater Noida
• Outstanding paper award for scientific paper presentation [Engineering of tissue to restore lost vision- A case report] - Third State level dental conference by FASCEP

Department of Prosthodontics & Implantology

Prosthodontics deals with the esthetic and functional rehabilitation of oral and facial structures. The various treatment modalities in prosthetic dentistry includes :

• Removable prosthodontics
• Fixed prosthodontics
• Implant prosthodontics
• Maxillofacial prosthetics

Highlights

• Esthetic Clinic : Total Facial Esthetics is given priority rather than mere replacement of missing teeth.
• Implant clinic : Implant supported Dental and Maxillo-facial prosthetic rehabilitations are carried out in this clinic.
• Maxillo-facial prosthetic clinic : This is one among few centers in India to have a full - fledged maxillo - facial clinic which use silicone based prosthetic material.
• Individual work stations for the faculty, postgraduate students and undergraduate students.
• Well - equipped pre - clinical and clinical labs for postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Department of Public Health Dentistry

Welcome to the Department of Public Health Dentistry. The skills in Public Health are those required to care for a community as well as individuals within the community. Through our teaching program, research and community service, our department continues to meet this challenge.

Objectives

• Promotion of Effective Efforts in Disease Prevention, Health Promotion and Service Delivery.
• Education of the Public, Health Professionals and Decision-Makers regarding the importance of Oral Health to total well-being,
• Expansion of the Knowledge base of Dental Public Health and Fostering Competency in its practice.

The objectives are achieved through Teaching Programs, Research Activities, Patient Care, Outreach Activities.

Teaching Programs

The teaching program focuses on Behavioral Sciences, Preventive Dentistry, Ethics, Quality Assurance, Dental Care Delivery, Regulation, and Evaluation.

The objectives are to allow students to get exposed to Professional and Ethical issues in dentistry, Acquire philosophy and methods of preventive dentistry and epidemiology, Assess dental care quality,
Under-stand public policy issues related to dentistry, Develop communication, Interviewing and patient management skills, Understand organization and administration of dental practice, and provide students with both clinical and health promotion experiences in community-based settings.

Research Activities

Our faculty's research interests cover many areas of health services and community-based issues. The topics of research range from infection control, oral health status of population, adverse effects of tobacco, to salivary diagnostics and forensic dentistry.

Highlights

• Three undergraduate students were awarded ICMR fellowship for conducting short term research.
• The Department acted as a nodal point for conducting Dental Council of India initiated oral health and district level house hold survey in Central Kerala.
• Postgraduate programme in Public Health Dentistry was started in 2012.

The Department provides basic preventive and treatment procedures free of cost to patients referred from various screening programmes and satellite centers. Specialized treatments are provided at a subsidized rate.

The Department runs three satellite community dental centres at Njarackal, Panangad and Kalpetta, Wayanad to provides patient care experiences to postgraduate, undergraduate and internship residents.

The center at Kalpetta caters to the tribal population of the region. Basic dental care to community is provided free of cost in these centers. The Department also has a state-of-art built mobile dental unit with two fully functional dental chairs, separate audio-video unit for health education. This unit serves the population in our outreach programs. Mobile dental unit makes dental care accessible to large segment of underserved population for free of cost.

Outreach Activities

The Department conducts weekly dental screening and treatment camps. In addition, the Department is responsible for providing oral health screening and fluoride treatments to school children at health fairs in underserved communities and in elementary schools.

Two schools, one in the government sector and the other in the private sector have been adopted as part of our school health programme. Oral cancer screening programmes are also conducted at remote areas.