For the first time in its history, the Dental Council of India (DCI) has decided to introduce a super-specialty branch in the field of dental medicine, along the lines of Medical Council of India.
Just as medicine has MCh — super-specialty degree (Master of Chirurgical) — DCI wants to introduce MDCh. This will mean that after getting a master’s degree in dentistry, the student will be eligible to take admission to the two-year super-specialty course.
The DCI took this decision at the recently-held annual general meeting. It now plans to send a proposal to the health ministry soon.
Dr Dibyendu Mazumder, DCI president, said, “Next week, we will approach the health ministry with a detailed proposal seeking permission to start a super-specialty branch in this field. Once we get the permission, with the help of experts, we will design the course and criteria for the admission.”
Dr Mansingh Pawar, dean, Government Dental College, Mumbai, said, “We were all present in the meeting where it was decided to start a new branch in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This kind of a course will allow a student to focus better on the subject and become an expert in that kind of treatment. There are very few countries having such a course.”
Dr Pooja Gunjikar, dentist, said, “A lot is happening in the field of dentistry.
Patients’ demand in cosmetic dentistry has increased. I believe there is a lot of scope for research in this field. This is a welcome move by the DCI.”
There are 35 dental colleges in the state, producing nearly 3,000 to 3,500 dentists, while there are 295 in the country, with almost 80% run by private parties, producing around 30,000 dentists every year. Till date, 22,000 BDS students have been registered with the Maharashtra dental council and 1.3 lakh students with the DCI.
.