PGI To Host Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Conference

By 121 News Reporter

Chandigarh 06^th February:---- The Oral Health Sciences Centre of PGI is hosting the XI Postgraduate Convention of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry from February 9^th to 11^th , 2014. The Convention will be inaugurated on 9th Feb in the Bhargava Auditorium of PGIMER. Prof. Amrit Tewari, Ex Dean of the Institute will be the chief guest for the occasion and Prof. Yogesh Chawla, Director of the Institute will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Prof. Ashima Goyal from Unit of Pediatric Dentistry is the Organizing Secretary for the convention and Prof. Krishan Gauba, Head, Unit of Pediatric Dentistry is the Organizing Chairman. Almost Six hundred student delegates pursuing their postgraduate training in Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (MDS) at institutes from all over India have registered for the convention. Eminent speakers from India, UK, Australia, Russia, Dubai and Nairobi would interact with the delegates.    

 

 Six pre-convention courses and workshops are being held on current techniques in the speciality of Pediatric Dentistry.  Prof. Ashok Utreja from OHSC, PGI, Prof. Meenu Singh from Department of Pediatrics, PGI, Dr. Neeraj Gugnani from DAV, Yamunanagar and Faculty from Department of Anesthesia headed by Dr Sandhya, Additional Professor, PGI, Dr. Tarun Walia from Dubai and Dr. Akshay Anand from PGI, Chandigarh will be the course conductors. Original research and innovative ideas of the budding Pediatric Dentists would be presented in the form of poster presentations by more than 400 young dentists/delegates. The best posters in the category of “Original Research” and “Innovations” would be awarded prizes. The organizers have also planned an exciting “Quiz Competition” to test the knowledge of the student delegates and the best team in the competition would be awarded.

 

Taking into account the high prevalence of childhood disability in India, a special symposium has been organized during the convention to highlight the role of the pediatric dentist in the management of children with special health care needs. An overall prevalence of 2-3% has been suggested for neurological disorders in children in India. The prevalence of disability in children aged 2- 9 years in rural Chandigarh has been estimated to be 16/1000. A unique feature of the convention is a detailed symposium on “Stem cell research in dentistry”. Recent literature suggests that stem cells can be easily and painlessly extracted from naturally exfoliated milk (primary or deciduous) teeth. The symposium will seek to enhance the knowledge of the young postgraduates in this new and exciting area of dentistry aiming at exploring future areas of research.   Another important symposium of the Convention is “Modern approach in the Management of High caries risk children”. More than 50% of the children below the age of 6 years suffer from dental caries (cavities) in India.  In a recent study conducted at Oral Health Sciences Centre, it was concluded that bottle feeding at night , “at will” breast feeding and practices like kissing the child on the lips, consumption of carbonated beverages predisposes a child to development of dental caries. The symposium will target new research in the field of early detection and prevention of dental caries in these young children. Pediatric dentists from four different continents would share their ideas and oral health care programs which are followed in their respective countries for management of dental caries in young children. Based on these deliberations, “Guidelines for management of High caries risk child” in India would be formulated by the society.