The Higher Education Review

Dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal disease and oral cancer are largely affecting the Indian population. 60 percent of the population is having dental caries and 85 percent is falling prey to periodontal disease (according to the ministry of health and family welfare). Poor oral hygiene is regarded to be one of the main reasons for dental problems. Utilizing the nation's brilliant minds for delivering good oral health and well-being to all sections of the society, Annoor Dental College and Hospital (ADCH) started its journey from 2003. ADCH is placed at the center part of Kerala in Ernakulam District from where it is imparting quality education in dentistry. It was founded by late Janab T. M. Seethy Haji, who envisioned delivering holistic dental education in a stringent yet encouraging learning environment. The dental college and hospital is affiliated to Kerala University of Health Sciences & approved by the Dental Council of India, where an excellent faculty quality and resourceful infrastructure foster invaluable education.

Bringing Out the Best
Every year, a number of dental disorder cases are undertaken up by ADCH, due to which the students learn how to solve complex oral health problems. "Students get hands-on training through active participation in public outreach programmes, dental camps in and around Muvattupuzha. ADCH gives infallible attention for professional development of the students so that students develop ethical values and moral characters for providing dental treatment to all sections of the society," says Prof. (Dr.) Giju George Baby, Principal, Head of the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, ADCH. Faculties are experienced at clinical level. They are excellent academicians who provide continuous education to the students. Learning happens at ADCH through innovative approaches and in an interactive manner.

"Faculty development and continuing education programs are parts of regular faculty knowledge upgradation. Without any doubt, the students graduate with relevant skills and a plethora of knowledge in dental science only because of them. As teaching is a noble profession, we shape the character, caliber and future of the students in the Annorian Family. What we do at ADCH is we keep the learning

environment cordial," explains Prof. (Dr.) George. By providing training on a range of surgical and non-surgical procedures in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, ADCH makes the students proficient in performing surgeries with precision. The students develop superior skills in removing impacted teeth and difficult teeth of patients with critical medical conditions.

"ADCH is surrounded by committed academicians where budding dental practitioners get education for impactful medical practice"

Departments are divided into clinical, non-clinical and general at ADCH. In the clinical section, students can select to study oral medicine and radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pedodontics, prosthodontics and crown and bridge, periodontics, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, oral pathology and microbiology, conservative dentistry and endodontics and public health dentistry. Surgery learning includes gaining skills on pre-prosthetic surgery, orthognathic surgery, maxillofacial trauma care, craniofacial surgery, TMJ surgery, Oral Cancer Treatment, Implantology and Cosmetic Surgery. Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students learn to give local anesthesia and techniques to do suturing. BDS students are also trained for cavity preparation, coloured tooth restoration, root canal treatment on anterior teeth and pulp capping. They are subjected to identify hard and soft tissue specimen. For practicing Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, ADCH prepares the students on fabrication of removable dentures, preparation of crown and bridge and treatment of edentulous patients. Aspiring Dentofacial Orthopaedics learn jaw impression making, model preparation, fabrication of removable devices and cephalometric tracing at BDS level.

For the students studying Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) course on Dentofacial, Orthopaedics specialization includes learning of how to use removable and fixed devices, growth modulation procedures and cephalometric analysis. ADCH gives training to MDS students on root canal treatment of single and multiple rooted teeth, intra and extra coronal restorations, splinting of fractured teeth, crown lengthening and endodontic implants, vital and non-vital bleaching. MDS students get detailed knowledge for carrying out laboratory investigations, staining techniques for tissues, immunohistochemistry, forensic odontology, principles of microtomy. In addition, MDS

students receive meticulous training in partial, over, immediate dentures, treatment of edentulous patients and restoration of facial defects.

At the non-clinical level, students can opt to study physiology, anatomy, general medicine, anaesthesia, general surgery, general pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, while physical education is another subject that ADCH provides to the students in the general course division. "It is important for a student studying physical health to grow intellectual and cognitive skills. That's why we have a dynamic physical education department where students are trained in sports and games. The students have won prizes in inter-collegiate and inter-university sports events and made the college proud," states Prof. (Dr.) George.

ADCH's administration department looks after the academics, hospital management and community outreach programmes. The administration has set up labs with latest equipments and skillful technicians in physiology, anatomy, dental anatomy and histology, pre-clinical prosthetics, pre-clinical orthodontics, pre-clinical pedodontics, pathology, oral pathology, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and dental materials. ADCH is among the few colleges to get selected by the Social Welfare Department of Government of Kerala for implementing the 'Mandahasam' project to provide free dental checkups for senior citizens. It is a college surrounded by committed academicians where budding dental practitioners get education for impactful medical practice.

Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) - 50 Seats
Master of Dental Surgery (MDS)
· Prosthodontics & Crown and Bridge - 3 Seats
· Oral Pathology & Oral Microbiology - 3 Seats
· Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics - 3 Seats
· Periodontology - 3 Seats
· Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics - 3 Seats
· Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry - 2 Seats

Dr. Giju George Baby, Principal, Head of the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology
Dr. George has over 18 years of experience in dentistry and educational sphere. As a passionate dentist, he has achieved big success in the professional sector and personal arena.