The Higher Education Review

Having a vision to provide learner-centred education and patient centred service, the SDM College of Dental Sciences has been a center of excellence in the field of Dental Education since its inception in the year 1986. The College was initially affiliated with Karnataka University Dharwad, later it was affiliated under Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore from 1996 till 2018, and from 19th December, 2018 onwards it is a proud part of the newly established Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara University.

Completing 35 successful years with a glorious past and scaling new heights in dental education, the SDM dental college has contributed a lot in building up a good society. Based in a city named Dharwad in Karnataka, the College was the most cherished dream of Poojya Shri D. Veerendra Heggade, Hon'ble Chancellor of SDM University. The College has been the only dental college accredited by NAAC consecutively for three cycles for the years 2002, 2009 and 2015 with an `A'Grade. The College has been ranked 5th among all the Dental Colleges in India by Outlook in the current year rankings.

Transforming Students into Effective & Efficient Professionals
SDM Dental College is unique in many ways, one of the most highlighted facts is that it was the only dental college to start without an associate Medical College. This institute has carved its niche as one of the best Dental Colleges beyond leaps and bounds, boasting a huge 27-acre campus and is a landmark on the Hubli-Dharwad highway. The College has several specialty departments functioning with state-of-the-art facilities and providing the best possible quality dental care to the public. Each year, the college enrolls 100 undergraduate students and 43

postgraduates in the respective specialty. The institution offers many opportunities for the students to leverage such as the department of Oral Implantology which came into being in the year 1993 and happens to be India's first Department of Oral Implantology. The college has a Craniofacial Hospital, an exclusive center that focuses on post-trauma reconstruction, oral cancer rehabilitation as well as cleft lip and palate surgeries was established in 1997.

“SDM Dental College has international affiliations and Collaborations with many international Universities to upgrade its training programs for Undergraduates and Postgraduates”

Equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, the 50-beds centre has three operating facilities, an intensive care unit and has served as a training centre for overseas graduates. There is an independent department of forensic odontology ­ another first-of-its-kind venture in India, recognized by the Karnataka Government as a state-referral centre for forensic dental cases. The thrust of the department is on the introduction of a comprehensive undergraduate teaching program, multi-department facilitated research, and assisting legal agencies in routine forensic casework. The institute also has a Special healthcare unit to cater to the needs of patients requiring special needs. The hospital has treated more than 10.7 lakhs patients till date, including many requiring critical care and expertise in handling.

More than 3000 Undergraduates and more than 1000 Postgraduates have been conferred degrees from the Dental College since its inception. The students trained here have made the Institute proud by earning laurels at the university level by bagging Ranks and Gold Medals. The proud alumni of the college have been successful not only across India but also around the Globe serving as well-known Dentists, Academicians of the highest order. The strength of any Institute lies in its alumni, who are the real ambassadors for the college's training. The SDM Dental College is proud to have

alumni of more than 4000 members making the bond stronger with the alma mater and gaining inputs to continuously improvise the Institute's standard.

Making the Professionals Future-Ready
Apart from student training programs, the faculty encourages Research activities facilitating healthcare improvements. Many Research grants have been approved by recognized Funding agencies like ICMR for quality research. The faculties of this college have been Guest Speakers at various National and International Conferences.

SDM Dental College has International Affiliations and Collaborations with many International Universities to upgrade its training programs for Undergraduates and Postgraduates.

The institute has been the Examination Centre for the reputed exams for MFDS ­ UK, Membership examination in maxillofacial surgery and M Ortho exams of RCPS Glasgow, Student exchange programs with King's Dental Institute, London UK. The Institute is also one of the few Colleges in the country to be recognized by the Ministry of Health, Government of Malaysia. The craniofacial Unit is honoured to have collaborated with the Smile ­Train Project based in the US and is instrumental in bringing back smiles of cleft lip and palate patients free of cost.

The institution has future plans in terms of infrastructure expansion in clinical departments and offering new courses/academic activities in the form of Ph.D, Fellowship, and Diploma courses in all the clinical and non-clinical departments of dentistry. Developing a competency-based curriculum, blending dental education into the mainstream of health professions education, and reform of the environment in which clinical education is included in some of the institute's future direction.

Poojya Shri D. Veerendra Heggade, Hon'ble Chancellor
This pioneering educator aspires to offer best in class education to the students so that they can be successful in their professional careers.