Department of Public Health Dentistry

Overview

The Department of Public Health Dentistry at Vivekanandha Dental College for Women had always been committed to serve the communities of Namakkal district. All faculty members, post graduate students and house surgeons have strived hard together for the past 3 years to ensure availability and accessibility of dental resources and services to the nook and corner of the district,with special emphasis on the rural communities and vulnerable populationby using our mobile dental clinic. Services were also provided through the satellite centers set up at Manickampalayam and Ernapuram Primary health centres of Namakkal district.

Public Health Dentistry is concerned with preventing and controlling oral diseases,promoting oral health by organizing community efforts. It is one of the rapidly evolving branches among the dental specialties that focus on the oral health at community level. The subject incorporates topics like epidemiological approaches, statistical methods, prevention of dental problems, planning and delivery of dental care, critically analyse dental problems and develop practical solutions to protect and promote oral health. The students are encouraged to plan appropriate community oral health programmes, and school health programs. The students are encouraged to organize and participate outreach programs to inculcate leadership qualities. This department also enables the students to understand and undertake health services research and apply the key findings into dental public health practice.

Our Areas of Expertise

• Community and school oral health camps
• Community and school oral health education
• Screening for oral diseases
• Diet counselling
• Pit and Fissure sealants
• Topical Fluoride applications
• Atraumatic Restorative treatments
• Oral prophylaxis
• Restorations- Amalgam, Glass ionomer restorations, Composite restorations
• Extractions
• Comprehensive dental treatment
• Tobacco cessation counselling
• Oral cancer screening
• Conducting epidemiological research
• Community oral health planning and implementation
• Evaluation of preventive and control measures

Outreach Programs

The Department of Public Health Dentistry regularly conducts outreach programs at the villages in Namakkal and Salem districts to provide dental care to the community.

The oral health care facilities are provided by the Department of Public Health Dentistry at the Government Primary Health Centres (PHC’s)

1. Primary Health Centre, Manikampalayam, Namkkal District
2. Primary Health Centre, Ernapuram, Namakkal District

School Programs

The Department of Public Health Dentistry provides dental care facilities under the school oral health program for the following schools

1. Vivekanandha Vidhya Bhavan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Elayampalayam
2. Sri Ranga Vidyalaya Higher Secondary School, Rayarpalayam
3. Government Higher Secondary School, Ulagappampalayam

In addition, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women has been permitted to conduct screening for oral diseases at Government Schools by the Namakkal District authorities.

Faculty

ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021