Course on New Technique in Dentistry

CUTTACK: The Dental Council of India (DCI) is set to include lingual orthodontics, the advanced technique of correcting deformities of the teeth and jaws with braces and implements not visible outside, in Dentistry curriculum from 2015-16 session.

Lingual orthodontics would be offered as a post-PG MCh degree, an independent super specialisation discipline under the Orthodontic department, Programme Director and faculty-in-Chief at SCB Dental College, Dr Suryakant Das said.

The move comes in the face of rapid advances in dental sciences that have now erased the ugly side of the treatment as front braces and rising demand for correction of deformed, malaligned teeth and jaws as well as cosmetic changes.

While out of shape, malaligned teeth and jaws of moderate or severe kind directly affects a person’s appearance, it also causes difficulty in eating and speaking. It increases risk of dental and oral diseases.

Almost the bulk of humans suffer from varied degree of malocclusion or malformation. It is estimated that only two to three per cent of people have perfect and ideal arrangement of teeth and jaw.

Crooked teeth have been conventionally treated with braces that are attached to the outer surface of the teeth. The facial appearance with protruding braces causes a great deal of self-consciousness which often leads to low self-esteem.

But lingual orthodontics has now emerged the alternative where braces are fixed to the inner side of the teeth making them completely invisible to outside. Such aligners have also proved to be far more capable and efficient in correcting the deformities.

“The specialised technique is being recognised as the next great step in Orthodontics as people are getting more conscious of their appearances and eager to get them corrected. Cosmetic dentistry is also witnessing huge upsurge and lingual orthodontics is showing the way,” Dr Das said.

The SCB Dental College on Monday rolled out a national training programme on lingual orthodontists.

The year-long programme is the first of its kind in the country and will be covered in three modules. The training for the first batch of 32 orthodontists drawn from all over India went underway.