Public Health Dentistry

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"Serving Communities with a Human Touch”

Community oral health –    Our prime focus

Our department focus on improving oral health of the community with a unique blend of preventive, clinical, and research-focused education.

Who We Serve

  • Children and adolescents: to reduce the prevalence of dental health problems during the formative years.
  • Geriatric population: Focuses on oral rehabilitation to restore function and improve quality of life.
  • Underserved and vulnerable populations: Committed to provide equitable access to oral health care and prevention.
  • General population: Promote overall oral health through preventive care, education, and comprehensive dental services.

How We Make It Happen

OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES
“Community service is our backbone”

Our department actively reaches vulnerable groups through:

  • Mobile dental care services: delivering oral health care to ensure accessibility for all.
  • Health awareness campaigns: promoting oral health through education, community engagement, and nutritional modification.
  • Preventive and promotive oral health services: Aimed at preventing oral diseases and encouraging healthy habits for overall oral well-being.
  • Regular screening and treatment programs: for early detection and management of oral health problems.

We are committed to ensure accessible oral health services for everyone,

with a special focus on rural and backward communities.

Adopted School Dental Health Program

Selected schools are adopted to create a

“Sustained impact on oral health behaviour among school children”

This initiative fosters lifelong oral health habits through:

  • Routine dental examinations for early issue detection
  • Basic treatments and preventive measures
  • Guidance and referrals for advanced care when required

Village Adoption Project

“To provide continuous oral health care for all”

In Chathamangalam Grama Panchayath, we conduct weekly dental visits and ward-wise awareness activities to promote prevention and early detection of oral diseases.

Tribal Dental Care

Organized in remote tribal regions

“To bridge the oral health inaccessibility”

Through

  • Comprehensive on-site dental check-ups and necessary treatments
  • Counselling and modification of harmful oral health habits and practices
  • Appropriate referrals

Oral health care program for children with special needs

Designed for individuals with physical or intellectual challenges, ensuring:

  • Thorough and gentle oral assessments
  • Tailored preventive and treatment solutions in a friendly environment
  • A supportive approach prioritizing patient and caretaker comfort and safety

Palliative care internship programme

  • Special initiative in collaboration with Institute of Palliative Medicine, Kozhikode.
  • Aims to equip students with essential knowledge and skills in providing compassionate care to terminally ill patients in alignment with the principles of palliative care.

Dental Screening and Treatment Camps for general population

Periodic camps extend essential services to general population by

  • Ensuring early detection
  • Delivering essential care, and
  • Fostering preventive practices

COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE

While community dental care remains our core focus,

We meet all oral health care needs of patients in a single clinical setting.

 Our students gain expertise in,

  • Basic procedures
  • Advanced treatments: Root canal therapy, crown placements, and prosthetic rehabilitation

Why It Matters:
This integrated training ensures graduates can

Confidently manage diverse clinical cases

all within a single setting.

SATELLITE CENTRE POSTINGS

A unique feature of our training is the internship rotation at three satellite centres managed by the institution.

  • KMCT Community Dental Clinic, Pannikode
  • KMCT Community Dental Clinic, Kannanchery
  • KMCT Community Dental Clinic, Puthuppady

These postings enable students to:

  • Gain Independent Clinical Experience
    Manage dental clinic under expert supervision.
  • Develop Core Skills
    Enhance leadership, decision-making, and patient management in real-world clinical conditions.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

  • Focus Areas: Oral health disparities, epidemiology, and intervention strategies.
  • Recognized Research Centre: Accredited by KUHS (2024) – paving the way for post-doctoral programs.
  • Funding & Grants:
    • Institutional Seed grant for genomic research
    • ICMR Short-Term Studentship awarded in 2025.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Actively involving the community, students, and dental professionals in oral health promotion by observing World Oral Health Day, World No Tobacco Day, National Public Health Dentistry Day, World Health Day, and Oral Hygiene Day through targeted community interventions, continuous outreach programs, awareness campaigns, and preventive health initiatives.

What Students Gain

  • Real-World Exposure: Handle diverse oral health PROBLEMS
  • Hands-On Expertise: Build confidence through independent clinical practice
  • Compassionate Care: Blend skill with empathy