Rohit Shishodia
Dr. Debyendu Mazumdar, President, Dental Council of India, has said that tobacco as an epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats to the world and it is high time everyone joins hands to curb the habit.

Speaking at the 1st National Webinar on Tobacco Cessation organized by Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences with Union Health Ministry and Dental Council of India, he added that Tobacco Cessation Centres established in Dental Colleges are distinctively placed to cater to the oral health needs of patients comprehensively and tackle this tobacco health threat effectively.

More than 300 dental colleges participated in the event, where doctors pointed out that dental health professionals are in a unique position to help tobacco users by providing cessation assistance.

They said that dental health professionals can easily identify the signs of tobacco use early and provide personalized and comprehensive treatment plans (multiple visits and longer treatment timings) and build trust and confidence with their patients with no associated stigma.

Dr. Vikrant Mohanty, Program Coordinator, said that representatives of 301 dental colleges from Kerala to Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat to Manipur joined forces in the mega-event. The basic objective was to conduct continuous capacity building and training programs through e-learning module and promote oral health through a unique way, he added.

Dr. Sangeeta Talwar, Director-Principal of the Institute, said that MAIDS has always taken up the leadership role in delivering quality dental care, research and education and served the underprivileged and needy. The creation of national resource centre of such a significance is another feather in the cap of this illustrious Institute, she said.