BMCRI

Dentistry is a branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and treatment of oral disease, including diseases of the teeth and supporting structures and diseases of the soft and hard tissues of the mouth including the temporomandibular joint and other supporting, muscular, lymphatic, nervous, vascular, and anatomical structures. This branch also encompasses the treatment and correction of malformation of the jaws, misalignment of the teeth, and birth anomalies of the oral cavity such as cleft palate. In addition to general practice, dentistry includes many specialties and subspecialties, including orthodontics and dental orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial pathology, endodontics, public health. Dentistry and Oral and maxillofacial radiology.

This subject for the MBBS students is essential for understanding the scope of this branch of Medicine. They learn

1. To evaluate the overall health of their patients while advising them about oral health and common dental disease prevention’
2. To understand the systemic manifestations of oral diseases
3. To identify, diagnose and understand the sequel of oral conditions.
4. Early detection of oral cancer

During their 15 day clinical posting the teaching-learning method we use is by a brief clinical lecture which is followed by observing and understanding the same in patients. Models, Charts , Histories and Assignments are included as a part of small group teaching.. various dental treatment modalities are demonstrated and observed. Thus a conceptual knowledge of Dentistry is delivered by interactive lectures, small group discussions, and clinical case demonstrations.

Human body has not changed but the understanding of the subject, its functional and clinical correlation with its application in integrated teaching methods and use in modern technology like CT and MRI has grown by leaps and bounds.

The human anatomy deals with gross anatomy, micro-structural anatomy and developmental anatomy. The subject is vast and teaching time is very limited. Hence, the method of teaching anatomy has been evolving world over with emphasis on teaching systemic anatomy and problem-based learning. This, according to me, will not only help in the better understanding of the subject but also in its amalgamation into clinical subjects in later years of medical studies. Anatomy should not be taught for just one or two years in beginning to be forgotten later but a few lectures should be dedicated to the subject in the beginning of teaching of each clinical subject.

A conceptual knowledge of human anatomy can be delivered by interactive lecturers, small group discussions, and clinical case demonstrations. I am of the opinion that basics of anatomy should be taught to the students in a manner such that they are encouraged to derive the anatomical basis of any clinical conditions themselves. The discussion should aim at deriving the anatomical aspect of diagnosis of any clinical condition and its application in understanding and managing the same rather than focusing on disease itself in teaching anatomy.