The Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry has state of the art facilities for teaching undergraduate and post-graduate students and the dental management of child patients. Nine post-graduate students, interns and staff manage almost 50-70 patient appointments per day. The department is committed to provide comprehensive pediatric dental care which includes management of decayed teeth, traumatic dental injuries, developing malocclusions, gum diseases, etc. Under a unique FAST (Fluoride and Sealant Therapy) programme, we provide free check-up and preventive care to school children. The Department has developed the first Indian Caries Risk Assessment Tool (CRAFT) and a Sugar Meter (a ready reckoner for measuring daily sugar consumption); both have won awards at international and national conferences. The department has produced toppers consistently at the MDS examinations in the past 5-7 years, overall as well as individually in the domains of theory and practical examinations. A 1-year fellowship program in Restorative Pediatric Dentistry, the only one of its kind in India, is run in the department since 2019. The program is clinician focused and the department has completed 2 batches. The program is affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik.
The department conducted children’s day celebration and drawing competition was organized for children. The function got its essence when Dean of the College Dr. Meghna Vandekar joined for the celebration.
“FAST FOR ALL” An initiative for oral health promotion was conducted in 7 different schools in Navi Mumbai. The dental camp had complete dental examination of the school children, oral health education of teachers and parents. Topical fluoride application and pit & fissure sealants were also done. Distribution of fluoride toothpaste and toothbrush was done at the end of the event.
In November 2019, the department conducted children’s day celebration where all the children were indulged in activities like drawing and painting.
In November 2020, the department conducted children’s day celebration where all the children were indulged in activities like essay competition and elocution. Gifts were distributed to children who participated and also special gifts for children who won.
Pediatric dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.” (AAPD, 1999). The focus of Pediatric Dentistry is Prevention and building a positive dental attitude. It helps identify and modify risk markers and factors for health concerns over a life-course perspective. A pediatric dentist is in the unique position to not only witness but also correct functions such as breathing, chewing and swallowing which go a long way in establishing a healthy smile and a healthy body. Pediatric Dentists lead community-based health-promotion campaigns, play a vital role in sports safety and forensic sciences and are an integral part of multidisciplinary teams for the management of dental and general health conditions. The uniqueness of being a pediatric dentist lies in the fact that they introduce children to an experience of multidimensional well-being beyond oral health.
This section is to engage children in activities to make them playful either prior or post the treatment.
Our post-graduate named Swati Samleti won 1st prize for her paper presentation on Association of frenal attachment and difficulty in breast feeding in 0-1 year old children: A cross sectional study in 40th ISSPD Conference in October 2018.
The International Association of Pediatric Dentistry Asia regional summit was held at Bangkok in 2018 and a delegation of 7 faculty cum students participated in the summit from Dept. of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, YMT Dental College. Dr Ashwin Jawdekar, Professor and Head and Dr Amar Katre, Prof presented posters at the conference. Dr Ashwin Jawdekar won the 3rd prize for his presentation. Dr Priyanka Acharya won the Travel Award for the “Best Research” for her research “Assessment of Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) and General Health Status (GHS) in one to two year-old children in relation to feeding practices in an urban population: a cross-sectional study”.
Our post-graduate named Swati Samleti won 1st prize for paper presentation on perception of dental students and staff towards the labelling of free sugar processed foods: a cross sectional study in 41st ISSPD Conference in November 2019.
Our post-graduate named Harsh Sachdev won 1st prize for his poster on comparison of temporal tap technique with conventional technique in management of gag reflex during maxillary impression procedures in 6-12 year old children - A randomized controlled trial in ISSPD Convention in February 2020.
Our post-graduate named Nivedita Pande won 1st prize for her e-poster on antibacterial effect of endodontic irrigating solutions in pediatric dentistry in ISSPD Conference in Janurary 2021. She is also recipient for TATA Scholarship for Medical and Healthcare.
