Amritsar, Nov 3: The history of dental health services in India dates back to 4500 BC wherein Vedas have mentioned classification of dental diseases and daily ritual of cleaning of tongue as a regular practice of oral hygiene, Dr Bhaskar Rao Vice President Dental Council of India (DCI), said.

Speaking on the topic ''Indian dentistry: glorious past and exciting future'' at the inaugural session of All India Dental Students Conference, he said, ''Dentistry was taught in the two ancient temples of learning Takshila (400 AD) Nalanda (1100 AD).

Sushruta (600 BC) was the first dental anatomist of the World who taught dentistry in a scientific manner, invented several surgical instruments and wrote the famous book Sushruta Samhita.'' The three-day conference, which got underway at Punjab Government Dental College yesterday saw participation of as many as 40 dental colleges of India and nearly 1700 students, was inaugurated by Tikshan Sud, Punjab Minister for Medical Education along with Dr Anil Kohli, president DCI and Dr MC Mohan, president, Indian Dental Association (IDA).

In continuation of his lecture, Dr Rao said dentistry has come a long way and now includes shift from curative to preventive besides new fields like aesthetic dentistry, implantology, forensic odontology.'' On the occasion as many as 44 meritorious dental students from 11 dental olleges of Punjab were awarded the IDA-Colgate Scholarships carrying an award of Rs 4000 each.


UNI