KARACHI: The PDA awareness seminar took place recently at the Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, discussing a wide range of dental topics to encourage clinical excellency as well as waive any doubts regarding the SRB and PDA negotiations.
The seminar started with a recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a series of lectures by renowned dentists in the field. The first lecture as well as the recitation of the Holy Book was conducted by Dr Saqib Hanif, Head of Department Operative Dentistry, AIDM. The lecture highlighted several treatments done as a result of common dental complaints presented in the OPD and the options clinicians have to treat these common issues whether clinical or surgical.
Prof Dr Noor ul Wahab, Head of Department, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ziauddin University lectured the audience on ‘The role of an Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon in facial aesthetics and function’. Dr Noor ul Wahab depicted, through clinical pictures and treatment protocols practiced on his own patients, the solutions of complicated surgical problems. He explained that function is most important in treatment protocols for surgical procedures, and as a result of maintaining the oral function, aesthetics tend to follow. He also explained the practical incidences to place Zygomatic Implants and the usage of Double Barrel Fibula flaps in surgery.
Prof Dr Kashif IKram, principal, Baqai Dental College, conducted a lecture on the Body Mouth Connection, laying emphasis on the difficulties patients face as a result of Diabetes and Smoking, including reasons why clinicians face difficulty with the seating of the denture in geriatric patients. He also emphasized the use of Miswaak in patients, recommending it as the best alternative to keeping the teeth clean. The final lecture was conducted by Prof Dr Abu Bakr Shaikh (HOD, Endodontics department at FJDC) on “Tips for Successful Endodontics”. He highlighted that constant irrigation and proper cleaning and shaping techniques contribute towards a successful root canal procedure.
The second half of the seminar consisted of renowned members of the dental fraternity like Dr Mumtaz Khan, Dr Kamran Vasfy, Dr Asif Niaz Arain as well as Dr Mehmood Shah (President, Pakistan Dental Association) extending a formal invitation to representatives of the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) including the Chairman Dr Wasif Ali Memon and Mr Abdul Hameed Memon, Senior Member (IT and Operations) as well as Ms Mona Mehfooz, Secretary to the Board & Commissioner-I to give a briefing on the negotiations set forth between PDA and SRB and to encourage dentists throughout Sindh to register with the SRB, whilst ensuring them that the institution shall maintain full cooperation with the dentists during this procedure.
Chairman Dr Wasif Ali Memon thanked PDA and Dr Mehmood Shah for their efforts in carrying out successful negotiations on the sales tax to be charged by dentists and for supporting the dental community in this issue by fighting at the High Court to bring this issue to light. He said that as per the statistics, there are about 10,000 qualified dentists in Sindh, however, only 21 are registered with the SRB, the goal of the organization is to increase this number and to encourage more dentists to cooperate with SRB. Dr Wasif ensured that SRBis a friendly organization and that the collection of taxes is for the benefit of the dental fraternity.
Mr Abdul Hameed Memon and Ms Mona Mehfooz reiterated that SRB expects full cooperation from the dentists in this regard. They said that the aesthetic procedures subject to tax are to be determined by the doctors themselves therefore it is up to them what procedures tax is to be levied on.
A question and answer session then ensued, allowing lecturers and students to clear their doubts regarding the registration procedure. SRB member Ms Mona also ensured that dentists present at the seminar could register themselves at the end of the event, without having to visit the office personally. The session ended with a networking lunch at the end of the question-and-answer session.
Prof Dr Naseer Ahmed, HoD, Prostho department (AIDM) and Dr Resham Nadeem, Administrator (AIDM) facilitated the seminar
