ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the dentists to think out of box to create awareness about oral hygiene to promote preventive dentistry as the curative side was a bit costly, particularly in a developing country like Pakistan.
The president was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the International Oral Pathology and Aesthetic Dentistry Conference held here.
Urging the participants including oral pathologists, dentists, professors and students, Dr Alvi said regular brushing of teeth provided almost 99 percent of prevention from oral diseases. He said the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) also taught the frequent use of Miswak as evident from around 20 Ahadith in this regard.
The president, highlighting the importance of dentistry, urged the dentists to establish their collaboration with the stakeholders to promote oral hygiene and recalled the successful oral hygiene campaign run during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the professional dentists needed to reorient their approach and increase the quantum of preventive healthcare in their education. They should broaden their focus to help people benefit from prevention against oral diseases, he added.
He said the professionals would have to change their paradigm for the maximum benefit of the people to pay back the huge financing made by the country on their higher education.
The president, who earlier also inaugurated the first oral cancer registry, said after oral hygiene, the focus should be on the prevention of oral cancer. He advised against the use and sale of betel and other addictive items that cause oral cancer.
On the occasion, the president also launched the Pakistan Federation of Laser Dentistry and distributed shields among the organisers and collaborators of the event.
Earlier, in her address, Pakistan Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (PSOMP) Federal Zone President Dr Joharia Azhar said Pakistan was among very few countries where there was no oral cancer registry. She also highlighted the need for a body of laser dentistry, considering the new trends and innovations in the field.
She said the oral cancer registry would help maintain the data of the disease in the country, besides establishing collaboration with the partners to broaden the network.
PSOMP President Nauman Rauf said the conference would help broaden the network of professionals to help them embrace the vision of innovations in the field.
Focal Person for Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Naima Ansari highlighted the role being played by women chamber in the promotion of basic health without any gender biases.
She said the chamber also had a special focus on the importance of reproductive health, including family planning, through the collaboration of businessmen as well as professionals.
