Dr. Vijendra, HOD Dental department
Goal / Purpose
Dental Care for Every Patient
To provide consultation, diagnostic and therapeutic services to all patients seeking services in Dentistry.
The infrastructure consists of three state-of-the-art dental chairs, X-ray machine with RVG for both IOPA and OPG. The department follows stringent sterile techniques using Ultrasonic Bath and Autoclave.
Objectives
Services in the Dental Specialty
✓Root canal treatment
✓Tooth extraction
✓Fillings
✓Scaling
✓Orthodontic treatments
✓Aesthetic fillings
✓Detailed dental clearance for surgery cases
A Chronicle of Growth
From One Chair to a Full Dental Clinic
Origins
- Aug 1971 — Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital begins as a single-doctor clinic serving the rural population
- 1977 — Dentistry established within the General Hospital — one dental chair and basic instruments, for oral hygiene education and simple extractions
- Dr. P. V. Rao was the first visiting consultant, later supported by Dr. Yashodha Ramnath, Dr. Prashanthi and others
Expansion
- 1992 — The present Head of Department joins
- 1995 – 96 — A dedicated dental wing inaugurated, with two additional units and an X-ray facility
- 2016 — The General Hospital relocates to SSSIHMS, Whitefield, where the dental clinic operates today
- 26 May 2023 — OPG machine installed for panoramic X-rays
Key Contributors
Dr. Manjula, Dr. Digesh Patil (UK), Dr. Parimala, Dr. Chaya and Dr. Satyadeep, among several others, have enriched the department’s legacy.
Scope & Infrastructure
Services, Space and Equipment
Scope of Services
- Imaging — RVG, OPG and scout X-rays
- Restorative care — fillings and endodontic treatment, including complex cases
- Oral & maxillofacial surgery — on a limited basis, by 2 visiting consultants
- Periodontics — scaling, oral hygiene education and preventive care
- Orthodontics — diagnosing, preventing and correcting misaligned teeth and jaws
- Prosthodontics — complete dentures; 50 patients served free of cost by visiting surgeon Dr. Neha Sarda
Infrastructure
- An air-conditioned hall of about 2,000 sq ft in the registration and OP block
- 3 dental chairs, each with RVG (radiovisiography) for intraoral imaging, and motorised suction
- OPG (orthopantomogram) unit
- Autoclave, UV cabinet and ultrasonic bath for sterilisation
- Apex locator and endomotor
- Staffed by 12 visiting consultants and 1 full-time dentist
Department Totals by Year
✓2016 — 2,833
✓2017 — 6,983
✓2018 — 6,797
✓2019 — 6,828
✓2020 — 1,538
✓2021 — 3,378
✓2022 — 5,973
✓2023 — 7,653
✓2024 — 9,111
Faculty
The Dental Team
Dr. Vijendra
HOD, Dental department
Dr. Mythili
Dental Surgeon
Archive
Inauguration of the Dental Clinic
Academics & Outreach
Teaching, Service and the Road Ahead
Academic Engagement
- A one-day scientific programme hosted at the hospital, attended by about 100 members of the dental community
- Academic tie-up with M. S. Ramaiah Dental College — dental interns posted for 2-week outreach clinical rotations
- Consultants take part regularly in conferences and academic forums; structured research on clinical case studies, community oral health and evidence-based practice is being planned
Selfless Service
- Dr. Satyadeep and Dr. Vinay regularly serve at the hospital in Puttaparthi
- Dr. Manjula and Dr. Arun take part in monthly medical and dental outreach camps for underserved communities
Looking Ahead
- A larger, dedicated dental department
- 10 dental chairs
- Portable X-ray units
- More space for training, treatment and research
