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
