Oral and maxillofacial pathology is the specialty of dentistry that investigates the cause, nature, process and effects of the diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. Department of oral pathology is also involved in training the undergraduates in Oral Anatomy & Embryology, Oral Physiology , Tooth morphology and Oral Histology & their clinical applications. This is essential for understanding the histological basis of various dental treatment procedures.
The department was established with the aim of UG & PG teaching and more importantly the diagnosis of specimens received from various sources (clinics & hospitals) as part of treatment or investigation. The department is concerned with the teaching of Dental Anatomy, Oral Histology and Oral Physiology to II BDS students and Oral Pathology to III BDS students.
Trinocular microscope with CCTV facilities along with facilities for photo microscopy, Phase contrast, Polarizing and dark ground microscopy are established.
UG Curriculum
The department is involved in teaching Undergraduate students of I BDS & III BDS in the subjects of Oral Anatomy & Histology and Oral Pathology & Microbiology respectively. In Oral Pathology, about 120 hrs of theory are taken covering all the basic aspects and 90 hrs of practical classes are taken wherein students are trained to identify the pathology slides, casts and specimens of Oral diseases.
In Oral Anatomy & Histology, about 90 hrs of theory are taken covering all the basic aspects and 280 hrs of practical are dealt with respect to the normal histology slides related to tooth development and various other Oro-facial structures, identification of normal morphology and different dentitions of human teeth with the help of casts and specimens. It is also related with carving of all permanent teeth in wax as well as Plaster.
Museum
The department has maintained an excellent Oral Pathology museum of tooth specimen, Dental Casts, Models, Posters and post-operative specimens.
Biopsy Reporting
Biopsy processing & reporting, the main forte of any Oral Pathology department, is a beehive of activity.
Results
The department also monitors the overall performance of both UG and PG students through regular assessments such as through periodic practical grading and frequent internal assessment examinations. The final success rate in the exams of UG is more than 95%.