Pune's Most Recommended Dentists During Covid-19 October2020

1. 2020 / Vol. 10 / Issue-02 Dental Care Impact of COVID 19 on Dental Practices Oral Practices Oral Hygiene in times of the Covid-19 pandemic Pune’sMost Recommended DENTISTS During C VID-19

4. From the From the EDITOR FACING CHALLENGES WITH A SMILE C hallenges are always around the corner. What matters is how prepared are we to tackle it. However, at times, we find ourselves amidst situations that only are a part of the fiction. The novel Corona Virus pandemic has been one such situation which threw everyone off balance. The medical fraternity has been the worst hit, to say the least. On one hand, they have proven to be the real saviours of humankind. On the other, they have been the ones most infected. As frontline warriors, most medical practitioners have been fighting the pandemic in COVID Care centres.

5. However, there are a few that have been fighting the pandemic in their own way, Dental Practitioners being one of them. Dental practitioners come in very close contact with human saliva and nasal droplets. This proportionately increases their chances of being infected by a COVID patient - whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. In the initial months of the pandemic, dental practitioners were advised to stop their practice for the time being. However, health emergencies seldom wait. What the practitioner's community did during the partial disruption was to prepare themselves for the times ahead. Safety gears like PPE kits and gloves were ordered in bulk. Thorough sanitization of tools, and clinic’s surfaces and their routine were established and air filters were installed. Sneha Sinha sneha@insightssuccess.com Technology played a huge part in this preparation. To avoid crowding, online consultations were given and patients who needed physical attention were called in clinics with prior appointments. In this special edition of Insights Success, we bring Pune's Most Recommended Dentists During Covid-19. These dentists were quick to respond to the sudden change in the practice methodology and ensured that no patient that needed attention was turned down due to the fear of the pandemic.

6. 14 Dental Care Impact of COVID 19 on Dental Practices Articles iSmyle Dental Centre Providing Best Functional and Aesthetic Dental Care Dr. Sneha’s Multispecialty Dental Clinic Specialized Services for Complete Oral Care 18 08 Contents

7. 30 Oral Practices Oral Hygiene in times of the Covid-19 pandemic Articles Soulful Dental Care Quality Dental Care in a Comfortable Environment Sweet Smiles Dental Clinic Spreading Smiles with your Safety in Mind 22 26 Contents

8. Sumita Sarkar Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Quality Assurance Team Contributing Editor Sneha Sinha Abhishaj Sajeev Darshan Parmar Art & Design Head Art & Picture Editor Co-designer Asha Bange Karan Gaikwad Priyanka Rajage Operations Head Megha Mishra Nandan Deshpande Swapnali Vasaikar Pawan Jadhav Ashwini Thakare Business Development Manager Asst. Manager Business Development Lead Business Development Executive Amar Sawant Pratiksha patil Amol Wadekar Atul Dhoran Tanaji Technical Head Technical Specialist Digital Marketing Manager SME-SMO Executive Circulation Manager sales@insightscare.com October, 2020 Corporate Ofces: Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (302)-319-9947 Email: info@insightscare.com For Subscription: www.insightscare.com Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Ofce No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017 Phone - India: 7410033803 Email: info@insightscare.com For Subscription: www.insightscare.com Copyright © 2020 Insights Success, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success.

9. Management Company Name Brief Dr.Sushant Vijay Patil Consulting Prosthodontist Providing complete dental care Dental Element Pune Sneha Gupta Practicing Dental Surgeon Dr. Sneha’s Multispeciality Dental Clinic Clinic provides best-in-class and advanced dental services and has earned great reviews and satisfaction from its patients. EmBrace Orthodontic & Multispeciality dental clinic Divya Kharat Orthodontist A reputed clinic in Pune. It specializes in providing quality services in Dentistry, Facial Cosmetics, & Hair Transplant in Pune. Facethetics PUNE facetheticspune.in Manisha SK At iSmile Dental, we have extensive experience in all aspects of modern dentistry. Dr. Saif Sayed Founder iSmile Dental Care i-smiledental.com Providing dental services since 75 years. Raunak Dental Polyclinic Dr Siddharth Jadhav Shaheen dental clinic shaheendentalclinic.business.site A specialized Dental Clinic. Shaheen Valsangkar A modern dental clinic, specialised in Paediatric Dentistry, advanced diagnostics and treatment of dental and oral disorders. Swapnil Rachha Founder Soulful Dental Care soulfuldental.com Shilpa Rao Founder Sweet Smile sweetsmiledental.com A highly advanced multispeciality clinic A 3-year young team of the dynamic dentist providing all age dental solutions under one roof. Dr. Prasanna Dhumal Senior Dentist Teethz Tantras teethztantra.com

10. Dr. Sneha’s Multispecialty Dental Clinic Specialized Services for Complete Oral Care T he first step towards staying fit is following hygiene practices. While we follow most of the hygiene practices like washing our hands, covering our mouth while coughing etc., oral-hygiene tends to be the most neglected factor. Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential and one should practice as well as preach about it. Brushing teeth isn’t just enough. Oral hygiene encompasses taking care of teeth, tongue, cheek and lip as well. Brushing and flossing twice daily is a must and so is keeping our tongue clean. Besides, everyone should visit a dentist every 6 months for a regular checkup. Helping the citizens of Pune in maintaining good oral health is Dr. Sneha’s Multispecialty Dental Clinic. Painless Root Canal (RCT) Ÿ We have a team of consultant specialize in every branch of Dentistry. What is your opinion on the adaptation of novel technologies in dental science? In my opinion introduction and adaptation of novel technology is always beneficial as it enhances the quality of treatment. Dental Science is a very vast and fast-changing technology so we have to regularly update ourselves by attending different dental education programs. What is your opinion on the shortage of healthcare facilities and workers to cater to the growing number of Corona Virus Cases? One of the best dental clinic in Pune, Dr. Sneha’s Clinic provides best-in-class and advanced dental services and has earned great reviews and satisfaction from its patients. Yes, definitely there is a shortage of healthcare facility in this pandemic as a very large population is affected. But we cannot ignore that India is doing really great in handling this vast population. Each & every individual needs to take precautions to minimize the spread of the virus. Doctors are doing their best. Dr. Sneha Gupta, Practicing Dental Surgeon for more than 10 years now shares more details about the clinic. What services does the clinic offer? We offer all the services related to Oral & Dental treatments which include:- What difficulties has the pandemic brought about for your clinic and the dental industry in general? How are you equipping yourself/your clinic to manage the same? Braces Crown & Bridges Veneers & laminates Surgery & Oral Cancer treatments Tooth Extractions Fixed & Removal prosthesis Kids Dental treatments Tooth cleaning & bleaching Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ This pandemic is definitely difficult for us as dentists because we are the one who needs to work on mouth and in close proximity to patients. The dental industry is badly affected in general as there is fear among patients related to safety & hygiene. 08 | October 2020 |

11. Dr. Sneha Gupta Practicing Dental Surgeon | October 2020 |09

12. Dental Science is a very vast and fast-changing technology so we have to regularly update ourselves by attending different dental education programs. As a dentist, we are specialist in infection control and are taking each & every safety measure like:- Proper Ventilation & Sanitization in clinic using- Spray Fumigation UVC light PPE(Personal Protection Equipment) used for Dentist & patients. Screening every Patient via temperature check & Oximeter. Working by appointment only to minimize the waiting period & rush in the clinic. Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ What have you planned for yourself/your clinic (in terms of expansion or new equipment) in the coming years? Ÿ With our aim of perfection, in coming years we are planning to expand our clinic with all the modern technology and open few more branches. Ÿ 10 | October 2020 |

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16. COVID 19 COVID 19 COVID 19 DENTAL CARE 14 | October 2020 |

17. IMPACT OF COVID 19 COVID 19 COVID 19 PRACTICES on DENTAL | October 2020 |15

18. T he biggest challenge the world is facing right now is the outbreak of the novel Corona virus. In last 7-8 months we possibly have come to know everything about this deadly virus and its origin. Over 40 million people have been infected globally so far by Covid-19. In India there are 7.91 million active cases right now with overall recovery rate of 98%. The impact of Covid-19 on the economy and health sector of India is severe. through telemedicine. Dental surgeons are also at the highest risk of contracting the Corona virus. precautions. Without proper sanitization on regular intervals it will be hard to stop the virus from spreading further. The body temperatures of patients should be checked before entering the clinic to make sure they are not possibly infected. Another important part is communication. Dentists need to be honest and find ways to spread knowledge and awareness among the patients to prevent panics. The huge risk that dental health care sector is facing The outbreak of Covid-19 has significantly impacted the dental health care sector as dentists are exposed directly to the patient’s transmitting organ. This is a huge threat to the dentists. According to New York Times, dental surgeons along with nurses, paramedics and other healthcare staffs are at the highest risk of contracting and transmitting Corona virus. While private practices are not getting patients due to hike in their fees, the government colleges and hospitals are facing challenges as they are not compatible with government norms and regulations. Doctors and other health care staffs need to be extra careful with dental checkups and surgery as small mistakes or irresponsible behaviour can lead to a huge suffering. Without proper equipments and resources most of the dental healthcare clinics are failing to provide proper sanitization and strict hygiene protocol. Apart from that the clinics have to pay salaries and rents, though there are no revenues for months, which is causing a huge economic impact. Teledentistry: Need of the Hour The whole world is going through economic and health crises. India’s ability to handle such crises is much less than countries like America, Europe and China. The outbreak of Covid-19 was catastrophic and it led these countries to change their entire medical and health care system which is not really possible for India considering our economic ability. The healthcare issues of people are being addressed even in the times of current crisis, thanks to technology. With Teledentistry as a convenient option, dental arena also has figured the way to carry out their practices and guide patients with dental issues during this pandemic situation. The idea of combining telecommunications and dentistry, involving the exchange of clinical information and images over remote distances for dental consultation and treatment planning, is the need of the hour. Teledentistry not only has the ability to improve access to oral healthcare, improve the delivery of oral healthcare, and lower its costs, but also carries the potential to eliminate the disparities in oral health care between rural and urban communities. The health sector of India is affected in a massive way just like rest of the world. Initially, there were only 49,000 ventilators for Covid patients, which is very insufficient considering our 1.34 billion population. The worst part is people are so afraid of getting infected that they are not going to the hospitals for treatment of other diseases as this is identified as nosocomial. How to curb the risk? Cancer, heart disease and blood sugar patients are most affected and are not getting proper treatment as most of the medical staffs are deployed to fight the Corona virus. Doctors, nurses and other medical staffs are doing overtime and working with less equipment with the highest risk of getting infected though the government along with the hospital authorities is implementing measures to help the medical staffs. As the patients are hesitant to visit hospitals, consulting through telemedicine is gaining popularity though not all illness can be cured virtually. Dental health is something that hardly can be cured Concluding Statement A structural change is needed in our dental healthcare sector for better hygiene and treatment. The change includes dentists and staff using proper protection before meeting a patient. Dentists and assistants need to mandatorily use PPE suits, goggles, face shields, N95 FFP3 masks, surgical gloves and shoe covers. Not only proper equipment but also proper training and process management is important for safe dental practices. They need to update their knowledge and skills to control the infection. Sanitizing the clinic is as important as taking This is the new normal and the virus is going to be here for a while. It might sound bitter but this is possibly the truth. To fight this deadly virus we need to work smartly and wisely. We need to be prepared for situations like this as this is not the end of a health crisis. It is important for all the health care sector staffs especially dental health care personnel to educate themselves as well as the common people about the disease to prevent anxiety and panic among the patients. 16 | October 2020 |

20. iSmyle Dental Centre Providing Best Functional and Aesthetic Dental Care S mile is perhaps the most beautiful expression one can give that asks nothing more than a smile in return. To maintain the million-dollar smile of ours, taking care of oral hygiene is important. Apart from good food habits and regular brushing, a visit to a dental practitioner once in a while ensures that our smile remains beautiful. We combine our qualifications and our approaches, making us come to a common decision of providing the best treatment to you, in terms of both functionality and aesthetics. And that is when we ‘recreate smiles’... all over again!! What is your opinion on the adaption of novel technolo- gies in dental science? Good oral hygiene is as simple and basic as brushing twice daily and flossing regularly between teeth. As renowned dentists in Pune, this is what Dr. Saif Sayed and Dr. Sanah Sayed share with their patients. They also make sure to create awareness among people during casual social gatherings, conduct small talks at club meetings and more importantly, share such information on their virtual social platforms. They also write informative posts or share the same on their virtual walls. It is important that every dentist upgrades himself/herself to rapidly evolving technologies and techniques when it comes to clinical dentistry. It is all about ‘evolve or perish’. As dentists practicing in a city like Pune, we had to quickly and regularly upgrade ourselves to Digital Dentistry. With digitization, we can completely design a custom-made smile for our patients in less than 15 minutes. Going digital has made dental implants very predictable and quick, and zero error. Intraoral digital scans are replacing routine mouth impressions is a blessing for the dentist and more importantly, the patient. Here’s how the doctor-duo has been taking care of their patients’ oral health and spreading awareness about it even in the current pandemic. Kindly brief us about your journey as a dental practitio- ner and your clinic. Digital IS the future and the same applies to dentistry! What difficulties has the pandemic brought about for your clinic and the dentistry in general? How are you equipping yourself/your clinic to manage the same? iSmyle is a concept that is born out of a combined creation of two minds, two thought processes and two qualifications. Dr. Saif Sayed, a general dental practitioner, has been practicing for the past four years. He focuses more on the functionality of a tooth. He ensures that patients under his care undergo required dental treatments such as tooth fillings, root canal treatments and gum treatments, all of which contribute to a healthy chewing habit. Dr. Sanah Sayed has done her specialization in cosmetic dentistry. She appreciates the finer, aesthetic aspects of teeth. As dentists, we must realize that no health care worker comes as close to the human saliva as us. We are the ONLY professionals who receive saliva and oral micro-organisms in an aerosol form. This is by far the riskiest form of a viral spread because these aerosols can effortlessly float in the entire dental clinic, eventually settling themselves on the skin, oral mucosa, clothes, and can enter a human body through these channels, along with direct contact with eyes and nostrils. 18 | October 2020 |

21. Dr. Saif Sayed Co-Admin Dr. Sanah Sayed As dental professional ourselves, these are our set of protocols, and so should be yours, once we all start treating patients: 1. Personal protection and staff protection - We must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) which must involve N95 masks, surgical scrubs that cover the entire body till ends of all four extremities and shoe covers. A surgical, disposable head cap along with eyeglasses and face shield is what we must wear, to ensure there is no cross-contamination. | October 2020 |19

22. 2. Post Treatment and between patients: After any treatment, thorough surgical washing of hands with disinfectant and then applying sanitizer must be done. The staff must thoroughly clean all surfaces like doorknobs, table tops etc. with an appropriate surface disinfectant. Enough instruments and sterilization packets must be ready and equipped for a day’s practice. Fumigation protocols must be practiced at least twice daily which means closing the premises for two hours after the procedure. Also, we need to maintain social distancing in the reception area. THE SMILE EXPERTS Dr. Saif Sayed, a certified Implant Surgeon is the Co-Admin at iSmyle. He ensures that you walk out of iSmyle, completely aware of your oral health, along with a promise of best dental treatment. He has been practicing dentistry for the past 10 years and is an expert in various dental treatments. His first instinct is to save your original tooth, improve its functionality, and ensure a natural smile. 3. Written Consent: Every patient must sign a written consent, along with the procedure, that they are not currently having any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough, fever, breathlessness, etc. This should be done in addition to screening temperature for every patient who steps inside with a no-touch thermometer. Dr. Sayed stays passionately up-to-date on the latest developments in dentistry and brings revolutionary new techniques and technologies into the practice. His certificates proudly displayed in the reception area are proof of his dedication towards his profession. For him, patients are a priority, and he is the main reason why iSmyle is a patient-centric dental practice. 4. Prioritize treatments: This goes without saying, patients having pain related treatments must be taken in first. As we start our practice, there will be a lot of troubleshooting that we may learn and overcome on the job. It is best to not crowd the practice for a few days to learn the best way to cope up with the situation. The number of patients we see each day can increase as we have an internal management protocol in place with all team members and staff exercising them efficiently. Dr. Sanah Sayed is a certified Cosmetic Dentist, who has completed her post graduate course in Aesthetics from Manipal University, Karnataka. She has also trained for three years with one of India’s leading Cosmetologist, Dr. Suhas Lele. Dr. Sanah has also treated various celebrities and TV personalities and has been the Associate Dentist on the panel of Femina Miss India 2013. She is currently the Smile Mentor for Mr. and Miss. Personality Pune. What have you planned for yourself/your clinic (in terms of expansion or new equipment) in the coming years? In the coming years, iSmyle plans to go completely digital. We are already into digital smile designs, digitally-driven implant dentistry and digital simulation of a particular treatment. With time, we aim to provide only digital treatment options to our patients, which would result in less chair time, better and more predictable results with no room for error. At iSmyle, she exclusively practices Cosmetic Dentistry and is the expert in Full Mouth Rehabilitation, as she appreciates the finer, aesthetic aspects of teeth. She carefully and patiently works on one tooth at a time to give it a natural, lively look. 20 | October 2020 |

24. Soulful Dental Care Quality Dental Care in a Comfortable Environment or most people, sitting on a dentist’s chair is a F counter drugs, just to avoid a visit that they think will be more painful than their current situation. has been shaped. Inspite of being the son of a banker, I had an interest in biology and the human body from an early age which led me to opt for dental science which is a speciality itself in medical science. Since my early days in dentistry, I was always intrigued by kids and their dental treatment. My inclination towards pedodontics increased as I received immense love and affection from the kids and felt responsible to throw myself in dedication for working towards preserving and maintaining kids dental health and well-being which subsequently led me to start an exclusive dental clinic for kids in Pune by the name of Soulful Dental Care. nightmare. More often than not they ignore their dental issues opting for home remedies or over the However, such an attitude can aggravate a simple pain to some serious issues if not taken care of at the right time. Dispelling this fear of the chair is Soulful Dental Care’s main objective. The dental care clinic offers painless, effective and long-lasting dental treatment in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere creating a setup where patients are taken care of as a family. Since the establishment of the clinic, I have been blessed with wonderful child patients from all strata of society and the clinical practice went on to settle pretty fast, serving several patients every year. Recently we have completed 4 years of service and the amazing response from our patients only seems to motivate us to work harder. Soulful Dental Care offer services related to pediatric dentistry including preventive dental treatment like fluoride application and pit and fissure sealants, painless root canal treatment, metal-free white composite fillings, colorful twinky star fillings for kids, steel as well as ceramic caps for milk teeth and permanent teeth, painless tooth removal and space maintainers & orthodontic treatment all offered in a child-friendly environment. What is your opinion on the adaptation of novel technologies in dental science? Technology and the latest innovations have changed the face of dental science. In the earlier days, many sensitive patients had to be forcefully held during tooth removal, with the advent of advanced techniques & sensitive equipment saving the natural tooth in a painless way and maintaining the right form has become the norm of dentists all over the world. Different types of anaesthesia for painless dental surgeries, use of nitrous oxide sedation in anxious child/ adult patients, use of lasers in dental procedures, highly efficient endomotors and apex locators are some of many novel technologies routinely used in a dental practice today. Even preventive dentistry has so many advancements so that dental surgeons can prevent many dental diseases from occurring via non-invasive The core team of the clinic includes Dr Swapnil Rachha (MDS-Pediatric & Preventive Dentist), Dr Mrs Sneha Rachha (BDS-Dental Surgeon & Implantologist) Dr Shruti Athalye (Dental Surgeon & Cosmetologist) and three well trained dental assistants skillful in handling patients gently. Here’s Dr Swapnil Rachha, sharing how he followed his passion and established the dental care clinic. Kindly brief us about your journey as a dental practitioner and your clinic. I cannot be more grateful in the way in which my journey 22 | October 2020 |

25. Dr Swapnil Rachha MDS-Pediatric & Preventive Dentist Empathetic Nature With Skilful Handling Of Patients By Our Well-experienced Dentists Forms The Core Of Our Team. dental procedures and saving a lot of future costs and trouble. Hence I have a firm opinion that the dental field has evolved in a way that all patients have immensely benefited from it and patients are no more horrified for a dental visit and dentists are no longer considered as monsters! Share with our readers the measures that have to be taken to maintain good oral hygiene. How would you suggest we should spread awareness for the same? Maintaining good oral hygiene is an important daily routine which all must follow meticulously. The most common questions that patients have are how often to brush, in what way and which toothpaste to use etc. I personally suggest using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated paste with 950 to 1000 ppm fluoride of any good company to brush teeth twice daily once in the morning and once at bedtime. Toothbrushing should be done with moderate forces applied on teeth and giving horizontal as well as vertical strokes till approx 3-4 minutes, covering all surfaces followed by thorough rinsing with water. Use of dental floss and medicated mouth wash are also very good adjuvants in maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing dental diseases. Best way to spread awareness in patients is visiting your dentist regularly and magazines like Insight | October 2020 |23

26. which reach a lot of people and provide vital information to readers. We provided patients with timely tele and video consultations. We started scheduling patients by appointment basis only and hence avoided crowding in the clinic. Every patient and the accompanying person was screened for body temperature and oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter. Maintaining clean and sterilised air in the clinic was possible due to the installation of top-class Japanese AIR purification system and negative ion generators. Nanotechnology is being used to thoroughly sanitise the entire clinic operatory at regular intervals after each patient visit. I can proudly say that thorough sterilisation of every instrument going into the patient's mouth along with the use of advanced disinfection methods has helped all our patients get effective and safe dental treatment in this testing phase. What is your opinion on the shortage of healthcare facilities and workers to cater to the growing number of Corona Virus Cases? Reducing mortality is the highest priority that should be given in the current situation so increasing resources in the form of beds with oxygen supply and ventilators are the way to go. Doctors from all fields should be recruited in the service of covid care centres to reduce the existing burden on the team of doctors serving the purpose. Jumbo covid centres are already in place which needs efficient staff to manage patients appropriately which will lessen the burden of cases on hospitals. What difficulties has the pandemic brought about for your clinic and the dental industry in general? How are you equipping yourself/your clinic to manage the same? The COVID pandemic was unprecedented and has hit all sectors equally. The dental field had a major hit since patients initially were hesitant to come in close contact where they had to remove masks for treatment. But dental pain and dental disease is a thing one cannot neglect for a long time hence the need for emergency and then routine dental care emerged. Soulful Dental Care was fully prepared to handle the adversity since the time the crisis hit and we geared up with all safety procedures and equipment according to government guidelines. What have you planned for yourself/your clinic (in terms of expansion or new equipment) in the coming years? Soulful Dental Care has completed 4 successful years in 2020 and after providing treatment for thousands of patients and helping them gain a better smile we are upcoming with a second branch in Kothrud considering the demand and need for good dental services around. The second branch will be an advanced centre for multispeciality dental treatment and dental implants with all the latest technology and equipment in a comfortable environment for patients. 24 | October 2020 |

28. Sweet Smiles Dental Clinic Spreading Smiles with your Safety in Mind T difficult situations with proper care is something that is going to keep the businesses running. Among other healthcare avenues, the dental fraternity is also not exempt from the flames and fumes of the novel coronavirus outbreak. his pandemic has shown us the true meaning of the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) times. Navigating through different every day! Along the way, she crossed paths with so many beautiful patients who gave her a chance to touch their lives and trusted her with the ability to relieve them of pain and more than anything else became a part of her ever so growing family. From 1 person when we started our family now is more than 10000 members big. Wow, could, we have asked for more? Yet, one of the premier dental care givers in Pune, Sweet Smiles Dental Clinic is leading the way in hygienic oral care with optimum safety to its patients. Let’s find out how Dr. Shilpa Rao – Principal Dentist of the clinic has managed to do that in the following exclusive interview that we had with her: 2) Please give an overview of the services you offer. We specialize in smile makeovers, aesthetic fillings, root canal treatments, minor surgeries, gum treatment, implants, bleaching, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and general well-being of teeth and gums! Our core team comprises of me, Dr Shilpa Rao, who is the Principal Dentist, and specializes mostly in root canal treatments and aesthetic dentistry. Dr Vinita Sharma, who is the Associate Dentist, has 10+ years of experience and is just wonderful with kids and also takes care of your gum problems. Pooja is the Senior Dental Assistant cum Manager. She takes care of the patient management and makes sure that all the sterilization protocols are followed to the teeth. She makes sure that the coordination between the visiting consultants and the patients is as smooth as possible. Rutika and Deepa are Junior Dental Assistants. They work as the chair side assistants and make work easier for us as dentists and also make patients feel comfortable. 1) Kindly brief us about your journey as a dental practitioner and your clinic. Since my dad was in the medical corps of the army, I, as a child was always surrounded by doctors. I was quite enamored by their super power to heal people. That’s how the entire idea of becoming a doctor got instilled within me! I was okay with everything about being a doctor except the night shifts. Also, I liked being artistic and there was no way in which I could combine Art and Medicine except dentistry! That’s how I began my journey of getting into one of the most prestigious colleges in India, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai in the year 1997. 3) What is your opinion on the adoption of novel technologies in dental science? For decades, going to the dentist was considered an undesirable experience. It involved sitting under a bright light and having your mouth invaded with a variety of tools. Even though dental health is very important to your overall health and for having a nice smile, among other benefits, many people chose to steer clear of dental visits because of how uncomfortable it was for them. Those 5 years of being in that amazing college taught me a lot and made me what I am today! After completing my graduation, I joined Vivekanand Mission Hospital, Lucknow where I used to manage a daily OPD of 70-80 patients. The experience was just outstanding. I dealt with every possible case and it gave me a lot of confidence. The love of the patients I got there is something which I will never forget. In 2003, Sweet Smiles Dental Clinic and Implant Centre was born. This is how the story begins, A young girl dreams of having a clinic with an aim to create smiles, more smiles Fortunately, new technological advancements are making trips to the dentist quicker, easier, less painful and more reliable. Due to these advancements, the dental industry is 26 | October 2020 |

29. Dr. Shilpa Rao Principal Dentist exploration tool to search for cavities. While this has been a regular element of checkups for a century or more, lasers can now do the job. growing rapidly and looking much different than it did in past years. A greater emphasis on treatment and prevention will mean fewer caries (cavities) in patients and less risk of periodontal disease. Similar to innovation within other health care professions, these new technologies will have a huge impact on how dental professionals treat their patients and how people take care of their oral health at home. High-tech x-rays While digital x-rays are not too new to the dental industry, they’ve become the preferred choice from radiography- based x-rays. The benefits to clinicians are that the radiation levels are 90 percent lower with the new technology and x- rays can arrive on screens in a second making the whole review process more efficient. If you’re wondering what dental technologies, you’ll find in dentist offices in the coming year, check out these five innovations: Cavity detection through lasers Shorter visits with Computer Aided Design (CAD) Technology Normally, your hygienist pokes around your mouth with an | October 2020 |27

30. Using CAD technology, your tooth will be photographed and then prepared for a crown. The machine can create the crown in the office without all of the complicated work of hand molding and sculpting. With the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, now it is an individual responsibility to take care of ourselves and stay as safe as we can. Use of mask and hand washing is something that is the most important now. People should also not venture out without a reason. Just because everything has opened up, doesn’t mean that corona is gone. We have to be extremely careful about every little thing. Social distancing must be strictly followed. But, keep in mind that you should just be physically. Don’t isolate yourself mentally, just stay connected with your family and friends virtually as much as possible. Thinner Veneers Veneers are moldings that cover the front part of a crooked or unattractive tooth. Before this technology advanced, they were very thick to be able to withstand wear and tear. However, advancements in technology allows for the creation of thinner veneers. Teeth will remain just as well protected while keeping the original tooth intact. 6)What difficulties has the pandemic brought about for your clinic and the dental industry in general? How are you equipping yourself/your clinic to manage the same? This pandemic has been difficult for everyone and we are no exceptions. Initially, things were very bad since there were no clear guidelines. Patients were equally scared of coming to the clinic to get any work done. So work was limited to emergencies. Fillings and Bond Material Bonding and filling materials are to be made of high- quality, medical-grade, industrial-strength adhesives and fillers. With technological improvements, your tooth color can be easily matched, making the repaired tooth fit with the rest of your teeth as well as the plastic resin used today lasts longer than previously used materials and comes in a wide range of shades. But now with the guidelines coming up, we, as in the dental fraternity, are completely geared up to handle patients safely. 4) Share with our readers the measures that have to be taken to maintain good oral hygiene. How would you suggest we should spread awareness for the same? Taking care of your teeth is really simple. The three steps to good oral hygiene are Brushing, Rinsing and Flossing! A proper two-minute brushing twice a day and flossing at least at night will take your maintenance of oral hygiene a long way. Rinsing after every meal is something that is often forgotten. Also, what you eat also makes a lot of difference in how your teeth are going to treat you. Anything that is extremely sticky or acidic is going to damage your teeth for sure. Eat good fibrous food which stimulates saliva secretion, hence developing a self- cleansing mechanism in the mouth! At our clinic, we keep a gap of 40 minutes in between patients so that fumigation and total disinfection can be done. Also, a tele-consulting is done as a first step in order to screen the patient for any medical or travel history. We have installed UV lights and our clinic is extremely well ventilated so that the fresh air circulation is happening well. Also, we have installed Hepa filters in our air conditioners for extra precautions. So, all in all, the clinic is extremely safe and we take absolute care of our patient’s safety! 7) What have you planned for yourself/your clinic (in terms of expansion or new equipment) in the coming years? As for my plans for my clinic in near future, I am planning to get into Digital Smile Designing so that I can show my patients how their smile can change and how they will look even before we touch their teeth! Primarily, children at school need to be educated about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. Besides children, parents to be should also be taught in pre-natal counselling about how to maintain your toddler's oral hygiene. 5) What is your opinion on the shortage of healthcare facilities and workers to cater to the growing number of coronavirus cases? The shortage of healthcare workers during this pandemic is bound to happen as our doctor to patient ratio is really poor. Also, the doctors are not paid as well as their counterparts in the western countries. The doctors have to be treated well, only then things will improve! The other thing that I look forward to is a microscope. I love magnification and the thought of looking those tiny little teeth under magnification sure does excite me and my team. 28 | October 2020 |

32. Oral Hygiene in times of the Covid-19 Pandemic Oral Practices Oral Practices 30 | October 2020 |

33. T he Covid-19 virus is an airborne pathogen that spreads using several means. Its predominant carriers include saliva, infected mucus and other bodily fluids and secretions transmitted in aerosol or tiny droplet form when the infected individual does anything that causes it to travel outwards including breathing, coughing, sneezing or even speaking. Persons in the vicinity of either the infected person or place (surfaces including furniture and anything on which the infected matter may stay for as long as two days) are likely to get infected. development of immunocompetence at the point of entry of the virus that effectively stops the spread of periodontal diseases and gingivitis, besides the likely spread of the virus at the very point of its entry itself. In conclusion, though at the moment a direct cause-and-effect correlation between oral hygiene and Covid-19 may still need a body of work as evidence, there’s no reason to neglect oral hygiene. While the world’s scientists break their heads trying to develop a vaccine and study the Covid- 19 virus in all its complexity, folks worldwide need to do the following with respect to oral cavity hygiene in order to stay healthy. In fact, authorities at DGZMK are emphatic that while lack of oral hygiene may cause diseases including caries or periodontitis, it could take a more fatal form in the case of COVID- 19. For the same, they even have studies that show an effective correlation between oral hygiene and COVID-19. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once every day. Brush your teeth for 2 minutes with an electric brush- if possible. if not, brush every part of your teeth with reasonable vigour (not vigorous enough to hurt though) Rinsing with a non-alcohol-based mouthwash twice a day may help reduce the plaque build-up that is said to lead to inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). Use mouthwashes high in alcohol or toothpaste with bactericidal components like triclosan or other antibacterial to disrupt the oral microbiome. Be a mindful eater. Go easy on carb-heavy foods and beverages that increase acids in the mouth. The latter is known to dissolve tooth surfaces. The more you bathe your teeth in these acids, the weaker and softer your teeth become.” Avoid non-fibre carbs which act like sugar and contribute to plaque build-up. Avoid processed foods for better oral health. Smoking reduces blood supply to the gums and increases the risk for gum infections. High exposure to alcohol is said to dry out your cheeks and gums. Ÿ Ÿ While the mouth remains the main source of transmission, and the nose the primary receiver, the mouth is also known to be a receiver in certain cases. Despite adequate and more care of the nose and mouth, lack of oral hygiene or inherent oral characteristics may lead to the mouth also being a receptor of the virus. Not far behind is a study commis- sioned by the British Dental Journal that sheds light on oral hygiene to reduce the oral cavity bacterial load and the subsequent risk of bacterial superinfection. The study states that patients with severe COVID-19 infection have marked levels of inflammation and bacterial infection. Coincidentally, those with the severe form of the viral infection with marked oral cavity issues also have co- morbidities arising out of diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Cases of subgingival periodontal disease may additionally have large open wounds in the oral cavity, an open invitation to the COVID-19 virus. Ÿ Ÿ Here it makes sense to clear the air about the effects of Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike other viruses including Ebola, SARS, H1NI, Nipa which were studied quite extensively given that it’s spread and speed wasn’t anywhere close to that of Covid-19, characteristics of the latter are still being discovered almost daily, including the chances of a second and third wave. Ÿ Ÿ The protection provided by saliva Human saliva contains a large number of proteins and peptides with antiviral effects that have a crucial role in preventing and protecting against viral infections. Past studies against other forms of SARS virus document the role of the saliva and how it has stemmed the virus’s spread. It can, hence be assumed, from authoritative studies that the same may apply to the case of Covid-19 virus. Ÿ Having said that, a study by the German Society of Dentistry and Oral Medicine (DGZMK) shows the relevance of oral hygiene and it’s heightened importance in these times of the Covid-19 pandemic. The study quite emphatically states that good oral care could help stem the severity of the disease significantly. Ÿ Ÿ And last, and not certainly the least Ÿ Take good care of your toothbrush and keep them away from the commode as fecal matter too are said to contain coronavirus, a condition when washbasins and places to store toothbrushes are close to the pot! A press release by a leading authority at DGZMK states that in the light of the pandemic, it’s very important to keep all parts of the oral cavity healthy at all times. They particularly stress on “dental prophylaxis”, a cleaning procedure for the mouth that is said to thoroughly clean the teeth, as also all parts of the mouth leading to the Hyposalivation is the condition where the body produces less saliva than needed likely leading to the oral and nasal surfaces secreting lesser antimicrobial proteins and peptides and exposing patients to a higher risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus. Further studies though may be needed to prove the hypothesis. -Purushoutham M | October 2020 |31