A Visit from India
A Visit from India
Recently, Dr. Viji Kumar of Coimbatore, India, was in the United States for an Academy of Microscope Enhanced Dentistry meeting and a learning visit to Precision Ceramics in Montclair, Calif. Kumar received a bachelor’s degree in dental surgery in India and a fellowship of the faculty of dentistry in the royal college of surgeons in Ireland. She is a dental surgeon in her hometown of Coimbatore. While at Mark Jackson’s laboratory, she took the time to chat with JDT Unbound about the state of dentistry in India and what information she will take home with her about dental laboratories in the U.S.
“We have a lot of challenges on our laboratory side that I am hoping to overcome and there are a lot of new things over here so I’m hoping that we can incorporate a lot of changes on our side as well.”
What do you do on a daily basis?
I have a microscope-centered practice. On a daily basis we probably see about eight patients. For me the challenges are implant dentistry - which we want to do more of - and offering a lot more restorative solutions for our patients.
In India, what is the healthcare system like?
Dentistry is privatized.
What type of dental challenges are you dealing with in India?
I’m not a laboratory technician, but I have been to several laboratories in India and this is my first laboratory in America. I’m very impressed with the amount of technology that is available. One of the things that I like and would like to take back home is the amount of protocol and standardization and the work environment. The things that are happening here are very impressive.
Why is standardization important for you?
That’s important because we need to grow and we need to progress and I see that as being vital to that.
So you see standards and a set protocol for doing things would help in India?
Consistency, standardization and protocol I think would be critical. That is what I am seeing here at Mark Jackson’s laboratory, Precision Ceramics. I think if this was how all the laboratories are going to be, then I would be very impressed.
How the dentist and the dental technician interact in India?
In my situation, it’s very good. I send him pictures pre-operative and I try to send them post-operatively as well so he knows what is happening and we have good feedback. He also calls me and lets me know if there are any issues and lets me know if there were more we would need to do. We have a good relationship with the laboratory.
One of the things the U.S. dental laboratory industry is dealing with is a perceived lack of technicians, is that something you’re experiencing in India as well?
I’d say there is because there is a huge need for it (dentistry) and there is a shortage of technicians. But also a lot more training and standardized protocol are required as well.
What do you feel are the top challenges facing dentistry in India?
Our huge limitations are economy and also patient education. We can import a lot of equipment, but dentistry involves a lot more issues (than just equipment).
