KARACHI, Feb 26: Approximately 30 per cent of children and adolescents may have tooth erosion arising from exogenous and endogenous sources of acid. Long-standing active erosion results in sever tooth destruction and exposed dentine sensitivity.

These views were expressed by experts at various scientific sessions on the second and third days of the 28th Asia Pacific Dental Congress being organized here at the Karachi Expo Centre.

Speakers included Dr Malcum Heirus of UK, Dr S. M. Balaji of India, Dr Naveed Rashid Qureshi, Dr Mehmood Shah, Dr Arham N. Chohan, Dr Suchetan, Prof Ridhwan, Dr Siddartha S. Ray, Dr Aqeel A. Shaikh and Dr Arif Alvi and others.

Speakers urged teachers, NGOs, media, health ministry and other government officials to play due role in imposing ban on pan, gutka and supari etc and in creating awareness among the masses about oral and dental care.

Meanwhile, speaking on the topic of dental education in developing nations, APDC patron Dr Mehmood Shah said that dental education syllabus in various such countries including Pakistan was now obsolete and did not meet local needs, and therefore should be amended accordingly.

He said that we should produce dental surgeons according to our social and economic needs and should be encouraged to establish dental clinics in villages and remote areas.

There are only 5,000 dental surgeons including 500 experts available for the population of 150 million, he informed.

Dr Shah suggested that dental colleges should be opened in villages and government should encourage such moves.

Dr Ayaz Khan said that gum and dental diseases in adults were caused by improper use of brush and not washing teeth on a regular basis.

Dr Roger Smales of Australia said that many changes were occurring in dental practice in response to external factors, resulting in increased patient expectations, dento-legal risks and treatment costs.

Dr Paul V. Abbot said endodontic treatment was considered to be a successful and predictable produce, however, root canal fillings, like all dental restorations, had a finite life and therefore endodontic treatment may need to be repeated at some future time.

In addition, epidemiological studies do not support the high success rates often quoted by dentists, he contested.

Dr Meraj Shakti of Bhopal, Dr Shahjehan Katpar, Dr Bab Golhar, Dr Madem Pamimi, Dr Razar Sameel, Dr Nazeer Khan, Dr Naveed Arshad, Dr Asad Tareen, Dr Shakeel Shadad, Dr Avinash Talwar, Dr Fareeda Fortune, Dr Hameedullah Jan and others also spoke.—PPI