MULTAN, Nov 22: A five-day international implant dentistry course began at Bakhtawar Amin Memorial Trust Hospital here on Saturday.

Ten dentists from the United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates and 50 from all over Pakistan are participating in the 125th course jointly organised by Tatum Institute of United States, Bakhtawar Amin Memorial Trust Hospital, Qureshi Dental Centre and the Pakistan Academy of Implant Dentistry.

Dental surgeon Dr Mehmood Qureshi is presiding over the course while Dr O Hilt Tatum, who is the founder of the institute, is the chief guest.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Qureshi said this was the first-ever course being conducted to enroll postgraduate dentists from England, Ireland, Scotland, UAE and Pakistan.

He said it was a great honour for the country that Dr Tatum, who was a pioneer of contemporary implant dentistry and the president of American Board of Oral Implantology, was conducting the course.

Dr Tatum said the course would add another dimension to the dentistry discipline where postgraduate students and doctors would be able to learn different techniques. He said it would provide an opportunity to the general public to have awareness about this technology and to dental professionals to take it to their clinics.

Prof Dr MA Sufi said dental implantology was a miracle and a major advancement in dentistry.

He said it was the beginning of a new era to permanently restore missing teeth to full function with natural looks and feeling without grinding neighboring teeth or without putting any wires, plastic plates and dentures.

Waqar Rasool, who is chief marketing officer of Bakhtawar Amin Memorial Trust Hospital, said the hospital was the most modern health facility of south Punjab. It had four operation theatres and 15 departments equipped with latest machinery of international standards, he said.