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Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology 27(3):p 336-338, May–Jun 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/jisp.jisp_176_23

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SCIENTIFIC EVENTS CONDUCTED IN THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2023 NATIONAL PERIODONTIST DAY 2023

The Indian Society of Periodontology (ISP) recognized February 23 as National Periodontist Day to mark the official registered status of the society after its foundation, and for the first time, the day was celebrated all over the country with great fervor in the current year “2023.” The society encouraged dental institutes across the nation to participate and spread the message of “Healthy Gums – Healthy Body” in a meaningful manner by using posters, pamphlets, banners, newspaper articles, and other mass media and/or conducting activities such as road shows, street plays, dental checkup camps.

To enhance the awareness of the general population about the role of periodontists in oral care, several interesting events and competitions were organized by over 100 dental colleges for a week’s duration to disseminate the message. Various treated periodontal cases were displayed in many departments, including scaling and root planing, management of periodontal abscess, crown lengthening, full mouth flap surgeries with prosthetic rehabilitation, regenerative surgeries, and periodontal plastic surgery cases, etc., to showcase the wide scope of delivered periodontal care. In addition, colleges also organized several patient-related activities, including lectures and oral hygiene education sessions. These activities were intended to promote good oral hygiene practices and raise awareness about the importance of periodontal health. Free dental examination, screening, and treatment camps were organized by some of the dental institutes, including those in the rural areas, and oral hygiene kits were also distributed. The role of the dentist and the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to maintain good general body health were explained to the patients. The general public was made aware of the deleterious effects of tobacco on oral health, and the patients were counseled regarding tobacco cessation by postgraduate students and faculty members [Photographs 1-4].

In addition, some interesting assignments, such as flash mobs on the college premises on the use and importance of intraoral aids and oral hygiene maintenance, were performed at many places. Undergraduate student activities such as the reel making competition, best selfie undergraduate student activities such as the “Reel making competition,” “Best selfie competition,” and “Best intraoral photograph” were conducted to ignite the creative potential of the students regarding the patient education modalities. Various other games and activities were organized for students and the public to encourage the participants to learn more about the importance of periodontal health and hygiene for achieving overall health benefits and well-being.

INDIAN SOCIETY OF PERIODONTOLOGY PARICHAY, 2023

The Department of Periodontology at the SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India, conducted ISP Parichay, 2023, under the aegis of the ISP. The program was organized over 2 days, i.e., March 11 and 12, 2023. The program was inaugurated by seeking the blessings of the almighty in the form of a prayer song. Dr. H. S. Grover, Secretary, and Dr. Abhay Kolte, President, remarked that this specific program from the society is meant to introduce and induct the newly joined postgraduate students to the science of Periodontology. Both speakers shared their thoughts on the inception of Perio Parichay and provided the students with an insight into the journey ahead. Dr. L. Krishna Prasad, Patron of the program, enlightened the audience with his wonderful message regarding the program and provided further guidance to the students for the course. Dr. D. Ravindranath, Organizing Chairman, ISP Parichay, 2023, gave the opening remarks of the program, followed by 10 elaborate and interesting presentations and lectures by a galaxy of subject experts from different parts of the country. Dr. B. Ramanarayana, the Organizing secretary, concluded the program with a warm vote of thanks at the end of the scientific sessions on the 2^nd day. 100–125 students from different dental colleges all over India attended the program. The program was a grand success as a result of sincere and dedicated efforts from the organizing team and ISP head office, as witnessed by the huge presence and active participation of delegates for both days of the event [Photographs 5 and 6].

WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY 2023

Under the aegis of the ISP, World Oral Health Day on the theme “Be proud of your mouth” was celebrated enthusiastically on March 20, 2023, in record-breaking 100 colleges across the country. The celebrations in many colleges extended up to 10 days, with various events such as oral health surveys, oral health awareness and checkup camps, and patient education activities organized by the participating colleges to commemorate the day. Patient education pamphlets about good oral health practices and toothpaste samples were distributed among the patients. A total of around 30,000 patients were examined across the county in the participating colleges. Information about the prevalence of tooth hypersensitivity was also collected from the patients. Overwhelming participation was shown by the postgraduate as well as undergraduate students in organizing various fun-filled activities such as T-shirt painting, mask painting, short skits, flash mobs, poster making, rangolis, and quiz competitions. The students of the participating colleges also attended the lecture emphasizing the importance of oral health [Photographs 7-10].