Dr. Abhishek Singhvi is Head of Oral Pathology at Vyas Dental College. He obtained his B.D.S., Under Rajasthan University in 2006 and M.D.S. from Oral Pathology And Microbiology From Pacific Dental College Udaipur, Under Rajasthan University Of Health Sciences in June 2010. He has participated in various scientific presentations and training namely “Special Stain: A Ray of Hope” at IX National P.G. convention of IAOMP held at Vijayawada 2009, “Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor often misdiagnosed as an odontogenic cyst.” At VIII National P.G. convention of IAOMP held at Wardha 2008 and “Bhool bhulaiya” 61st National Conference at Mangalore 2008.

Vyas Dental College and Hospital

How do you focus on practical learning for students along with theoretical knowledge?

“Providing Students with updated knowledge using models, images and lectures”

Today, various educational methods, including lectures, using models, images, and anatomy of the body are used to teach theoretical and practical courses at the faculties of medicine which has improved the quality of education in various courses in recent decades. The dental curriculum includes courses in basic sciences and clinical courses and is among the longest curricula. Passing these courses requires spending large amounts of state funds and national capital. Oral and maxillofacial pathology is a major basic science course that bridges medicine and dentistry. The theoretical and practical courses in this field are a part of general dentistry education. It is reported that the simultaneous training of the theoretical and practical anatomy courses, along with educational aids and even radiology images, leads to a better understanding of anatomy, sustainable learning, encourages students to pursue self-learning, and increases their awareness of the role of anatomy knowledge in the interpretation of clinical cases and its importance in the medical professional life. 

What would you like people to know about your department they may not know?

“We focus on diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical and management of patients”

Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry and pathology which deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is a science that investigates the causes, processes, and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral pathology includes research, diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical, or other examinations, and management of patients. The oral pathology laboratory accepts biopsy and surgical tissue specimens for histopathological evaluation and diagnosis from the medical and dental departments of this institution. We undertake diagnostic procedures such as routine hematological procedures, punch biopsies, fine needle aspiration cytology, and exfoliative cytology. The laboratory also serves as a source for research projects undertaken by the faculty and postgraduate students of the college. We have a fully functional and well-equipped oral precancer/ cancer detection center for screening any precancerous and cancerous lesions by trained dental personnel.

What changes do you see in the education sector pre and post-Covid era?

“COVID-19 have disrupted every part of the education sector”

Initially in the covid era while the colleges were shut down there was difficulty in teaching the students as everything was online but now as the colleges are open and everything is functioning smoothly, I do not find many difficulties with the interaction between me, patients, and students. 

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How do you strategize about the key programs and plans for your department?

“Providing Students with clinical research projects is our key program”

I strategize the goal of the advanced graduate oral and maxillofacial pathology (OMP) program at the Vyas Dental College & Hospital (VDCH) is to train a specialist who can:

  • Provide the highest level of microscopy diagnostic skills utilizing when appropriate, new technologies in immunohistochemistry and molecular studies.
  • Diagnose and manage patients with salivary gland and mucosal diseases, diseases of the jawbones, and head and neck pain syndromes where the primary treatment modality is nonsurgical 
  • Perform and/or collaborate in scientific or clinical research projects; and
  • Excel as a medical educator and leader in the specialty.

What kind of internships are provided by the Department of Oral Pathology at Vyas dental college and Hospital for students?

“Internships are related to surgical unknown cases, clinical pathologic conference cases, and oral question-and-answer sessions”

Interns are continually supervised by the post-graduate faculty, who are certified masters of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. An intern is challenged by an ever-increasing level of difficulty in the material to which they are exposed. This is regulated directly by the faculty in the selection of surgical unknown cases, clinical pathologic conference cases, and in oral question-and-answer sessions at the daily sign-out conference. The interns are expected to review cases in detail and research the diagnoses during the workday when they are not specifically scheduled elsewhere. This adheres to our philosophy that learning should have an active component on the part of the intern. The responsibility for learning and attainment of proficiency is, therefore, the joint responsibility of the faculty and the individual intern/fellow. 

What are some of the challenges that you faced working in the field of Oral Pathology and how did you overcome them?

“Faced many problems in diagnosing and treating diseases”

Oral pathology started as a specialty during the 1940s. At that time major problems existed in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the oral and facial regions. Today, it is important to be able to distinguish between benign and malignant diseases of the oral and facial regions. The head and neck regions have special embryonic and histogenetic factors that may contribute to diseases not seen elsewhere.

So I always prefer the incorporation of new ideas and technologies in the lab for a better and faster diagnosis, and would also like to explain the concept of standardizing the method of recording and maintaining the dental or medical records of the patients, and also standardizing the lab reports.

What is your approach to making a healthy environment for your students?

“Providing students with a transparent and interactive environment”

My approach to making a healthy environment for the students is I maintain a transparency between me and my students so that they easily approach me whenever they are in a rigid situation. And I always promote two-way interaction during group discussions so that there is a steady flow of knowledge between me and the students which helps students process information rather than simply receiving it.

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What is the future scope of Oral Pathology from your institution?

“Oral Pathology Students can work as a clinical Specialist, a Researcher or Academician or an Entrepreneur”

MDS Oral pathology has its uniqueness in itself. This is the only specialty in dentistry that acts as a small bridge between dental sciences and basic sciences, molecular biology in particular. MDS Oral pathology opens new pathways to opt for Oral healthcare research activities as a clinical specialty one acquires special skills of histopathology and cytopathology.

So as an MDS Oral pathology one can be a clinical Specialist, a Researcher or Academician, or an Entrepreneur to start an own company to take forward the oral healthcare research industry from lab to bench