"Good
teeth give a good smile and a good smile adds to your
beauty," says Dr M S Gowd, a renowned
Prosthodontist of India. A practicing dentist
since three decades, Dr M S Gowd, is the founder of
the famous Dr MS Gowd Dental Hospitals in the city.
He is the official dental surgeon to the Governor
of Andhra Pradesh and is a recipient of state, national
and international awards including a fellowship from
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He has written
a number of books on dentistry including the first
book in Telugu on cosmetic dentistry, "Mee
Chirunavvu Sarididhukondi" and a book titled
'Smile' in English. Dr Gowd who is also the
President of the Indian Prosthodontic Society spoke
to Hyderabad-Best.Com in an exclusive interview.
You've
been in the field since three decades and you might
have seen many developments taking place in the field
of dentistry. Can you throw some light on the advancements
that have taken place in the field of dentistry?
Dentistry in recent years has made enormous development
to cope with the
increasing demand for dental services. This is chiefly
due to the awareness among the people both in India
and abroad regarding dental diseases and preventive
aspects. A lot of research has been conducted to make
the patient more comfortable in the dental chair by
decreasing the working time and using painless techniques.
Some of the latest equipment which are being widely
used in the field are computer dental imaging, intra-oral
cameras, electronic pulp testesr, de-sensitran equipment,
magnetic dentures, film less X-rays and CAD/CAM. Computer
Dental Imaging is basically used to appraise the patient
the condition in which he is and what would be his
future condition after the treatment. The Intra-Oral
Camera is very useful in analysing the interior of
the mouth in an enlarged image on the screen. With
CAD/CAM technology, dentists can design and make inlays,
veneers and crowns.
What
are the different treatments available in Dr Gowds
Dental Hospitals?
We are specialised in Implants, Smile Designs,
Laser treatment and Orthognathic surgery. We provide
treatment in all areas of dentistry including surgical
correction of irregular teeth, braces for correction
of crooked
teeth, laser treatment for bad breath, ceramic laminates
for discoloured teeth and lost tooth replacements
with implants and bridges. Lamination, which is our
speciality is an extension of bonding technique. It
consists of applying a thin veneer of pre-formed porcelain,
composite resin or plastic to the teeth in the same
way as an artificial fingernail is affixed to a natural
nail. Orthognathic surgery is a unique surgery where
the correction of the teeth is done immediately. This
is a substitute for clips and can be carried out for
anyone including children and the aged. When a tooth
is lost due to accidents or gum diseases,
then dental implants provide an ideal solution. Implants
are anchored in the jaw bone to provide a stable foundation
on which replaced teeth are firmly attached. Implants
preserve the healthy tooth substance and can also
safeguard the bone structure. In this case, the patient
is spared from the filing of the tooth structure.
People have many misconceptions about
dental treatment. Many fear that dental treatment
leads to side effects. How do you allay such kind
of wrong notions?
There is no truth in them. Dental treatment will
not lead to any kind of side effects. Today dental
treatment is accepted all over the world. It has
become very effective and easy due to the availability
of various dental equipment. New dental equipment
like Dental Laser, have become quite effective in
treating dental related problems. In normal cases,
when you remove a tooth it takes 2 to 3 days to heal
but the Dental Laser heals the socket quickly. Dental
Laser is also used to vaporise decay, to eliminate
dental hypersensitivity, to perform pit and fissure
therapy, to prevent cavity formation and to perform
gum surgeries. Then there are treatments like root
canal treatment and bone grafting which help in keeping
the tooth intact with its supporting structures. So
with so many advancements taking place in this field,
you need not have any apprehensions about treatment.
Are dental diseases communicable
ones? If so, do they have any relation in transmitting
the dreaded AIDS?
No, dental diseases are not at all communicable
ones. But, if there is a wound or a cut in the mouth,
then there is the possibility of transmission of a
dental disease, specially during the course of kissing.
Otherwise in normal circumstances dental diseases
are not transmitted from one person to other. We take
all precautionary measures while treating the patient.
We use disposable gloves, syringes and masks.
Is dental treatment an expensive
process?
Except for few treatments like Orhtognathic surgery
and dental implants, most of the dental treatments
are cheap. New equipment and treatment procedures
have come into use and within 6-8 hours a dental problem
can be treated. In the conventional way, by using
braces it will take more than a year to correct irregular
teeth, but by using orhtognathic surgery irregular
teeth can be corrected very quickly. Similarly closing
of the gaps between teeth can be done with VLC technology,
which is very effective. Therefore dental treatment
is playing an important role in increasing the beauty
of the face and smile.
Today you are considered as one of
the leading dentists in the country. How does it feel
to be labelled as one of the leading dentists in the
country?
I am in the field since more than three decades.
But I still feel that I am a student of dentistry.
I keep learning new techniques and try to implement
them in my profession. I update myself on the latest
innovations in the field of dentistry by participating
in conferences and workshops held in different countries
from time to time. I try to share my knowledge with
others by presenting case reports and papers. I browse
through the net to keep abreast of the latest developments
taking place in the dental field. Although I have
received a number of international fellowships and
awards, I have a lot to learn.
What are your future plans?
I am planning to visit the rural and slum areas
to educate people about dental related problems. I
want to educate people about the bad effects of consuming
gutkha and other tobacco products which will lead
to oral cancer. This will give me a lot of satisfaction
since people residing in these areas do not have enough
knowledge about dentistry. I recently took up the
dental check up of about 1-lakh children with the
help of the Red Cross Society. I am planning to carry
forward this kind of work which will be really beneficial
to the people.
Address:
Dr Gowds Dental Hospitals
19, Durga Enclave, Road# 1
(Road # 12), Banjara Hills
Hyderabad-500 034
Phone: 332 6777, 332 6888
Fax: 332 6777
E-mail: msgowd@hotmail.com
Website: www.drgowds.com
