See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/322618128

Oral Pathology in India: Current Scenario and Future Directions

Article  in  World Journal of Dentistry · December 2017

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1480

CITATIONS READS
2 266

3 authors:

Govindarajan Sujatha Muruganandhan Jayanandan

Sri Venkateswara Dental College,Thalambur Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University
27 PUBLICATIONS   151 CITATIONS    24 PUBLICATIONS   95 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

A. Thirumal Raj
Sri Venkateswara Dental College and Hospital
102 PUBLICATIONS   109 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Evaluation of clinical efficacy of four different pulp capping agents using Cone beam CT and histological method - A split mouth design randomized controlled study
View project

Tooth anomalies View project

All content following this page was uploaded by A. Thirumal Raj on 20 January 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.


Oral Pathology in India: Current Scenario and Future Directions
Editorial
Oral Pathology in India: Current Scenario
and Future Directions
1
Sujatha Govindarajan, 2Jayanandan Muruganandhan, 3A Thirumal Raj
How to cite this article: Govindarajan S, Muruganandhan J,
Raj AT. Oral Pathology in India: Current Scenario and Future
Directions. World J Dent 2017;8(6):429.
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None
Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry that deals with
the diagnosis of oral diseases through clinicopathological
investigations. In India, oral pathology as a specialization
seldom makes the cut as a postgraduation of choice. This
is primarily due to the fact that most hospitals in India
employ general pathologists to diagnose oral diseases,
thus restricting the scope of oral pathology to academic
and research institutions. In the past, most postgraduates
had opted for an academic position in dental institutions
as they served as a reliable source of income. Given the
past shortage of oral pathologists, it was a viable option.
1-3
Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sri
Venkateswara Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, India
Corresponding Author: A Thirumal Raj, Department of
Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sri Venkateswara Dental
College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Phone:
+918122627810, e-mail: thirumalraj666@gmail.com
World Journal of Dentistry, November-December 2017;8(6):429
View publication stats
wjd
WJD
10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1480
At present, the number of oral pathologists has signifi-
cantly outnumbered potential job openings. Further, the
scope as a researcher for an oral pathologist in India is a
difficult enterprise as most researchers must self-finance
their studies. The growing scarcity in academic positions
and the lack of research opportunities have forced many
oral pathologists to abandon their specialty in order to
maintain a full-time clinical practice.
The impending question as of now is whether oral
pathology can be a potential career option in the future.
Yes, oral pathology could be a successful career option,
provided the scope of an oral pathologist is widened. It
must be mandated that hospitals employ oral pathologists
for diagnosing cases related to the oral cavity. Forensic
odontology is an upcoming specialty which could create
more job opportunities for an oral pathologist in the legal
sector. Thus, it is vital that oral pathologists undergo
extensive training in forensic odontology during post-
graduation which would provide them with the neces-
sary skills to be a part of the forensic team. Further, given
the high prevalence of oral diseases, especially precancer
and cancer, in India, it is of utmost importance that the
government sets up central funding agencies specifically
for oral disease research. The influx of grants would, in
turn, create a large-scale job opening while increasing
the standard of oral pathology research in India.
429