At Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH) in Jaipur, dentists have been operating without any dental assistants supporting them. In fact, there is not a single dental assistant working at the hospital. Patients visiting the hospital for treatment are often asked to come after two to three months due to the long waiting lists. This prompts many patients to opt for private dental clinics.
GDCH now plans to start a course for dental assistants. It is expected to help dentists at the hospital by providing them critical support during the dental procedures they perform. While no nursing staff are required at the hospital, dental assistants are badly needed, said officials of the hospital. Students pursuing dental UG and PG courses here also perform the dental procedures along with their faculty members.
“We are starting a course to churn out dental assistants,” said Dr Sankalp Mittal, medical superintendent of GDCH.
