Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122355230600.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dental college to celebrate 50 years

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: What started from a small corner room of the Victoria Hospital five decades ago, has now grown into a full-fledged institution offering specialised courses in Dentistry. The Government Dental College, started in 1958, will celebrate its Golden Jubilee from Friday. The celebrations will be a three-day event.

Regarded as one of the best dental institutions in South East Asia, the college was chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a centre to establish a service clinic to cater to the oral health needs of the people, especially the rural folk. The college shifted to Tipu’s Fort in 1964, after the first principal Dr. V.R. Naidu secured government permission to operate from a new building.

“A dental set-up at the Bangalore Central Jail, with two units, has been commissioned to take care of the oral health needs of prisoners, a first of its kind in the country,” said Dean-cum-Director of the college S.S. Hiremath. “We impart quality education and encourage research work in the field of Dentistry. The college has good infrastructure and state-of-the-art clinical facilities. Internet facilities have been installed in all departments with the help of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Helinet subscription,” Dr. Hiremath added.

Financial assistance

Further, he said: “The college alumni, now practising all over the world, have extended support to develop infrastructure at the college. Many alumni have come forward to extend financial assistance to deserving students.”