Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology is a specialty of dentistry concerned with the scientific study of the causes and effects of oral disease an understanding of which is essential for diagnosis and for the development of rational treatment and preventive programmes. One of the most important purposes of oral pathology is to give the student the ability to correctly diagnose oral lesions. There are numerous types of diseases that affect the oral cavity, & many of these can only be diagnosed through microscopic examination. The Clinical appearance and history of oral lesions, however can often give the clinician a reriable provisional diagnosis on which he/she can plan further management of the patient. Oral diagnosis is based on sound knowledge of oral pathology and is essential for good clinical practice.

Infrastructure:

• The department is well equipped with two practical halls (oral pathology/histology lab. And carving hall) for the undergraduate students, a seminar room, museum displaying numerous dental anatomy and oral pathology specimens, departmental library.

• The department has a well equipped reception/registration for sample collection.

• The department has haematology, biochemistry and microbiology section which are routinely functioning in the institution.

• The histopathology lab has the space for tissue processing procedures and special staining techniques.

• Besides department has well equipped reporting room and oral pathology clinic.

• Multiviewing microscopes for slide discussions are also available.

Teaching Programs

• The educational programs in Oral Pathology are extensive with courses for dental students & interns. The programme provides lectures, seminars and practicals for dental students & interns.

• The 1st year students are trained in normal tooth anatomy and histology by lectures, practicals and seminars. Practical includes Wax carving and microscopic slides. This enables the student to understand the normal tooth anatomy & it’s conversion into pathological Form. The present day anatomy affects a long history of interaction with many clinical and basic sciences anthropology, endodontics, forensics, orthodontics & pediatric dentistry to name a few.

• The 2nd and 3rd year students are trained in oral pathologies by lectures, practicals and seminars. Practical includes models and microscopic slides.

• There are good numbers of self-explanatory charts/models of normal & abnormal structures of oral region.

• The department conducts regular discussions, tests & mock exams so that they are prepared well for annual examination.

• Above all as the college emblem says, the budding dental professionals are being constructively motivated, inspired in the right direction to do their duties with dedication and discipline. The students are properly instigated to follow the strict asepsis in the clinics by explaining the live cases where asepsis was compromised.

• Interns are trained in preparation of ground section of teeth and assist in oral research work by finding causes, taking case histories.

• The department also helps students of Dental assistants to be thoroughly informed about the morphology of teeth. To achieve this, theory as well as practical classes are taken during their first year of two years course.

AIM:

Goal of the department

• The goal of the oral pathology department is to provide basic knowledge of Normal Dental Anatomy and Histology and it’s pathological form for improved understanding of the oral diseases and increased skill in it’s diagnosis.

• To transform the nature of dental education and practice in ways that will dramatically improve the way we serve our patients, & the surrounding community.

Mission and Vision of the Department: • To bring out the essence of oral & maxillofacial pathology in a thoroughly professional way.

• To produce general dentists who have a systematic & correct approach towards the diagnosis of the lesion and interpretations of the investigations.

• To train general, specialist & allied professional personnel to meet regional & national oral health care services.

• To provide high quality biopsy service to general private practioner.

• To set up well equipped Immunohistochemistry laboratory & other advanced molecular diagnostic techniques for diagnosis of rare difficult lesions.

• To establish detection centre & research centre for oral cancer & precancerous lesions.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Haematology Section

• Routine hematological investigations such as estimation of haemoglobin percentage, packed cell volume, cell counts, E.S.R., BT/CT, Blood grouping etc are done on a regular basis.

Biochemical Section

• Biochemical investigations are being done on routine basis. Urine and stool analysis

• Urine and stool examination for its appearance and microscopy.

Cytopathology Section

• Here the biopsy specimen is received; macroscopy of the same is done and recorded.

• Here the received specimen is stained with rapid H&E and Papaniclou.

• The section helps the clinician in rapidly diagnosing the representative biopsy site.

Microbiology Section

• Here other than routine culture & sensitivity, many aerobic & anaerobic studies are being done regularly.

Research Section

• This section is backbone of the department.

• Research work, which were done in the department have been published in state, national and international level journals.

Under Graduate practical laboratory:

• This laboratory is very well illuminated and aerated with a large surface area.

• This lab can accommodate 50 students easily. Here students are being taught the practical aspect of oral anatomy, histology, pathology & microbiology.

• This lab is equipped with 50 light microscopes, which is being used to demonstrate the microscopic features of normal structures & diseases process.

Tooth Carving Hall:

• This Hall is very well illuminated and aerated with a large surface area.

• This lab can accommodate 50 students easily.

• Here students are being taught the carve teeth.

Museum (Under Process)

• This museum will have unique collection of study models, hard & soft tissue specimens which are neatly displayed in separate sections like dental anatomy, comparative dental anatomy, developmental disturbances, pathological lesions based on various etiologies.

• This will be very useful for the undergraduates to understand the normal & disease process in a better way. As the saying Seeing is Believing, many a times the patients are getting motivated to quit the bad habits after seeing the museum.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:

Publications:

1. Suhail Latoo et al. Radicular Cyst. JK Science : Journal of Medical Education & Research. 01/2009

2. Ajaz Shah, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmed, Altaf.H.Malik. Head and neck Teratomas. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 8(1):60–63 01/2009

3. Altaf Chalkoo, Suhail Latoo. Tuberculosis of tongue: Report of a rare case.Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology 01/2009

4. Ajaz A Shah, BA Mir, Irshad Ahmad, Suhail Latoo, Ashaq Ali, Babar Ali Shah. Pattern of bear maul maxillofacial injuries in Kashmir. Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2010;1:96-101 01/2010

5. Ajaz Shah, Ashaq Ali, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmad. Multiple Myeloma presenting as Gingival mass. Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery 06/2010; 9(2):209-12. DOI:10.1007/s12663-010-0050-7

6. Nitul Jain, Vishwas Bhatia, Sohail Lattoo. Epstein-Barr virus and associated head and neck manifestations. Annals of Nigerian Medicine / Jul-Dec 2011 / Vol 5 | Issue 2 01/2011

7. Ravinder Kumar Bhagat, Shazia Qadir, Suhail Latoo. Odontomas and related lesions. International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations 2011. Volume 3 (Issue 1), 24:29, 6th December, 2011 01/2011

8. Ajaz A Shah, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmad, Altaf H Malik, Amrit Pal Singh, Shahid Hassan Schwannoma causing resorption of zygomatic arch. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology 01/2011; 15(1):80-4. DOI:10.4103/0973-029X.80020

9. Suhail Latoo et al. Endodontic Microbiology: Review of Literature. International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations 2011. Volume 2 (Issue 6), 24:36, 6th November, 2011 Key Words: endodontic, microbiology, root canal 01/2011

10. Ajaz Shah, Suhail Latoo, Naazia Lone, Mudasir Khan, Ravinder Kumar Bhagat, Shahid Hassan, Abraar Bhat. Anhidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia:report Of Two Cases and Review Of Literature. Indian Journal of Dental Sciences 01/2011

11. Ajaz Shah, Parveen Lone, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmed, Altaf Malik, Shahid Hassan, Aijaz Naik, Rizwan Ur Rashid. Odontogenic myxoma of the maxilla: A report of a rare case and review on histogenetic and diagnostic concepts. National journal of maxillofacial surgery 07/2011; 2(2):189-95. DOI:10.4103/0975-5950.94480

12. Suhail Latoo et al. AIDS and Dentistry. International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations 2011. Volume 3 (Issue 2), 5:16, 6th January, 2012 01/2012

13. Ajaz Shah, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmad. Multiple Myeloma and Dentistry .Chapter: 01/2012; ISBN: 978-953-307-768-0In book: Multiple Myeloma - An Overview

FACULTY ACHIEMENTS:

Research projects/ article published in state level, national level and international level journals: 14. Suhail Latoo et al. Radicular Cyst. JK Science : Journal of Medical Education & Research. 01/2009

15. Ajaz Shah, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmed, Altaf.H.Malik. Head and neck Teratomas. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 8(1):60–63 01/2009

16. Altaf Chalkoo, Suhail Latoo. Tuberculosis of tongue: Report of a rare case.Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology 01/2009

17. Ajaz A Shah, BA Mir, Irshad Ahmad, Suhail Latoo, Ashaq Ali, Babar Ali Shah. Pattern of bear maul maxillofacial injuries in Kashmir. Natl J Maxillofac Surg 2010;1:96-101 01/2010

18. Ajaz Shah, Ashaq Ali, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmad. Multiple Myeloma presenting as Gingival mass. Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery 06/2010; 9(2):209-12. DOI:10.1007/s12663-010-0050-7

19. Nitul Jain, Vishwas Bhatia, Sohail Lattoo. Epstein-Barr virus and associated head and neck manifestations. Annals of Nigerian Medicine / Jul-Dec 2011 / Vol 5 | Issue 2 01/2011

20. Ravinder Kumar Bhagat, Shazia Qadir, Suhail Latoo. Odontomas and related lesions. International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations 2011. Volume 3 (Issue 1), 24:29, 6th December, 2011 01/2011

21. Ajaz A Shah, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmad, Altaf H Malik, Amrit Pal Singh, Shahid Hassan Schwannoma causing resorption of zygomatic arch. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology 01/2011; 15(1):80-4. DOI:10.4103/0973-029X.80020

22. Suhail Latoo et al. Endodontic Microbiology: Review of Literature. International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations 2011. Volume 2 (Issue 6), 24:36, 6th November, 2011 Key Words: endodontic, microbiology, root canal 01/2011

23. Ajaz Shah, Suhail Latoo, Naazia Lone, Mudasir Khan, Ravinder Kumar Bhagat, Shahid Hassan, Abraar Bhat. Anhidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia:report Of Two Cases and Review Of Literature. Indian Journal of Dental Sciences 01/2011

24. Ajaz Shah, Parveen Lone, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmed, Altaf Malik, Shahid Hassan, Aijaz Naik, Rizwan Ur Rashid. Odontogenic myxoma of the maxilla: A report of a rare case and review on histogenetic and diagnostic concepts. National journal of maxillofacial surgery 07/2011; 2(2):189-95. DOI:10.4103/0975-5950.94480

25. Suhail Latoo et al. AIDS and Dentistry. International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations 2011. Volume 3 (Issue 2), 5:16, 6th January, 2012 01/2012

26. Ajaz Shah, Suhail Latoo, Irshad Ahmad. Multiple Myeloma and Dentistry .Chapter: 01/2012; ISBN: 978-953-307-768-0In book: Multiple Myeloma - An Overview

PHOTOGALLERY:

Faculty: