Altamash Institute equips BDS students with ART skills to strengthen community oral healthcare

KARACHI: The Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine (AIDM) has organized a hands-on training workshop on Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) for second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students, aiming to enhance their clinical skills in minimally invasive dentistry and prepare them for community-based oral healthcare.

Conducted by the Department of Community Dentistry, the workshop focused on equipping undergraduate students with practical experience in one of the most widely used restorative techniques for managing dental caries in underserved and resource-constrained settings.

ART is a minimally invasive procedure that removes decayed tooth tissue using specially designed hand instruments instead of electrically powered drills. The prepared cavity is then restored with Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC), a fluoride-releasing material that chemically bonds to the tooth and helps lower the risk of recurrent decay. The technique is particularly valuable in rural communities, school dental programmes, mobile clinics and humanitarian outreach initiatives where conventional dental equipment may not be readily available.

The training was supervised by Dr Amir Akhbar Shaikh, Head of the Department of Community Dentistry, and Dr Naseer Ahmed, Assistant Professor. Practical sessions were facilitated by demonstrators Dr Nikita Bodani, Dr Fatima Jafri and Dr Alkesh Kammal.

Faculty members demonstrated every stage of the ART procedure, including patient selection, the use of hand instruments for cavity preparation, proper handling and mixing of Glass Ionomer Cement, and the correct placement and finishing of restorations. Students then performed the technique under direct supervision, receiving immediate guidance and feedback to reinforce clinical accuracy and confidence.

The institute said the workshop was designed to help students translate theoretical knowledge into practical clinical competence while familiarizing them with evidence-based approaches to restorative dentistry before entering more advanced clinical training.

Community dentistry remains an important component of improving oral healthcare access in Pakistan, particularly for populations with limited access to conventional dental services. By introducing ART at the undergraduate level, AIDM aims to prepare future dentists to deliver affordable, minimally invasive restorative care in both clinical practice and community outreach programmes.

As global dentistry continues to shift toward preventive and conservative treatment approaches, ART is increasingly recognized as an effective strategy for preserving healthy tooth structure while reducing the burden of untreated dental caries. The workshop forms part of AIDM's ongoing efforts to integrate practical, patient-centered training into its dental education programme.