Within the framework of International Dentist Day, which is celebrated annually on February 9, we interviewed Prof. Larisa M. LOMIASHVILI, MD, PhD, Dean of the Dentistry Faculty. She told about the recent advances and challenges facing dentistry.
The first thing Prof. Larisa LOMIASHVILI mentioned was preventive dentistry. Academician Valery K. LEONTIEV and Prof. Valery G. SUNTSOV, MD, PhD, were the founders of preventive dentistry in OSMU, and nowadays all faculty members, heading by Galina I. SKRIPKINA, MD, PhD, Head of the Pediatric Dentistry Department, and Anna P. SOLONENKO, Head of the Research Laboratory of the Dentistry Faculty, continue their legacy. Thanks to their work, OSMU patented inventions like prophylactic gels containing calcium, phosphorus, fluorine, and other minerals. Their usage helps strengthen teeth and may be used as a part of a treatment. And of course, we should remember that a good oral hygiene routine is a key to maintaining oral health.
Answering the question of how to find a good dentist, the Dean of the Dentistry Faculty said that these days people are looking for a family dentist who will provide care to all family members. OSMU students start their career in the third year of study, and by the time of graduation, they succeed and find their loyal patients. Even though more than a hundred dental students are graduating each year, there is still a shortage of dentists in Omsk, as many of them move to larger cities.
Mentioning innovations implemented by the Faculty, Prof. Larisa LOMIASHVILI told about the development of solutions for teeth and jaw restoration, creation of the Art Modeling and Teeth Restoration School, conduction of research on oral mucosa diseases, filming educational videos.
As for the educational process, our students have the opportunity to work with a surgical microscope of 40x magnification, scientific laboratory equipment, and a modern 3D scanner. Moreover, the functional laboratory of the Faculty allows diagnosing dental diseases and performing the assessment of oral tissues, chewing surfaces of teeth, and their function.
In the framework of advanced professional training of specialists, the Faculty annually holds an international congress on new materials, equipment, and tools in dental practice. Also, before the pandemic, master classes were held in person.
Passing her opinion on the role of aesthetic dentistry, Prof. Larisa LOMIASHVILI said that it is better to preserve what is given by nature, including the color and shape of native tissues. Teeth are connected with 11 systems of the organism and 22 organs, including the cerebral cortex, and that is why we should try to save every tooth in all possible ways.
At the end of the interview, Prof. Larisa LOMIASHVILI said that improvement of clinical thinking and continuous development of manual skills are the most difficult things in the profession of a dentist. But the joy and gratitude from patients, the students who work hard – that is what gives the inspiration to work.
OSMU Press Center