Little enthusiastic butterflies when they leave the cocoon, uses their wings to explore the gardens. They don’t realize that their wings are only for the sub and not for the big adventures.They called it hard luck, I call it misplaced optimism of the doom.
Few years ago I got excited to learn about the OPEN LETTER DAY .The interesting concept that make your hope become like NASA scientist discovering a new sustainable planet. It was my daily commute to college during my post graduation days when I heard this narration by a radio jockey on how prime minister acted upon the letters of a common-man and how they had became an overnight sensation. People like duchess of Sussex,Meghan Markel who are outspoken feminist contributed into this aggressive attempt of making my voice heard .She had then addressed the issue of gender equality.”Women are fighting greasy pots and pans..” if you know what I mean.
My emotions at that time was boiling like spilling milk as I penned down my feelings writing my first ever letter to SHRI NARENDRA MODI JI. Not for the job or MoU for foreign dental education. Not even better conveyance because clearly I am in awe of the metro connectivity in Delhi,NCR which is at par with south Korea.
In my letter I appealed for special need dentist training and facility. Even Google doesn’t points to exclusive Special Needs dentist. That letter still remains untouched and unseen on LinkedIn and it read something like this,
“This letter sends in words of appreciation and thanks for your services to my India.As I may bring to the status of dentistry that has become a business or where the ratio of dentist to patient(now called as clients)is never reached, what is more discouraging is that we don’t have good dental care for special needs patients.There is special needs training for dentist in Los Angeles with the name of UCLA but I cant find one in India. Sir,as I have treated few patients with the syndrome disorders I realize we need to extend our services to the unmet crowd.I have no idea how I will bring this to reality but I am dedicated and have expertise to work in this direction.hope to learn from you.”
Not one single year of my graduation days we got clinical orientation for managing children with special needs. How is that most essential part of our society doesn’t receive regular dental assessment and treatment and only attended as a complex and complicated patient.We are not prepared to handle even as graduate for basic treatment needs of these patient with fluoride application, preventive resin restoration, atraumatic restorative technique or restorative and rehablitative procedures
Mostly training is limited to post graduate trainee in pediatric dentistry and oral surgery. However the curriculum doesn’t includes exclusive exposure to special needs patient for efficient management and depends on OPD basis only. As a result of which most of the times doctor are not equipped and neither inclined to treat the patient.
These thoughts continued to reverberate post my college years until I landed into this really cool job at the most expensive area of New Delhi. When did I end up being a hygienist from a pediatric dentist, a question that keeps nagging in my head every single day since. The probability of me being a special needs dentist looks like a distant future. It is gut wrenching feeling when your dreams and reality have an employer and employee like gap.But not getting your voice heard is still more saddening.
Our PM may just happen to peak someday on the mention of his name and know thereof that if there is one group that does not get routine quality care it is this special needs and disability.It is good to hear that pedodontist are talking about it now. Hopefully we will have fellowship and training center along with satellite dispensary and backup hospital to streamline these patient and they get continual care.
Till then I must continue to apply in international colleges for specialist training in special needs.I fathom in the ambiguity however,when will we get the dental services and care to the deferentially able here.
GAMEFACE 