Faculty

The Department of Pediatric& Preventive Dentistry at St. Joseph Dental College is home to a team of dedicated educators and clinicians committed to excellence in teaching, clinical service, research, and community outreach. The faculty comprises a harmonious blend of experienced academicians and dynamic young professionals. Collectively, they enrich the department with a legacy of clinical expertise, mentorship, scholarly contributions, and ethical patient care — all guided by the institution’s vision of “Service With Love.”

Senior Faculty

• Dr. Aron Arun Kumar Vasa, BDS, MDS.
  Professor & Head, Vice-Principal (Administration)
  With 17 years of academic and clinical experience, Dr. Vasa leads the department with vision and compassion.
  • Life Member, Indian Society of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry (ISPPD) – Membership No. 520
  • Life Member, Indian Dental Association (IDA) – Membership No. 171754
  • Fellow, Academy of General Education (FAGE), Manipal
  • Registered with Andhra Pradesh State Dental Council (Reg. No. A-14133)
  • NAAC Criteria 4 Coordinator
  • Recognized UG & PG Examiner, Guide, and Mentor

• Dr. M. Ghana Shyam Prasad, BDS, MDS.
  Professor
  With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Prasad is a pillar of academic excellence and clinical acumen.
  • Life Member, ISPPD
  • Registered with Andhra Pradesh State Dental Council
  • UG & PG Examiner, Guide, and Mentor
  • Reviewer for National and International Journals

• Dr. Suzan Sahana, BDS., MDS.
  Professor
  With 17 years of professional experience, Dr. Sahana is noted for her specialization in behavior management and estheticpediatric dentistry.
  • Life Member, ISPPD
  • Registered with Andhra Pradesh State Dental Council (Reg. No. A-14132)
  • Mentor and active research contributor

• Dr. A. Naga Radha Krishna, BDS., MDS.
  Professor
  With 13 years of experience, Dr. Radha Krishna is an academician known for his precision in patient care and dedication to scholarly growth.
  • Life Member, ISPPD
  • Registered with Andhra Pradesh State Dental Council
  • UG & PG Examiner, Guide, and Mentor

Mid-Level Faculty

• Dr. V. Naga Jyothi, BDS., MDS.
  Reader
  With 10 years of experience, Dr. Jyothi’s academic contributions lie in preventive and interceptive orthodontics and departmental research.

• Dr. J. Rama Krishna, BDS., MDS.
  Reader
  With 8 years of experience, he is actively involved in pediatric community health programs and outreach.

• Dr. N. Jacob Prasanth, BDS., MDS.
  Reader
  With 4 years of experience, Dr. Prasanth integrates innovation in teaching with a focus on pediatric oral rehabilitation.
  • Life Member, ISPPD – Membership No. 0399

• • Registered with Andhra Pradesh State Dental Council (Reg. No. A-18824)
  • UG Examiner and Mentor

Junior Faculty

• Dr. B. Sowmya, BDS., MDS.
  Senior Lecturer
  With 6 years of experience, Dr. Sowmya contributes extensively to preventive pediatric care and endodontic treatments.
• Dr. G. Anna Manojna, BDS., MDS.
  Senior Lecturer
  With 3 years of experience, her focus includes laser-assisted dentistry and research-led teaching practices.
• Dr. U. Kalyani, BDS., MDS.
  Senior Lecturer
  With 1 year of experience, Dr. Kalyani represents the department’s youthful energy and dedication to holistic pediatric dentistry.

Supporting Faculty

• Dr. K. Sailaja, BDS.
  Tutor
  With an impressive 23 years of experience, Dr. Sailaja plays a pivotal role in foundational and preclinical training, nurturing students as they transition into clinical practice.

This collective expertise and passion for pediatric oral health make the department a center of excellence in both education and care, resonating deeply with the college’s ethos of “Service With Love.”

This accomplished and collaborative faculty team upholds the department’s mission to deliver exceptional pediatric dental education and patient care, preparing the next generation of dentists to meet the unique challenges of treating young and special-needs patients.

BDS – CURRICULUM

GOALS

The broad goal is to acquire adequate knowledge, necessary skills, and attitude for carrying out all activities appropriate to general dental practice involving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental diseases in children.

OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

• Understand growth and development of a child.
• Comprehend the principles of prevention and preventive dentistry from birth to adolescence.
• Knowledge of behavior management and its importance in pediatric dentistry.
• Understand the principles of treatment planning from infancy to adolescence.
• Familiarity with techniques in managing disabled children.
• Comprehend the principles of sedation, general anesthesia, and other behavior management techniques.
• Learn the management of trauma in children.
• Knowledge about interceptive orthodontics.
• Understand various preventive measures.
• Familiarity with various restorative materials and techniques.
• Learn pulp therapy procedures.
• Acquire knowledge in treatment of habitual oral problems in children.

Skills

• Diagnose and treat various common dental diseases in children.
• Identify the causes and treatment plan for developing malocclusion.
• Perform clinical procedures required in preventive dentistry.
• Manage trauma, dental emergencies, and child behavior in a clinical setup.
• Apply fluoride therapy and pit and fissure sealants.

Attitudes

• Adopt a humane approach toward child patients.
• Develop communication skills for effective behavior management.
• Maintain professionalism with ethics in pediatric care.

Course Content

• Growth & Development: Prenatal and postnatal growth of cranium, face, jaws and soft tissue; growth assessment.
• Development of occlusion from birth to adolescence.
• Teething disturbances.
• Oral habits in children.
• Behavior management in children.
• Dental caries in children – etiology, diagnosis, and prevention.
• Preventive measures – oral hygiene, diet counseling, fluoride, sealants.
• Pit and fissure sealants.
• Traumatic injuries in children.
• Space management – importance and appliances.
• Habit-breaking appliances.
• Interceptive orthodontics.
• Pulp therapy in primary and young permanent teeth.
• Restorative procedures including stainless steel crowns and aesthetic restorations.
• Management of handicapped children.
• Management under general anaesthesia and conscious sedation.
• Counselling for tobacco cessation and oral health promotion.
• Infective endocarditis prophylaxis.
• Child abuse and neglect – dental implications.

MDS – CURRICULUM

1. Course Contents

The syllabus is designed to provide comprehensive education in:

1. Basic Sciences Applied to Pedodontics
   • Growth and Development (prenatal and postnatal)
   • Child Psychology
   • Behavior Management
   • Dental Anatomy and Histology
   • Pathology and Microbiology

1. Clinical Pedodontics
   • Diagnosis and treatment planning for children
   • Preventive dentistry (oral hygiene instruction, pit and fissure sealants, fluoride application)
   • Restorative dentistry including aesthetic restorations
   • Pulp therapy (pulpotomy, pulpectomy)
   • Management of traumatic injuries
   • Interceptive orthodontics (space maintainers, habit breaking appliances)
   • Care of children with special health care needs
2. Preventive and Community Dentistry
   • Epidemiology of dental diseases in children
   • School dental health programs
   • Health education and motivation
   • Application of preventive measures at community level
3. Sedation and General Anesthesia
   • Conscious sedation techniques
   • Use of general anesthesia in pediatric patients
4. Hospital Dentistry
   • Management of medically compromised patients
   • Pediatric dental emergencies
5. Research Methodology and Biostatistics
   • Basic understanding of research design
   • Application of statistical tools
   • Thesis writing and scientific publication

This curriculum emphasizes both academic knowledge and clinical skill development in managing dental care for children and adolescents, with an integrated approach to prevention and comprehensive treatment planning.

 VALUE ADDED COURSES (2024-25)

Compression-only life support: The “Compression-only life support” course, held from 16/10/24 to 19/10/24, provided crucial training for 63 interns at St. Joseph Dental College. Dr. Rajesh Reddy led the comprehensive sessions from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm each day, covering essential life-saving techniques and procedures. Under the coordination of Dr. Jacob Prashanth, the program effectively equipped participants with practical skills and knowledge needed to respond to emergency situations. The concluding Question & Answer session offered valuable opportunities for interns to clarify their doubts and gain further insights into life support practices. Overall, the course significantly enhanced the interns’ preparedness for handling medical emergencies, contributing to their professional development and ensuring a higher standard of patient care. 

ADDON COURSES (2024-25)

Lasers in Pediatric Dentistry: A professional development program titled “Lasers in Pediatric Dentistry” was conducted on 26th April 2025 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the St. Alphonsa Lecture Hall, St. Joseph Dental College. The event was specifically organised for postgraduate students and teaching faculty in the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, with a total of 55 participants in attendance. The course was coordinated by Dr. Siva Kiran, Professor.

The session featured two eminent guest speakers. Dr. Saravana Kumar, Professor and Head of the Department at Sri Venkateshwara Dental College, Chennai, shared his extensive experience spanning over 15 years. He has numerous national and international publications to his credit and has presented his work at various prestigious conferences. The second speaker, Dr. Harish Prabhudev, Reader in the Department of Periodontics at SJDC, brought over 8 years of academic experience. He too has contributed significantly to dental literature and conference presentations at both national and international levels.

The primary objective of the program was to enhance participants’ understanding and application of laser technology in dentistry, an area that is becoming increasingly central to modern dental practice. The speakers provided in-depth knowledge on the clinical relevance, advantages, and advancements of laser use in pediatric dental procedures.

As part of the practical component, a hands-on training session was conducted using sheep carcasses, offering participants the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in handling laser equipment. This practical exposure was highly appreciated and contributed significantly to the overall learning outcomes of the program.

Overall, the session was highly informative and well-received, equipping students and faculty with crucial knowledge and skills in the evolving field of laser dentistry.

 DEPARTMENT DAY CELEBRATIONS

Our Department of Pedodontics proudly celebrates key events each year that emphasize our commitment to children’s oral health, team spirit, and professional excellence.

Pedodontist Day is observed to honour the dedicated work of pediatric dentists who bring smiles to young faces with care, patience, and expertise. The day includes oral health activities, awareness programs, and fun engagements with children to highlight the importance of early dental care.

During Children’s Week, we focused on promoting oral hygiene in an enjoyable, child-friendly way. Interactive sessions, competitions, dental check-ups, and creative games are organised to educate and entertain our young patients, making dental visits a positive experience.

As we move forward, the New Year Celebrations offer a moment to reflect on our achievements, set new goals, and bond as a team. With renewed enthusiasm, we commit to continue serving with compassion and excellence in the year ahead.

Together, these celebrations reinforce our department’s mission to nurture healthy smiles and create lasting memories for every child we serve

ONGOING RESEARCH WORKS

1. ‘‘A comparison of the sedative effect of intranasal and sublingual Dexmedetomidine versus Nitrous oxide   in uncooperative children-An in vivo study ’’
2. Comparative anesthetic efficacy evaluation of 2%Lignocaine, 3% Prilocaine and 4% Articaine duringpulpectomy in mandibular primary molars – A parallelrandomized control trail.
3. The impact of parental oral health education through regular mobile messages on Oral Health of Pre-school children with Early Childhood Caries (ECC): An in-vivo study
4. An insight into the correlation between genetic taste sensitivity, dietary preference, body mass index and caries experience in specially-abled children
5. Clinical Comparison of pediatric Single-file Vs Multi-file Rotary system for Pulpectomy in primary molars-An In-vivo study
6. “A comparative analysis of obturation quality and clinical success among various calcium hydroxide and iodoform based pastes in primary teeth – an in vivo study”
7. Impact of game-based instructional methods on oral hygiene status of speech and hearing-impaired children
8. “Comparative evaluation of efficacy of bubble blower, newton cradle, dancing toy and dental sign language on dental anxiety in hearing and speech-impaired children undergoing oral prophylaxis”
9. Comparative efficacy of robotic approach and lavender oil aromatherapy in alleviating dental anxiety among children undergoing pulpectomy: a randomized controlled trial
10. Assessment of the quality of obturation using pediatric Rotary systems with different file configurations in primary Teeth – A comparative study”
11. ”Evaluating pain and Physiological reactions in Children: a comparison of Computer controlled local Anesthesia(cclad)., Camouflaged Syringe, and metal aspirating Cartridge syringe“
12. “Comparison of artificial intelligence (a.I) generated personalized videos vs stock videos in mitigating dental anxiety in children”

Publications From Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry (2019 – 2025)

2025

1. Done V, Battu S, Prasad MG, Sahana S, Kanaparthi S.Comparative Evaluation of Fluoride Release/Uptake and Physical Properties of Self-adhesive GC Gold Label Hybrid and Antibiotic-modified Glass Ionomer Cement: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025; 18 (2):146-152.

2024

1. Babu BS, Sahana S, Vasa AA, Tejaswini B, Anusha B.
   Impact of Comprehensive Dental Health Program on the Oral Health-related Quality of Life among Socially Handicapped Children.Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024; 17(3):260–264.

1. Boorela K, Vasa AA, Sahana S.Process Drama as a Tool in the anagement of Dental Fear and Anxiety.J South Asian Assoc Pediatr Dent 2024; 7(1):16–20.

1. Kanaparthi S, Done V, Madu GSP, Sahana S, Bandela V, Prasanth NJ.Pertinence of Five Different Regression Equations of Mixed Dentition Analysis in West Godavari District Children: A Comparative Study.Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024 Aug;17(8):871–876.

1. Cheeli S, Prasad MG, Radhakrishna AN, Raviteja NV.Comparative evaluation of two audio sensory methods on oral hygiene maintenance in visually impaired children.European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. 2024 Nov 9:1–8.

2022

1. Lakshmi SP, Sahana S, Vasa AAK, Vasanthi D.Caries Inhibition Potential of Salivarius M18 Probiotic in High-risk Children.J South Asian Assoc Pediatr Dent 2022; 5(2):64–69.

2020

1. Mamidi D, Vasa AA, Sahana S, Done V, Pavanilakshmi S.The assessment of golden proportion in primary dentition.Contemp Clin Dent 2020; 11:34–38.

1. Raviteja NV, Prasad MG.Clinical evaluation of Ghana Shyam’s TEFF (telescopically expanding fixed functional) space maintainer versus conventional band and loop space maintainer.Pesquisa Brasileira emOdontopediatria e ClínicaIntegrada. 2020 Oct 16; 20:e0024.

2019

1. Balavanthapu A, Sahana S, & Kumar Vasa A.Assessment of lip phenotype and its association with anterior tooth alignment in children.Int J Pedodontic Rehabilitation 2019; 4:55–59.

1. Prasad MG, Juvva R, Duvvi NB.Towards a new era in the management of large periapical lesion in permanent tooth using Stemcells: a 2-Year clinical application report.Journal of Dentistry. 2019 Jun; 20(2):137.

ACHIEVEMENTS