Dentavision 2025 charts a new course for dentistry in Jammu & Kashmir

Mohammad Hanief/ August 26,2025

At the foothills of the Himalayas, where tradition and modernity often meet in
complex ways, a group of professionals gathered recently to chart the future of a
discipline that rarely makes the headlines — dentistry.

The Indian Dental Association (IDA) Kashmir central branch successfully hosted Dentavision 2025 at Hotel Sarovar Premiere, Srinagar, bringing together an unprecedented gathering of dental professionals, academicians, policymakers, innovators, and young practitioners. Themed “Innovate, Integrate, Inspire – The Future of Dentistry in J&K”, the summit served as a platform to address the pressing challenges of oral healthcare in the Union Territory while laying down a roadmap for growth, innovation, and employment.

In a press communique, spokesperson said ” The day-long event opened with a welcome address by Prof. (Dr.) H. U. Malik, patron of the summit, who underscored the urgent need for collaboration, technological adaptation, and youth engagement in shaping the region’s dental landscape. He urged the fraternity to embrace new opportunities in research and clinical practice while ensuring accessibility and ethical service delivery to patients”.

Delivering the keynote address, Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah, IAS, MLA Gulmarg and former secretary, Tourism & Education, highlighted how healthcare, education, and tourism form interconnected pillars of growth in Jammu & Kashmir. Applauding the IDA Kashmir central branch for initiating such a dialogue, he noted that platforms like Dentavision not only empower professionals but also contribute to policymaking and long-term healthcare planning for the region.

The summit featured a series of high-impact panel discussions on diverse and critical themes. Prof. (Dr.) Altaf Hussain Chalkoo, Professor & HOD, Oral Medicine & Radiology, Government Dental College Srinagar, led a session on “Future of Dentistry in Jammu & Kashmir – The Way Forward”, emphasizing the integration of advanced technologies and research collaborations.

In a thought-provoking discussion titled “Is Dentistry Still a Promising Career? Exploring New Employment Avenues for Young Dental Surgeons,” Prof. (Dr.) Mohammed Shakeel, Professor & HOD, Maxillofacial Surgery, SKIMS MCH Bemina, and Project Director of the MAAYA Cleft & Cranio-Facial Centre, stressed the need for innovation, entrepreneurship, and diversification in career opportunities for young dental graduates.

Adding an economic perspective, Ejaz Ayoub, research scholar in economics at NIT and certified professional in economics of Money & Banking from Columbia University, presented insights during his talk on “Bridging the Gap: Financial Support & Self-Employment Opportunities for Unemployed Dental Surgeons in J&K.” He outlined models for financial literacy, startup funding, and self-reliance to empower young practitioners.

The ethical dimension of dentistry was addressed by Dr. Sanjeet Singh Risam, head, department of Dentistry, government medical college Anantnag, in his session “Ethical Practice in Dentistry: Safeguarding Patient Trust in J&K.” Dr. Risam highlighted the responsibility of practitioners to uphold patient rights, transparency, and professional integrity in an era of rapid commercialization.

The engaging sessions were skilfully moderated by Sardar Nasir Ali Khan, a noted media professional, and Saba Reshi, anchor and digital banker, who ensured that the deliberations remained interactive, insightful, and accessible to a diverse audience.

A key highlight of the summit was the launch of IDA Kashmir Central Branch’s quarterly newsletter, The Oral Health Conversation. The publication aims to serve as a knowledge-sharing platform for emerging trends, scientific research, and professional opportunities in the field of oral health, while also fostering collaboration among practitioners across the Union Territory.

In his vote of thanks, Dr. Adil Malik, Organizing Secretary of Dentavision 2025, extended heartfelt gratitude to all panellists, delegates, sponsors, and participants for contributing to the success of the summit. He remarked that Dentavision 2025 is not just an event but the beginning of a collaborative journey to address challenges such as employment generation for dental surgeons, technological advancement, and the promotion of ethical, patient-centered dentistry.

The summit concluded on a note of optimism, with a shared vision to create new pathways for innovation, employment, and research-led dental practice in Jammu & Kashmir. Participants unanimously agreed that Dentavision 2025 had set the stage for sustained collaboration between practitioners, institutions, and policymakers to elevate the oral healthcare ecosystem in the region to national and global standards.