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NEWS

ADA ANNOUNCES NEW CAN DENTISTS PERFORM HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERIES?
OPIOID POLICY AFTER DERMATOLOGISTS, NOW ORAL MAXILLOFACIAL

The American Dental Association has announced a SURGEONS MOVE HIGH COURT
new policy on opioid pain medications in an attempt
to address the ongoing opioid epidemic in the U.S. After the dermatologists approached the Bombay High Court challenging the
This policy is focused on acute pain and follows qualification of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to perform Aesthetic and Hair
CDC guidelines. Studies have found that nonsteroidal Transplant Surgeries, now the latter have approached the High Court bench for a
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be as or even hearing of their side.
more effective than opioids for acute dental pain. Filing an intervention application, the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial
The new policy states: Surgeons of India (AOMSI) have submitted that they perform surgeries,
• The ADA supports mandatory continuing operations and surgical procedure which are far more tedious and complicated
education in prescribing opioids and other controlled when compared to hair transplant surgeries.
substances. They also pointed
• The ADA supports statutory limits on opioid out that the privileges to
dosage and duration of no more than seven days for do procedures like hair
the treatment of acute pain. transplant, which has been
• The ADA supports dentists registering with and challenged in the PIL,
utilizing prescription drug monitoring programs are given only to Oral &
to promote the appropriate use of opioids and deter Maxillofacial and not to
misuse and abuse. general dentists or other
An examination of five systematic reviews MDS specialists as per the
concluded that acetaminophen and non-steroidal guidelines issued in the
anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are equal notification dated 06.12.
or superior to opioids for dental pain, supporting 2012 issued by the Dental
the ADA’s 2016 policy statement that dentists Council of India (DCI)
consider them as the first-line therapy for acute pain DCI had mentioned
management as opposed to opiods. that Aesthetic Procedures “can be performed by Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons,
after adequate training as per the curriculum”. Further, the guidelines specified
that Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons should have an aesthetic back up with requisite
resuscitate equipment and drugs. Preoperative clearances from a medical
specialist as required must be obtained. There should be well-equipped post-
operative recovery room for patient monitoring and adequate record keeping.
However these DCI guidelines were challenged by a group of Dermatologists
under the Dynamic Dermatologist and hair transplant association, who claimed
that oral and maxillofacial surgeons are not “qualified” to perform Aesthetic and
hair Transplant Surgery.
The matter will now be heard in the Bombay High Court in mid December.

Malabar and Whiteoak Lead INR 85 Cr Investment in Dentalkart to Accelerate Expansion

Delhi-based Dentalkart, an online marketplace for dental supplies, Founded in 2016 by Dr Vikas Agarwal and Sandeep Aggarwal,
has secured INR 85 crore in its latest funding round. Led by foreign Dentalkart is a leading online platform for dental supplies, offering
institutional investors Malabar Investment and Whiteoak, this over 22,000 products from more than 500 manufacturers. With fast
investment marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey to delivery services reaching even remote areas, Dentalkart has become a
solidify its leadership in the dental marketplace. trusted choice for dentists nationwide.
The round saw Malabar Investment contributing INR 65 crore,
while Whiteoak invested INR 20 crore. The funds will be allocated to
scaling the company’s operations, expanding its market presence, and
adding more subsidiaries to accelerate growth.
Dr. Vikas Agarwal, CEO of Dentalkart, said, “We are elated with
our recent fundraise, and we acknowledge the belief that Malabar
and Whiteoak have in our vision. Their strategic backing will help us
accelerate our growth plans and ensure that we remain at the forefront
of the dental marketplace in India.”
“This investment comes at a pivotal time as we work to expand our
presence, broaden our reach, and scale our subsidiaries,” he added.

72 Dental Practice I November-December 2024 I Vol 20 No 5