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Dental education in India today is at crossroads.Dental education and dentistry today are already different from that which were a couple of decades ago having experienced a paradigm shift in incorporation of technologies and innovative concepts.Dentistry and dental education in India have seen significant evolution over the years.Initially, dental practices were conventional, and education was limited to a few institutions with fewer educational opportunities.However, today, dental education has evolved to various specializations and skill learnings.Over the decades, the 'learning' in dentistry has expanded to include specialized fields such as forensic odontology, esthetic dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, implantology, geriatric dentistry and many more.The advent of technology brought digital dentistry, advanced imaging techniques, and modern treatment methods into classrooms and clinics.Today, Indian dental education emphasizes a blend of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and research, preparing students to meet global standards and innovation in their practices.The focus has also shifted towards community dentistry, aiming to address the oral health needs of rural and underserved populations.Continuous professional development and international collaborations further ensure that Indian dentists stay abreast of the latest advancements, contributing to the global dental community.However, as we stand now almost halfway through the second decade of the 21st century, there is a more crucial yet inevitable heralding of a new era of dentistry and dental education.Dentistry stands today at an intersection of several factors that will eventually affect dentistry and determine the future of dentistry.They are as follows:
Arun Dodamani (Sat,) studied this question.