In another step to provide dental care to the increasing number of patients at the country's premier medical institute, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will get a new dental research centre in the next two years. The centre will be equipped with all the new-age research technology and will provide an all-round dental and oral health care.

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The Rs 60-crore budgeted project will focus on regenerative medicine which includes harvesting stem cells that can grow new teeth and jaw bones. The research centre will also have 3-D scanning of teeth and will be the first government centre to operate with such a high-tech equipment. Stem cell research hit a milestone only a few years ago when a team of dentists discovered adult stem cells lays right inside our teeth. If cast correctly, these stem cells can take shape and form a natural tooth without a problem. Studies have proven that when the stem cells take place of your missing tooth, they will quickly assimilate and grow a new tooth in a matter of weeks. "It will be a highly advanced centre with a focus on interdisciplinary research. The idea is to improve the oral health in the country," said Dr O P Kharbanda, Chief, Centre for Dental Education and Research (CDER), AIIMS.

"The centre will focus on digital imaging, nano-technology, nano-robotics, prosthodontics and all related fields," Kharbanda said.

Earlier this year, CDER started Cone Beam CT (CBCT) facility which gives a 3D image of the patient's jaw and helps the surgeon with the surgery and thus better outcome. The technology helps make a better prediction before the surgery as one can perform a virtual surgery on 3D models through this.