Int Dent J. 2013 Dec;63(6):324-8. doi: 10.1111/idj.12048.
To gain insight and learning on the perceived issues and challenges facing dentists within India and to provide guidance on how the wider Indian Diaspora may be able to help solve them.
A pilot-tested online survey, containing both quantitative and qualitative questions, was administered amongst dentists practising in India.
A total of 1,194 dentists completed the 'Indian Oral Health Survey'. The results highlighted that a significant number of individuals perceived the current state of oral health in India as 'somewhat bad' (44%) while also emphasising the pressing need for government initiatives to improve these standards (78%). Some of the key challenges that need to be addressed in the next 5 years are gum disease (19%), dental caries (18%), oral health awareness (17%) and the increasing rates of oral cancer (16%). This survey also revealed that there is a need to review and change the current state of dental education in India. Furthermore, dentists practising in India would like their Indian counterparts living overseas to give back to their country of origin via mentoring programmes (23%), support initiatives in India both through monetary support (17%) and working for charity, as well as by sharing their skills, expertise and experiences.
There is currently a desperate need to improve oral health in India, especially among the underprivileged populations. The survey also revealed that the current dental education system is in need of revision and young dentists in India would like to be mentored by their counterparts overseas.
深入了解和学习印度牙医所面临的问题和挑战，并就如何让更广泛的印度侨民帮助解决这些问题提供指导。
在印度执业的牙医中进行了一项试点在线调查，其中包含定量和定性问题。
共有 1194 名牙医完成了“印度口腔健康调查”。结果表明，相当一部分人认为印度目前的口腔健康状况“有些糟糕”（44%），同时也强调了政府需要采取行动提高这些标准（78%）。未来 5 年内需要解决的一些关键挑战是牙周病（19%）、龋齿（18%）、口腔健康意识（17%）和口腔癌发病率的上升（16%）。这项调查还表明，需要审查和改变印度目前的牙科教育状况。此外，在印度执业的牙医希望居住在海外的印度同行通过指导计划（23%）、通过货币支持（17%）和慈善工作为印度的倡议提供支持，以及通过分享他们的技能、专业知识和经验来回馈他们的祖国。
目前迫切需要改善印度的口腔健康状况，特别是在贫困人群中。调查还表明，目前的牙科教育系统需要修订，印度的年轻牙医希望得到海外同行的指导。
