Dental developments

World authorities in the field of restoration of teeth shared their knowledge at the three-day Fifth World Zoroastrian Dental Congress from September 12 to 14, 2003 at Bombay’s Taj Mahal Hotel where all the scientific deliberations were held. On the occasion of its golden jubilee The Zoroastrian Dentists Organization (ZDO) felicitated the senior dentists by presenting them an attractive gold-plated plaque, notes a write-up on the proceedings.

The three-day academic feast was inaugurated with the lighting of a diva at the hands of Jamshed Guzder, chairman emeritus of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Others on the dais were patron Dr Keki Mistry, chairman Dr Porus Turner, organizing secretary Dr Daisy Sidhwa and ZDO president Dr Rusi Baam. The inauguration was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of the late Dr Fali Mehta, the last of the five founding members who passed away barely 15 days before the Congress.

Two full-day pre-conference courses on Restorative Dentistry conducted by Turner and Root Canal Therapy by Dr Anish Naware set the tone for the proceedings that followed. Eighty dentists attended the full day ticketed courses. In addition to Turner, the other senior Zoroastrian dentists who made presentations at the conference were Drs Zerxis Umrigar, Firdaus Bativala and Burzin Khan. The younger generation was represented by Drs Ferzin Turner, Ashdin Turner, Saiesha Mistry and Danesh Vazifdar. Dr Ooshin Shroff compered the proceedings.

At the ZDO celebrations (L to R): (along-side) Baam, Dr Ashok Dobale, Porus Turner, Guzder, BPP trustee Dinshaw Tamboly, Keki Mistry, Sidhwa and Shroff; (below, left) Dr Aspi Surveyor being felicitated by Guzder and (right) P. Turner, Billimoria and Sidhwa

The highlight of the social function was the entertainment program which included a fashion show depicting the costumes of the Parsis, followed by skits and gags by Dinyar Contractor assisted by Ashdin Billimoria, Sidhwa, Ashdin Turner and Dr Arnawaz Havewala. The grand finale was the jazz dance by the young boys and girls of Rustom Baug. BPP chairman Minoo Shroff praised the ZDO and encouraged them to excel in their endeavors.

Among those who had contributed to the success of the events were the principal sponsors Colgate Palmolive India Limited, the House of Godrej, Niloufer Patel and Rumi Patel of Fravashi Events Management of Cusrow Baug, Hutoxi Dudhwala of Rustom Baug and Sarosh Daruwalla of Mazda Audio Video Lab.

Over the last five decades ZDO has been regularly holding dental education programs for its members to keep them abreast of the latest in dental science. Besides conducting preventive dentistry programs in various Parsi colonies and even at Doongerwadi, it has also gone to the interior villages of Maharashtra and Gujarat to spread awareness of good oral health, conveyed the write-up.