The first ever international collaboration of the Departments of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine & Radiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, SGT University with the Masters of Oral Surgery, Medicine and Implantology, University of Barcelona and Masters of Oral Implantology, University of Seville, Spain was organized on the 19th & 20th of April 2019.

The INSPACON 2019 meet was organized under the aegis of Delhi-NCR state Chapter of the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI) and also with the support of SEI (Spanish Society of Implantology) and SIOLA (Latin American Society of Implantology) with an agenda of exploring the students’ knowledge with the latest technologies and ways in the field of Oral Surgery, Medicine and Implantology.

Here are two of the delegates, one from Spain Dr. Siddharth Mishra, presently working as Professor – Master of Oral Medicine, Surgery and Implantology, University of Barcelona who is an alumni of the SGT Dental College is in conversation with Dr. Antoni Mari Roig: Head of Department, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital of Bellvitge & Co-Director of Master on Oral Medicine, Surgery and Implantology, University of Barcelona.

Both the delegates spoke at length about their experience in India and especially at SGT University, Gurugram. They also discussed the global epidemic of Oral Cavity Cancer and its repercussions. Interesting to note was the observation by Dr. Antoni Mari Roig about the late presentation of the disease in his institution as well as is the case here in India. Both stressed upon the prevention & early detection of cancer which always has a better outcome as compared to the late stage disease in which survival is always poor.

Not only do this but they also discussed the specialty of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery as regards to the clinical curriculum and the teaching program. The shortage of well-trained surgeons and the emerging role of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons in the management of this dreadful disease were also stressed. What was also stressed upon was the overall rehabilitation of the patients with oral cancer in the long journey of the entire treatment process. Quality of life is just as important an issue as surviving the disease and for that, the need for a multi-disciplinary approach with the involvement of other specialists namely implantologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, etc was also pointed.

Overall, the delegates were quite impressed with the infrastructure at SGT University and the quality of treatment being given at the institution by the doctors. It was heartening to see surgeons from such a developed country as Spain to appreciate the work being undertaken by the University in managing our patients here.