From the Author's desk.

ORAL HISTOPATHOLOGY: CREATIVE VISUAL LEARNING USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANIMATION

Oral Pathology has always been a core subject which deals with final diagnosis of oral diseases. Ultimately greater responsibility lies on the teaching faculty to instill positive thoughts, attitude and confidence through knowledge, first among students and same can be reached out to the society.[1]

This subject has traditionally been taught using a series of static light microscopic two-dimensional images instead of three-dimensional (3D) images and do not represent the pathological processes in a life-like a manner. However, life sciences do require the third dimension.[2] Therefore students often experience difficulty in integrating static histologic images with dynamic physiological function and pathological processes.

The two Bible books authored by our legends, who contributed tremendously in the field of dentistry such as Dr. William Gene Shafer, who published a classic textbook on oral pathology in 1958[3] and Dr. Balint Orban, who was periodontist wrote a classic textbook, “Dental Histology and Embryology” in 1928,[4] are still in high demand. Still it is becoming very difficult to generate interest amongst the students despite our teaching methods have been upgraded from blackboard teaching to PowerPoint explanation.

In the era of technology, “Electronic Media” is the promising tool to gain in-depth knowledge of the subject and the whole world is synchronized with it. It includes various technologies one such being 3D animation, to improve student's knowledge in an easy and friendly way.

Students do prefer 3D animations in addition to existing teaching module, as a lot of information could be obtained even from few minutes videos. Enormous time is always spent in searching such videos on oral histopathology which medical and other dental specialties have.

Such web-based, multimedia learning program would help students, to master basic histologic principles and to integrate histologic structure with physiological function and pathological processes. Various universities have already implemented such curriculum for student and patient education.[5]

Additionally, a website could also be created which will have all such videos. Users of the website will also be given an opportunity to upload similar videos which would first undergo a peer review by the editorial board. There will be collaboration among oral pathologist, animators, web designers, general pathologists, students from medicine and graphic designing, sponsors, etc.[5]

Let's strive for our rights and mights, to create a niche for our own specialty among the medical and dental professionals.

Let's take the initiative and engage, enhance and extend student learning by adding 3D animation technology and make oral pathology one of the most popular branches in medicine.