Parliament Question: Complex Surgeries by Dental Practitioners

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE LOKSABHA UNSTARREDQUESTIONNO.4745 TOBEANSWEREDON20THMARCH,2026 COMPLEX SURGERIES BYDENTALPRACTITIONERS

4745.MR. PATHAN YUSUF:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the cases of complex procedures like craniofacial surgery, major reconstructive surgery and hair transplant surgery being performed by dental practitioners; (b) if so, the details thereof including the number of such instances reported till date during the last five years;

(c) whether dental surgeons are permitted under existing laws and regulations to perform such complexcraniofacial surgeriesandif so, the detailsthereof;

(d) the number of cases of complications and deaths arising from such procedures performed by dentalpractitioners during the last five years, State-wise;and

(e) the details of action taken by the Government against dental practitioners performing such allegedlyunauthorized procedures? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a)to(e) The Dental Councilof India (DCI),a statutorybodyconstitutedunderthe Dentists Act, 1948, is empowered to regulate dental education, qualifications, and scope of dental specialties inIndia.

DCI has notified Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) Regulations, 2007 & 2017 to define the curriculum and training scope of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is a recognized surgical specialty of dentistry dealing with diseases, injuries anddefects of the Oral and Maxillofacial region. However, the matter of scope of practice of the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons is under challenge in WP no. 36164 and 12044 of 2024 in the Hon’ble High Court of Madras.

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