Hyderabad, June 03: Indian Dental Association, Deccan branch; commemorated the World No Tobacco Day, by hosting a Continuing Dental Education Program Series, today at The Golkonda Hotel, Masab Tank. Dr K Rajasekhar Reddy, T state BJP Doctor’s Cell President; was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Dr. P Surya Prasanna, President, Deccan Branch; Dr. S Niranjan Reddy, Past President Deccan Branch; Dr. P Karunakar, President Elect, Deccan Branch and Dr Ashwini Munnangi, Consultant Head and Neck oncosurgeon, Renova Oncology and Medwise oncology, Hyderabad; graced the occasion along with members of the dental fraternity.
The CDE program sensitised the Dental professionals on the critical role they play in the early detection and prevention of oral cancers. As dentists are often the first healthcare professionals to examine patients with early symptoms, timely diagnosis can significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce the burden of oral cancer.
Speaking on the occasion Dr K Rajasekhar Reddy said, in your daily practice, you witness the harmful effects of tobacco, stained teeth, bad breath, periodontal disease, delayed healing, precancerous lesions, and oral cancer. What begins as a habit often develops into a lifelong addiction with devastating consequences. Dentists are uniquely positioned to identify early warning signs such as white patches, non-healing ulcers, reduced mouth opening, or unexplained bleeding. Early diagnosis and timely intervention can save countless lives and significantly reduce the cancer burden in our society.
Dr. P Surya Prasanna, highlighted the growing threat posed by emerging tobacco and nicotine products. Beyond conventional cigarettes and gutka, newer forms such as vaping devices and flavoured nicotine products are increasingly targeting the younger generation. While social media often glamorises these habits, healthcare professionals must continue to promote evidence-based awareness and actively discourage tobacco use among youth, he said.
Dr A Srikanth Secretary ida deccan branch, concluded the event with a placard display by the ida deccan branch Executive highlighting the ill effects of tobacco to mark the WNTD2026.