Vinayaka Missions Sankarachariyar Dental College, Salem

Till the year 1986 there was only one Dental college in the whole of Tamil Nadu and that too was run by the Government of Tamil Nadu with an annual intake of 50 students only. The students seeking Dental education were forced to go to the neighboring states due to non availability of the Dental Colleges in Tamil Nadu. Vinayaka Missions is the first self financing trust that has paved the way for the needy aspirants. The trust had started a Dental College in the above name in the year 1986 at Salem, Tamil Nadu. The college was accorded permission for an annual intake of 40 students only initially but in due course, recognizing the adequate infrastructural facilities provided by the trust, the Dental Council of India have increased the intake from 40-100. Now 100 students are being admitted every year in this college. 15% of these students are non-resident Indians and foreigners. Students from all over the world including Iran, Iraq, UAE, USA are studying in this college. The college has chairs exclusively for the diagnosis and treatment of the patients suffering from various types of dental diseases. With its appreciable quality of treatment, the Dental College Hospital is now attracting a large number of patients from all over the district and neighboring districts. With the expertise of Dental faculty, the college hospital is functioning a research wing for innovating new types of treatment to the diseases. The college has been duly recognized by the Dental Council of India and affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University. Several hundreds of students have secured ranks in the university. It is noteworthy to mention that many of the students who have passed out from this college have been offered appointments in Arabia, London and USA. Additionally the college now offers Dental Hygienist and Dental Mechanic courses as a short-term training in Dental education with an annual intake of 50 students.