Delegate: Dr.Karthika.S, Tagore Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, India
Delegate Short Bio: Dr. Karthika is a Preventive Pediatric Dentist and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry at Tagore Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, India. Her clinical experience with growing children sparked a deep interest in craniofacial development, particularly the role of airway dynamics and orofacial musculature in shaping the developing face and jaws. This interest evolved into a focused engagement with sleep science and its critical influence on growth and development.
She has completed a Fellowship in Orofacial Myology and Pediatric Sleep and is an active advocate for promoting restful, restorative sleep, especially in children. Her work emphasizes early identification and intervention of airway-related concerns, aiming to support optimal craniofacial growth, improve behavioral and physiological outcomes, and potentially reduce the need for orthodontic or surgical interventions.
Scope of Activity: Campaign
Activity: In observance of World Sleep Day, the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry at Tagore Dental College & Hospital, Chennai, India organized a series of multidisciplinary and community-oriented activities to enhance awareness of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (POSA) and the importance of restorative sleep.
A key highlight was a panel discussion involving experts from Cardiology, ENT, Pulmonology, Psychology, Pediatrics, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontics which fostered interdisciplinary dialogue among medical and dental practitioners. The session emphasized early identification of airway-related disorders, collaborative management, and the systemic implications of untreated sleep disturbances.
To actively engage undergraduate dental students, a quiz competition and a patient-centered poster-making contest on obstructive sleep apnea were conducted. These activities enhanced knowledge retention, encouraged critical thinking, and fostered the ability to translate scientific concepts into effective patient education tools.
Additionally, patients attending the dental outpatient department were reached through an awareness skit and educational lecture focusing on sleep hygiene, recognizing early signs of sleep-disordered breathing in children, and the role of timely intervention.
These activities collectively aimed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, improve early screening practices, and empower both healthcare professionals and the community with actionable knowledge. The initiative successfully enhanced awareness, encouraged preventive approaches, and reinforced the role of dentistry in promoting overall health through better sleep.
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Date of Activity: 11/03/2026 – 13/03/2026
