Lieutenant General Balakrishnan Jayan, Director General Dental Services (DGDS) and Colonel Commandant of the Army Dental Corps, visited Command Military Dental Centre (Northern Command) to review the state of dental healthcare, clinical capabilities and operational dental preparedness for troops deployed across the Northern Command.
During the visit, Lt Gen Jayan assessed the existing dental care infrastructure and the measures being taken to ensure timely and specialised treatment for personnel, particularly those serving in forward and operationally demanding areas.
He emphasised the importance of integrating modern dental technologies, advanced clinical practices and specialised treatment capabilities into the military healthcare system. The focus, he highlighted, should remain on providing high-quality dental care while ensuring that troops remain medically and operationally fit for their assigned missions.
Dental readiness is an important component of overall troop health, particularly in formations deployed in remote, high-altitude and forward areas where access to specialised medical facilities can be challenging. Maintaining effective preventive and clinical dental care helps minimise avoidable health-related disruptions and contributes directly to the overall readiness of military personnel.
Lt Gen Jayan underscored that the availability of modern diagnostic and treatment facilities, coupled with well-trained dental professionals, is essential for meeting the healthcare requirements of troops operating under diverse and difficult conditions.
As part of the visit, the General Officer inaugurated “PRATIKSHA”, a newly developed waiting room and allied infrastructure dedicated to troops of Northern Command.
The facility is intended to improve the overall patient experience and provide better amenities to personnel visiting the dental centre for consultation and treatment. The addition of such infrastructure reflects the continuing effort to enhance healthcare delivery and create more efficient and comfortable treatment environments for serving personnel.
Lt Gen Jayan also interacted with healthcare professionals and personnel at the centre, reviewing their preparedness and the clinical services being provided to troops.
His visit highlighted the Army Dental Corps’ broader role beyond routine dental treatment. The Corps contributes to preventive healthcare, emergency dental management, specialist treatment and operational medical preparedness, ensuring that dental problems do not adversely affect the deployability or effectiveness of troops.
The requirement assumes particular significance within Northern Command, where soldiers are frequently deployed in challenging terrain and extreme climatic conditions. Such environments demand robust medical and dental support systems capable of responding quickly to both routine and urgent healthcare requirements.
Following his visit to CMDC (NC), Lt Gen Balakrishnan Jayan called on Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command.
During the interaction, the DGDS briefed the Army Commander on the state of dental preparedness within the Northern Command Area of Responsibility and the measures being undertaken to strengthen healthcare support for troops.
The discussions focused on ensuring that dental services remain aligned with the operational requirements of formations deployed across the region and that personnel in forward areas have access to appropriate preventive, restorative and specialised care.
The interaction also highlighted the close link between troop wellness and operational effectiveness. While dental healthcare may often be viewed as a routine medical requirement, untreated dental conditions can affect concentration, nutrition, physical endurance and the ability of personnel to remain deployed in demanding environments.
For this reason, preventive dental care, regular screening and rapid access to treatment form an important part of maintaining force readiness.
The Army Dental Corps has progressively incorporated newer technologies and advanced clinical techniques into its treatment protocols to improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment outcomes and patient comfort.
The emphasis on technological modernisation is particularly relevant as military healthcare seeks to provide high-quality specialist care while supporting troops stationed across geographically dispersed and operationally sensitive locations.
Lt Gen Jayan’s visit to CMDC (NC) therefore reinforced the importance of maintaining a strong dental healthcare network as an integral part of operational medical support.
By focusing on modern technology, specialised care, infrastructure development and readiness for forward-deployed troops, the Army Dental Corps continues to contribute to the health, morale and mission preparedness of Indian Army personnel serving under Northern Command.
