Jamshedpur, July 13: The good news for students, who wish to pursue dentistry as their career, is that they will not have to go to far away places anymore to realise their dreams.

Jharkhand is all set to get its first dental college, which in all probability will begin its first session (2007-08) in the next two months.

The Awadh Dental College and Hospital, managed by Manglawati Seva Sadan Trust, is located at Bhilaipahari on the Jamshedpur-Ghatshila Road, about 3km from Dimna Chowk, Jamshedpur.

At present, there are three medical colleges in Jharkhand, all run by the state government. But there is not a single dental college, though Bihar has three dental colleges — two in Patna and one in Darbhanga.

A two-member team of the Dental Council of India (DCI), which gives recognition to dental colleges in India, has already completed its inspection. Sources said the council is likely to give recognition to the college since it fulfils all the criteria, in terms of infrastructure, for running a dental course.

The college will have 100 seats. Separate hostel buildings for boys and girls are ready. A formal notification in this regard is expected in a few days, said Awadh Singh, chairman of the trust.

“The moment we get formal recognition from the DCI, we will conduct an entrance test followed by admission. In all probability, we will start admissions for the first batch for a degree in bachelor in dental science in August and the session from September,” said J.B. Bhattacharya, office in charge.

The college hospital has already started its OPD with six dentists. On an average, 70 patients come to the hospital every day. The college has got 40 dental chairs for the first year. Most of the equipment has been purchased from Delhi and Bangalore.

Besides the hostel, the college also has a clinical lobby, four lecture halls, common rooms, playgrounds, cafeteria and mess for students, laboratories, staff quarters and mess. There is also a proposal to build an auditorium with seating capacity of 1,000.

The college will tie up with the Tata Main Hospital for clinical teaching and training.

The trust has appointed M. Premanand Kamath, who has been the head of department of conservative dentistry at Manipal, as the principal of the college. Other staff members required for the college have also been appointed. Ranchi University will conduct the examinations.