Staff shortage hits prosthetic services at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital Dental Centre
Coimbatore: In a setback for patients seeking specialised dental care, the newly opened multi-speciality dental centre at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) is unable to provide tooth restoration services due to the absence of a dental mechanic to fabricate artificial teeth, hospital sources said.
The centre's metal-ceramic unit, which is equipped with furnaces, casting machines and scanners, remains largely unused because the hospital does not currently have a technician to operate it. Staff confirmed the issue during a visit to the centre on Tuesday, reports The Daily.
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The Health Department had established multi-speciality dental centres at four government medical college hospitals, including CMCH, with the objective of providing specialised dental services comparable to those available at private facilities. The Coimbatore centre was inaugurated by former Health Minister Ma Subramanian in February 2026.
However, the metal-ceramic unit is currently unable to provide tooth restoration services as there is no dental mechanic to fabricate customised porcelain and ceramic prosthetics.
A resident of Raja Street said two of his front teeth had been replaced with prosthetics six months ago, but one recently broke. He said he visited the centre twice last week to get it replaced but was advised either to approach a private clinic or wait until a technician is appointed.
A metal-ceramic unit is used to make durable and relatively affordable restorations for damaged, cracked or root-canal-treated teeth. Dental mechanics fabricate crowns and other ceramic restorations using metal bases for strength and porcelain layers.
According to hospital sources, the lone dental mechanic at CMCH was transferred on deputation to the Government Dental College and Hospital in Pudukkottai.
“There are three sanctioned posts of dental mechanic at CMCH. Earlier, one technician was managing the unit. With that post now also vacant, the unit has been stalled,” sources said.
Dental mechanics are needed for several procedures, including crown and bridge work following root canal treatment, metal-ceramic crowns and obturators. Obturators are customised prostheses used to close defects in the upper jaw, particularly among cancer patients and those with cleft lip and palate.
Health officials said steps were being taken to fill the vacancies at the earliest.
Speaking to TNIE, Dean Dr M Geethanjali said, “The technician post is vacant. The ceramic lab is not yet established. We have received the instruments for the same, partly. The lab needs a lot of space, which was originally earmarked in the main op building. But the building is in a dilapidated condition and is about to be demolished shortly.”
