KARACHI: A student-led initiative to strengthen practical dental education brought undergraduate dental students together for an intensive hands-on oral surgery workshop, where participants received structured training in flap design, soft tissue management and surgical suturing under the supervision of experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
The Oral Surgery Symposium 2026: Precision in Flap Design & Suturing was held on July 15, 2026, at Aga Khan University (AKU), which served as the venue for the event. The symposium was organized jointly by SmileHub and ClinicalEdge, two educational platforms committed to advancing clinical learning for dental students and young professionals.
The workshop was designed to bridge the gap between theoretical teaching and practical clinical skills by providing participants with an opportunity to practice essential oral surgery techniques in a structured simulation-based learning environment.
Student-led collaboration promotes practical dental education
The organizers described the symposium as part of a broader effort to enhance undergraduate dental education by exposing students to clinically relevant procedural skills early in their professional training.
SmileHub, led by Syeda Alina and Bilal Mahmood, is a student-led educational platform dedicated to bridging the gap between dental education and clinical practice by connecting students with experienced clinicians through workshops, mentorship and skill-development initiatives.
The event was organized in collaboration with ClinicalEdge, a Continuing Medical Education (CME) platform led by Dr. Rooja Yousuf, which focuses on educational workshops and practical clinical training for healthcare professionals.
A total of 37 participants, predominantly second- and third-year undergraduate dental students, attended the workshop.
Experienced oral surgeons lead the training
The academic sessions were conducted by two experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
Training was led by Dr. Moazzam Hussain Siddiqui, BDS, FCPS-II (Training) in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DUHS), Lecturer in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Dow International Dental College (DIDC).
He was joined by Dr. Huzaifa Saeed ul Khair, BDS, FCPS (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery), FAOCMF (Switzerland), Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Medicare Hospital and Assistant Professor at Jinnah Medical and Dental College.
Drawing on their clinical and academic experience, the facilitators guided participants through the fundamental principles of oral surgical procedures while emphasizing correct surgical technique and safe clinical practice.
Focus on flap design and soft tissue management
The workshop centered on developing the core competencies required for routine oral surgical procedures.
Participants received instruction on the fundamentals of flap design, an essential component of many oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, alongside the principles of soft tissue management aimed at achieving predictable surgical outcomes and optimal wound healing.
The faculty also introduced participants to the identification and proper handling of basic surgical instruments and suture needles used during oral surgical procedures.
Hands-on suturing strengthens clinical confidence
A major component of the symposium focused on practical suturing skills.
Participants learned proper needle handling, ergonomic suturing techniques and secure surgical knot-tying methods before practicing commonly used suturing techniques, including interrupted and continuous sutures.
The practical exercises were performed on simulation models, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in a controlled educational setting before applying these techniques in clinical practice.
Simulation-based learning has increasingly become an important component of dental education because it enables students to develop manual dexterity, improve procedural confidence and refine technical skills in a safe environment.
Bridging the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice
Beyond teaching technical skills, the symposium sought to strengthen students' understanding of the clinical principles underpinning routine oral surgical care.
By combining expert demonstrations with supervised practical sessions, participants were encouraged to translate theoretical concepts into hands-on clinical application while developing the foundational surgical competencies expected of future dentists.
The organizers said the workshop reflects the growing role of student-led educational initiatives in complementing formal undergraduate curricula by creating additional opportunities for mentorship, clinical exposure and practical skills development.
With undergraduate dental education increasingly emphasizing competency-based learning, initiatives such as the Oral Surgery Symposium 2026 continue to provide aspiring dentists with valuable exposure to evidence-based surgical techniques and real-world clinical practice under experienced faculty supervision.
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