Existing colleges would not be affected by the move, but permission to open new colleges would not be granted unless they are attached to medical colleges, DCI president Dibyendu Majumdar said here today.
Stating that the DCI has been very strict in granting permission to new dental colleges, he said, "Out of 87 applications received so far this year, permission has been granted only to four institutions."
Majumdar said unless students were given full exposure in medical colleges, dental surgeons would not be able to acquire desired knowledge and skills.