Overview
The Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences is one of three departments within the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry. The Department undertakes teaching and research in the following areas:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Oral Medicine
- Oral Pathology
- Oral Surgery
- Radiography
- Special Needs Dentistry
Teaching at the Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
The Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences undertakes teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The Department is involved in teaching in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), and, to a lesser extent the Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) and Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech) programmes, and staff contribute to other Faculty and continuing dental education courses.
At postgraduate level, the Department offers specialist courses of study and research leading to the degree of Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Special Needs Dentistry.
These courses are recognised for the formal training required to register as a specialist by the Dental Council.
Undergraduate study at the Faculty of Dentistry
Postgraduate study at the Faculty of Dentistry
CPD at the Faculty of Dentistry
Research at the Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
Research undertaken by members of the Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences covers a diverse range of topics related to:
- Oral diseases and healing involving histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular biological techniques—with particular interest in epithelial hyperplasia, preneoplasia, and neoplasia, and also diseases of the oral mucosa
- Clinical research in dental implantology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and trauma
Many research projects are done in collaboration with other departments and universities.
Sir John Walsh Research Institute
Our people at the Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
Head of Department
- Professor Darryl Tong Head of Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
Academic staff
- Mr David Coburn Professional Practice Fellow
- Dr Malcolm Dacker Senior Professional Practice Fellow and clinical lead in undergraduate oral surgery
- Associate Professor Harsha De Silva Associate Professor
- Associate Professor Rohana De Silva (Kumara) Associate Professor
- Dr Simon Guan Senior Lecturer
- Associate Professor Haizal Hussaini Associate Professor
- Dr Ajith Polonowita Professional Practice Fellow
- Dr Benedict Seo Senior Lecturer
- Professor Darryl Tong Professor and Head of Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Associate Dean Pacific (Dentistry)
Contact us
Postal address
Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Physical address
Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry
310 Great King Street
Dunedin Central
Dunedin 9016
New Zealand
