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Overview

The Department of Oral 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:

Teaching at the Department of Oral Sciences

The Department of Oral Sciences undertakes teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

At undergraduate level, students in all of the Faculty's programmes interact with the Department. At graduate level, the Department offers courses of study and research leading to the degrees of Doctor of Clinical Dentistry and Master of Community Dentistry. Postgraduate diplomas are offered also.

In the specialist disciplines, the Department provides patient care in student clinics, and specialist staff provide care for referred patients from throughout Otago and give advice to dental practitioners throughout New Zealand.

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 Sciences

Staff and students from the Department of Oral Sciences undertake research in the Sir John Walsh Research Institute (SJWRI). The SJWRI has the facilities necessary to undertake molecular biology, oral immunology, cell biology, microbiological, biochemical, clinical, and dental materials research, including:

  • DNA
  • DNA sequencing
  • Hybridisation
  • HPLC
  • PCR and real-time PCR
  • RNA and protein analysis

The SJWRI also has facilities for tissue culture and clinical research facilities.

Research conducted by staff and students includes:

  • Clinical dentistry
  • Computer modeling
  • Dental anthropology
  • Laser speckle interflowmetry
  • Molecular microbiology
  • Oral immunology
  • Oral biology
  • Public health dentistry
  • Teaching delivery

The Department also hosts the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Dental Epidemiology and Public Health.

Sir John Walsh Research Institute

Our people at the Department of Oral Sciences

Head of Department

Academic staff

Contact us

Postal address

Department of Oral Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand

Physical address

Department of Oral Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry
310 Great King Street
Dunedin Central
Dunedin 9016
New Zealand

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