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
- Professor Andrew Tawse-Smith Head of Department of Oral Sciences
Academic staff
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Dr Lee Adam
Teaching and learning in higher education
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Dr Zeina Al Naasan
Oral health promotion, equity, migration, and oral and periodontal health
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Dr Joe Antoun
Craniofacial biology and clinical genetics
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Deanna Beckett
Oral health
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Professor Jonathan Broadbent
Longitudinal dental health research
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Professor Richard Cannon
Oral biology, oral microbiology and antifungal drug resistance
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Mr Samuel Carrington
Oral health, hauora Māori, qualitative research, workforce, dental public health
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Professor Paul Cooper
Tissue engineering, pulp biology, periodontal inflammation, photobiomodulation
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Professor Warwick Duncan
Periodontics and Dental Implantology
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Associate Professor Mani Ekambaram
Enamel remineralisation and adhesion, dentine adhesion, MIH, paediatric oral health
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Professor Mauro Farella
Orthodontics, masticatory muscle physiology, orofacial pain
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Dr Fiona Firth
Orthodontics, craniofacial biology, biology of tooth movement
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Dr Yvonne Golpak
Paediatric dentistry and public health dentistry
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Dr Winifred Harding
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Dr Noren Nor Hasmun
Paediatric Dentistry, Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation
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Associate Professor Nick Heng
Microbial genetics, next-generation DNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics, and antimicrobial protein (bacteriocin) biology
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Dr Ellie Knight
Peridontal epidemiology and qualitative research
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Dr Erwin Lamping
Membrane protein biology
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Honorary Associate Professor Jonathan Leichter
Periodontology and laser applications in dentistry
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Dr Carolina Loch Santos da Silva
Oral Biology
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Associate Professor Peter Mei
Orthodontics, microbiology, biomaterials, cancers
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Honorary Associate Professor Alison Meldrum
Student learning, dental workforce and childhood caries
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Associate Professor Tino Mercado
Periodontal Medicine, Mucogingival Surgeries, Dental Implants
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Dr Jane Millichamp
Behavioural psychology
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Associate Professor Susan Moffat
Dental workforce, dental public health, and dental education
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Honorary Associate Professor Brian Monk
Molecular microbiology
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Dr Kate Morgaine
Dental public health and health promotion
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Dr Kyoko Niimi
Molecular mycology, antifungal resistance, drug discovery
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Mrs Hanna Olson
Dental and Oral Health, Active Learning, Educational Technology and Interprofessional Education
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Dr Jithendra Ratnayake
Biomaterials and regenerative medicine
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Emeritus Professor Alison Rich
Current research interests are in the tumour microenvironment in oral cancer and immune regulation in oral lichen planus.
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Mr Christopher Robertson
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Professor Andrew Tawse-Smith
Oral implantology and dental education
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Emeritus Professor Murray Thomson
Dental epidemiology, dental public health, and health services research
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Honorary Associate Professor Geoffrey Tompkins
Dental molecular microbiology
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Dr Adith Venugopal
Orthodontic clinical and biomaterial research