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Department of Paediatric Dentistry

Director: Associate Professor, Gizani Sotiria
Secretary: Elina Zacharopoulou
Contact Details: Phone.: (+30) 210-746-1219,  Email:zaxarop[at]dent.uoa[dot]gr
Address: 2 Thivon Str, 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece

General description.

The primary aims of the curriculum are for the dental graduates to be able a) to identify the physiologic from the non-physiologic development and evolution of the child and adolescent, b) to recognize the basic characteristics of children with medical problems and special needs c) to examine, diagnose and design a treatment plan regarding problems of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth in children and adolescents, d) to apply an individualised preventive program for children and adolescents based on their needs and e) to perform dental treatment in co-operative school-aged children and adolescents.

At the postgraduate level, the department is responsible for the specialization program in Paediatric Dentistry (duration of 3½ years), which leads to a Masterʼs degree in Paediatric Dentistry.

Faculty - Staff

The educational responsibilities of the faculty members concern the under- and post-graduate training in Paediatric Dentistry in the Dental School. At the postgraduate level, the faculty members are responsible for the supervision of research and thesis preparation, which are necessary for the completion of the postgraduate program. The specialist Scientific Associate M. Nasika is responsible for the training of the postgraduate students in preventive and interceptive orthodontics, as well as for their research activities in areas regarding these topics.

Educational activities

At the undergraduate level, the department is responsible for the teaching of the theoretical courses of Paediatric Dentistry I and II (in the 7th, 8th & 9th semester, respectively).  All faculty members of the department participate in teaching the theoretical courses of Paediatric Dentistry I and II. In the 7th semester, the preclinical training in the laboratory takes place.  All faculty members of the department, as well as certain specialised paediatric dentists and postgraduate students participate in the laboratory and clinical training of the students.

Research

In the department, research is mostly focused in clinical studies on topics regarding: a) restorations of primary teeth, b) sealants, c) alternative techniques of caries diagnosis, d) oral microbiology, e) protocols of preventive and restorative treatment of medically compromised patients and persons with mental impairment, as well as f) epidemiological studies concerning diagnosis and treatment of caries of school aged children and adolescents. Many times these studies include a part that has to be carried out in the laboratory. In this case, this is conducted in the research laboratories of the Dental School (Laboratory of Oral Microbiology, Biomaterials) and the laboratories of other departments and research institutions.

Facilities

The secretariat and the faculty offices are located in the 5th floor of the Old Building of the Dental School. The laboratory training course for the undergraduate students in Paediatric Dentistry is conducted in the Dental Simulation Laboratory in the basement of the Old Building, which is equipped with audiovisual aids and 40 dental units with phantom heads. The clinical training of the undergraduate students (8th, 9th and 10th semester) is carried out in the clinic of Paediatric Dentistry which is located in the 4th floor of the Old Building. The clinic is equipped with 11 dental units, an area for intra-oral radiographic examination, sterilisation and supply area.

For the postgraduate training the following facilities of the Postgraduate Clinic of the 1st Section of the Dental School are used (3rd floor of the New Building): a) a clinic equipped with 4 dental units, b) a quite room equipped with a unit, kindly offered by the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, for the management of non-cooperative children as well as for patients who require special protection during oral health care (e.g. immunocompromised patients), c) a room for teaching oral hygiene d) a sterilization and supply area and e) a secretariat. In addition, there is a fully equipped dental office with two dental units, areas for sterilisation and radiographic examination as well as an area for teaching oral hygiene.