Greetings from the Dean of the School of Dentistry
Dean of School of Dentistry, Nagasaki University
Tadateru Sumi
The Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, established in 1979, is one of the newest national university dental schools in Japan. To date, it has produced 2,277 graduates who are actively contributing to a wide range of fields, including local healthcare, university education and research, and public administration.
In recent years, the scope of practice in dentistry has expanded significantly beyond traditional treatments and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease, fixed and removable prosthodontics, implant treatment, orthodontics and oral surgery such as tooth extraction and treatment of bone fracture and tumor. It now encompasses critically important areas like dysphagia rehabilitation for the elderly and oral function management for hospitalized patients with conditions such as tumors. Furthermore, against the backdrop of a declining birthrate and an aging population, the concept of dental care is shifting from " recovery of tooth morphology" to " recovery of oral function."
To cultivate dentists who can respond to these changing times and societal needs, our School of Dentistry implemented a new curriculum in the 2019 academic year.
The initial one and a half years of liberal arts education aims to enrich students' liberal arts foundation. Liberal arts, originally signifying the essential studies for a free person, is a crucial academic domain for your future fulfilling life.
In the specialized dental education, students will learn foundational and clinical subjects in dentistry, as well as related clinical medicine. Following computer based testing (CBT) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), they will progress to clinical practice and participation in care in the university hospital. Our curriculum also emphasizes the "cultivation of a research mindset." Through this learning process, our philosophy is "to cultivate dentists and researchers who have acquired fundamental knowledge and broad expertise in dental and oral medicine, who will pioneer the future of dental and oral medicine and healthcare, and who will earn the trust of society." We aim to foster individuals equipped with a sense of responsibility, social awareness, ethical values, rich humanity, communication skills, cooperativeness, and a research mindset, possessing a wide range of knowledge and fundamental skills to address advanced dental and oral healthcare. Furthermore, we actively promote the development of dentists who can comprehensively consider regional dental and oral healthcare in remote islands and other areas from the perspectives of public health, medical care, and welfare, as well as researchers and educators with advanced specialized knowledge and experience, and problem-solving abilities.
Notably, the quality of education at our School of Dentistry has been certified by the Japan University Accreditation Association's Program Accreditation as meeting the association's standards for dental education.
As stipulated in Article 1 of the Dental Practitioners Act, " Dental practitioners are to contribute to the improvement and promotion of public health through the administration of dental care and health guidance, and thereby ensure the healthy lives of the citizens " dentists do more than just treat teeth. Through oral health, they contribute to improving people's quality of life (QOL) and support them in "living better." To achieve this, it is essential not only to acquire advanced specialized knowledge and skills but also to have empathy for each patient and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary medical professionals and the local community. As Nagasaki University declared in its 4th Medium-Term Goals and Plan (2022 onwards) its evolution from a university contributing to Global Health to one contributing to Planetary Health, our scope of activities extends beyond Japan, holding the potential to contribute to the health of people worldwide. As you know, Nagasaki was the only port in Japan open to foreign trade during the Edo period's isolation policy, fostering a unique "Wakaran" culture blending Chinese and Dutch influences. Why not study dental medicine and experience a fulfilling university life in this fascinating city? The faculty and staff of the Nagasaki University School of Dentistry eagerly await you.
In recent years, the scope of practice in dentistry has expanded significantly beyond traditional treatments and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease, fixed and removable prosthodontics, implant treatment, orthodontics and oral surgery such as tooth extraction and treatment of bone fracture and tumor. It now encompasses critically important areas like dysphagia rehabilitation for the elderly and oral function management for hospitalized patients with conditions such as tumors. Furthermore, against the backdrop of a declining birthrate and an aging population, the concept of dental care is shifting from " recovery of tooth morphology" to " recovery of oral function."
To cultivate dentists who can respond to these changing times and societal needs, our School of Dentistry implemented a new curriculum in the 2019 academic year.
The initial one and a half years of liberal arts education aims to enrich students' liberal arts foundation. Liberal arts, originally signifying the essential studies for a free person, is a crucial academic domain for your future fulfilling life.
In the specialized dental education, students will learn foundational and clinical subjects in dentistry, as well as related clinical medicine. Following computer based testing (CBT) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), they will progress to clinical practice and participation in care in the university hospital. Our curriculum also emphasizes the "cultivation of a research mindset." Through this learning process, our philosophy is "to cultivate dentists and researchers who have acquired fundamental knowledge and broad expertise in dental and oral medicine, who will pioneer the future of dental and oral medicine and healthcare, and who will earn the trust of society." We aim to foster individuals equipped with a sense of responsibility, social awareness, ethical values, rich humanity, communication skills, cooperativeness, and a research mindset, possessing a wide range of knowledge and fundamental skills to address advanced dental and oral healthcare. Furthermore, we actively promote the development of dentists who can comprehensively consider regional dental and oral healthcare in remote islands and other areas from the perspectives of public health, medical care, and welfare, as well as researchers and educators with advanced specialized knowledge and experience, and problem-solving abilities.
Notably, the quality of education at our School of Dentistry has been certified by the Japan University Accreditation Association's Program Accreditation as meeting the association's standards for dental education.
As stipulated in Article 1 of the Dental Practitioners Act, " Dental practitioners are to contribute to the improvement and promotion of public health through the administration of dental care and health guidance, and thereby ensure the healthy lives of the citizens " dentists do more than just treat teeth. Through oral health, they contribute to improving people's quality of life (QOL) and support them in "living better." To achieve this, it is essential not only to acquire advanced specialized knowledge and skills but also to have empathy for each patient and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary medical professionals and the local community. As Nagasaki University declared in its 4th Medium-Term Goals and Plan (2022 onwards) its evolution from a university contributing to Global Health to one contributing to Planetary Health, our scope of activities extends beyond Japan, holding the potential to contribute to the health of people worldwide. As you know, Nagasaki was the only port in Japan open to foreign trade during the Edo period's isolation policy, fostering a unique "Wakaran" culture blending Chinese and Dutch influences. Why not study dental medicine and experience a fulfilling university life in this fascinating city? The faculty and staff of the Nagasaki University School of Dentistry eagerly await you.
