Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences

Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences
Name	Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences
Established	1920
Parent	King's College London
Dean	Michael Escudier
City	London
Country	England, United Kingdom
Website	https://www.kcl.ac.uk/dentistry

Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences. It is a constituent faculty of King's College London and one of the largest and most prestigious dental institutions in the United Kingdom. Located within the Guy's Campus in the London Borough of Southwark, the faculty is renowned for its integrated approach to education, pioneering research, and extensive clinical services. It operates within the broader framework of King's Health Partners, an academic health science centre.

History

The faculty traces its origins to the establishment of the Guy's Hospital Dental School in 1920, which later merged with the dental department of the Royal Dental Hospital of London. These institutions formally became part of King's College London following the mergers of the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals in the 1980s and 1990s. Key historical figures in its development include Sir Wilfred Fish, a pioneer in oral pathology, and the institution has been at the forefront of many advances, including significant contributions to the understanding of oral cancer and the development of modern orthodontics.

Academic programmes

The faculty offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Its flagship Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree is highly competitive and integrates clinical training from the first year. Postgraduate offerings include specialized Master of Science degrees in areas like Periodontology and Prosthodontics, as well as extensive Doctor of Clinical Dentistry and Doctor of Philosophy research degrees. Programmes are delivered in collaboration with major NHS trusts, including Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Research and innovation

Research is organized within several interdisciplinary divisions, notably the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions and the Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology. The faculty is a world leader in areas such as tissue engineering, salivary diagnostics, and the oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS. It has secured major funding from bodies like the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. Innovations developed here have directly influenced global dental practice, including new biomaterials and techniques in dental implantology.

Clinical services and facilities

The faculty provides extensive patient care through the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, operating one of the largest dental hospitals in the United Kingdom. Specialized clinics address complex needs in oral medicine, oral surgery, and the management of cleft lip and palate. Facilities include state-of-the-art simulation suites for student training, advanced cone beam computed tomography imaging, and dedicated laboratories for maxillofacial prosthetics and reconstruction.

Notable faculty and alumni

Distinguished past faculty include Professor John McLean, a pioneer in dental materials science, and Professor Stephen Porter, an authority on oral medicine. Renowned alumni span the globe and include Professor David Williams, an expert in global oral health, and Dr. Cheryl Cameron, who served as President of the British Dental Association. Many graduates hold leadership positions within the National Health Service, academia, and international organizations like the World Health Organization.

Affiliations and partnerships

The faculty is a core member of King's Health Partners, an alliance with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. It maintains strong collaborative links with the Francis Crick Institute for biomedical research and has numerous international partnerships with institutions such as the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the University of Hong Kong. These alliances facilitate student exchanges, joint research projects, and global health initiatives.

Category:King's College London Category:Dental schools in the United Kingdom Category:Educational institutions established in 1920