The Department of Community Dentistry at the University of Pretoria was established in 1978 with Prof WD Snyman as the first Head.
Although the Department was only established in 1978, its roots go much deeper. Since the inception of the Faculty of Dentistry in 1952, Preventive and Public Oral Health for undergraduate students was part of Conservative Dentistry. In 1976, Community Dentistry became a subject in its own right.
In 1964, a postgraduate diploma, the Diploma in Dental Public Health, was introduced and a BChD (Honours) in Community Dentistry in 1976. In 1978, the MChD course in Community Dentistry was approved as one of the six speciality fields in dentistry registrable with the South African Medical and Dental Council. In 1979, the first three registrars commenced with their postgraduate studies in Community Dentistry.
Since the establishment of the Department in 1978, nine dentists qualified as specialists in Community Dentistry. Prof Snyman retired as Head of the Department in June 1998 and was succeeded by Prof PJ van Wyk in January 2001.
The Department strives towards optimal oral health for all the people in South Africa through the excellent management of prevention.
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