Department of Dentistry

Head of Department: Dr. Nilena Eriksen

The Department of Dentistry as an integral part of the Faculty of Medical Sciences has started its function in September 2004. This Department offers the integrated program of the second cycle of study “Master of Science in Dentistry” for a duration of 5 years, approved by Council’s decision of Ministers, Nr. 197, dated 10.04.2004 and accredited for the first time by MES, by order no. 388, dated 23.07.2010. In the framework of the procedures for continuation and enhancement of quality, this program has been re-accredited by the Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education, with Decision no. 88, dated 21.09.2017.

As an integral part of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Albanian University, the Department of Dentistry is structured on the basis of Disciplines, which are:

– Surgical Oral Disciplines – OMF with branches: anesthesia, oral surgery, OMF surgery, radiology, Dr. Med. Science, Erda Qorri;

– Discipline of Therapy with Branches: Pre-Clinical Clinical Dentistry, Pre-Clinical Endodontics, Aesthetic Dentistry, with Prof. Dr. Pavli Kongo;

– Disciplinary Pediatric Dentistry with branches: Pediatric Dentistry, Prophylaxis, Nutrition, Dr. Med. Science. Eno Gaçe;

– Prosthetic Disciplines with branches: dental morphology, material knowledge, preclinical prosthetics, partial mobile prosthetics, total prosthetics, fixed prosthetics, preclinical and orthodontic clinics, with Dr. Med. Science. Sidrit Beqiraj;

– Periodontology discipline with branches: pre-clinical periodontology, oral diagnosis, pathology, implantology, oral medicine, with the leader Prof. Assoc. Luan Mavriqi.

It is understood that in every discipline and subject, the necessary number of instructors, assistant professors and coordinators is activated. The five-year preparation of the staff is accomplished by a considerable number of Professors, Doctors and Masters gained in many countries of the world, Western and Eastern, without neglecting the staff trained in the country.

The 5-year formation is accompanied not only with good 2-year pre-clinical training in modern conditions, but also with the formation of three subsequent theoretical-practical courses directly in the patient, thus giving the candidate a highly admirable specificity and at the same time makes him capable of to possess and apply in practice the acquired knowledge. Based on the above, until nowadays, there are few students who work or have been able to benefit from the right to further academic training in many foreign countries.

The Department of Dentistry as an integral part of the Faculty of Medical Sciences is based on a 5-year study program. This program is an obvious source of originality, both in form and content, and is significantly differentiated from other dental programs that take place in our country. The primary focus of this program is the theoretical-practical modern formation of students, based largely on the TUFT Boston University model, fundamentally based on American literature at this university.

This program enables the student to be prepared according to internationally recognized standards and aims at achieving a capable being able to create, meditate, seek, and develop with the theoretical-practical baggage that is offered to create modern and durable medical beliefs. The dentist physician formed on these criteria will be able to withstand ever increasing demands and standards in the EU, give him the ability to easily integrate, or work as a freelance professional at dental clinics public institutions in the promotion and manufacturing sectors of dental equipment, hospital centers of any level, academic research centers, or in different academic areas, inside and outside Albania.

Another feature of this Department is the obvious commitment to the sphere of scientific life, which is concretized by annual medical and student conferences, where scientific-professional research is carried out, carried out within our country, or in the doctors ‘and students’ settlements. The scientific conferences of our doctors cover over 95% of original scientific research work, as well as statistical work carried out in cooperation with local and foreign faculty and faculty, active in the field of dental research.

The Department of Dentistry comes to the aid of the students by offering the third cycle of studies, such as Long Term Specializations in “Orthognatodoncy” and Long Term Specializations in “Oral Surgery”, which are led by lecturers of prestigious Italian institutions.

For the academic year 2019-2020, Albanian University has applied to the MASR for the opening of two new study programs to be offered by the Department of Dentistry and is awaiting their approval as follows:

Bachelor in “Dental Hygienist”

The profession of dental hygienist is a profession that has the focus of its activity prevention and treatment of dental diseases. Dental Hygienist is the most important link in the dental team. His work greatly facilitates dentists’ duties, enabling them to deepen in more advanced procedures. Among dental hygiene tasks we can mention: application of preventive materials in the tooth (silan and fluoridation), scrubbing and dental plaque, counseling / treatment of patients on oral hygiene and nutrition, taking measures for study models, oral assessment of patients, history, neck and head examinations, taking vital signs, performing x-rays.

The work of the dental hygienist is closely related to that of the dentist. He performs rigorously all duties that are his responsibilities and has a direct impact on the quality of patient’s life. Given the fact that caries and periodontal diseases remain at the peak of the world’s most prevalent diseases, this will require a growing and growing need for dental hygiene, especially in countries like Albania, where this profile is almost entirely absent. The need to adapt to contemporary changes in procedures, equipment, materials or dental technology deepens the need for the preparation of highly professional specialists, with a consolidated, both theoretical and practical training.

The Bachelor’s Degree Program “Dental Hygienist” aims to provide students with basic knowledge in the field of dental hygiene. The main purpose of this study program is to provide applicants with theoretical and practical knowledge to form a professional and to become dental hygienist in the future with knowledge that goes hand in hand with the pace of time.

Practical basics in the vocational subjects that students will benefit, serve good professional dental-hygienic dental practitioner, for successful clinical results in patients of different ages, implants or orthodontic apparatus. The three-year study program offers the student the opportunity to form a basic training course and a disciplined and interdisciplinary subject, with the aim of interpreting knowledge and preparing the student to undertake prophylactic treatment.

The Bachelor study program “Dental Hygienist” preserves originality both in form and content, compared with programs of the same character offered in our country.

As a primary focus the program has the practical training of students, based on the curriculum with the main weight oriented towards the student’s clinical practice. Importance of professional dental hygiene is important in this curriculum, as students begin to apply certain protocols for treatment of patients in the pre-clinic, phantom and then pass on practice to patients. It is worth pointing out the rankings in this novice curriculum such as digitalization of medical data, treatment of special needs patients, oral biology and professional practice, which are based on the necessity of professional training of Dental Hygiene, evaluated by contacts with international curricula.

Students are trained in clinical prophylactic treatments according to clinical cases presented at clinics. Competences in recognizing the basic protocols of dental treatments are additional elements of the additional knowledge, skills and professional skills that students gain during the Bachelor program “Dental Hygienist”. Students gain the ability to interact with the dentist, responding professionally to every stage of treatment required by dental treatment.

Potential Sector Students for Employment, based on the Labor Market Assessment conducted by the Department of Dentistry, are extensive, based on the professional training capacity of this full-time bachelor’s study program, with a duration of 3 years. Students graduated in this study program will be able to work as free professionals, at dental clinics, private or institutional (undergraduate), near public institutions in the manufacturing and promotional sectors of dental laboratory equipment, in dental hygiene centers.

Professional program “Senior Dental Laboratory Specialist”

The program of professional study “Senior Dental Laboratory Specialist” aims to provide students with basic knowledge in the field of dental laboratory. The main purpose of this study program is to provide applicants with theoretical and practical knowledge to form a professional and to become dental practitioners with knowledge that goes hand in hand with the pace of time.

Practical basics in vocational subjects that students will benefit, serve good professional dentistry dentist-dental practitioner, successful clinical results in total or partial edentulous patients with implants or orthodontic apparatus. The 2-year study program offers the student a basic and characterizing form, with the aim of intertwining knowledge and preparation to undertake modeling of fixed bridges, orthodontic apparatus, total prostheses, skeletal skeletons, and even supra-structure over implants. The program of professional study “Senior Dental Laboratory Specialist” preserves originality both in form and content, compared with programs of the same character offered in our country.

As a primary focus the program has the practical training of students, based on the curriculum with the main weight oriented towards the student’s clinical practice.

The arguments for opening this program are based on the study of the labor market and the need for high dental labs in our country as well as the completion of the study programs provided by the Department of Dentistry with all profiles of the dental profession. This curriculum provides a cross-cutting of theoretical and practical knowledge, bringing in its contents all the innovations in the specific field.

In the first year there are included classes of lectures and seminars in the subjects of basic training, with the aim of having the student’s full knowledge of the medical training modules; knowledge that will assist in the practical application of the program’s characterizing subjects. The development of some interdisciplinary subjects in this semester helps to pre-prepare the student, to deepen the knowledge and professional interface of the characterizing subjects. The second year deepens the familiarity with interdisciplinary subjects, increasing the number of hours the student passes to the auditorium in these modules, with lectures, seminars or practices. It is important to apply the course assignments, the obligations that the student completes during the lesson hours, which are then entered into obligations with deadlines for submission and evaluation for the students.

Students are trained in the preparation of prosthetic prostheses according to clinical cases presented to the clinic. The competences for the modeling and preparation of orthodontic, implantable prostheses are additional elements of the knowledge and professional skills that students gain during the program of professional study “Senior Dental Laboratory”. Students gain the ability to interact with the dentist, responding professionally to any laboratory stage required by dental implants. Students are able to model fixed bridges and prepare them in the lab, including the dental clinic protocol.

Potential sectors for student employment, based on the Labor Market Assessment performed by the Department of Dentistry, are extensive, based on the professional training capacity of this study program with a professional character, duration of 2 years. Students graduated in this study program will be able to work as free professionals at dental clinics, private or institutional (undergraduate), with public institutions in the manufacturing and promotion sectors of dental laboratory equipment, in dental lab research centers.