Prof. F. Vinckier

Dentistry has been taught as anintegral part of the Faculty of Medicine at K.U.Leuven since 1905. The School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology, and Maxillo-Facial Surgery is the largest in Belgiumand is situated in the University Hospitalof K.U.Leuven. In research, the depart-ment is committed to achieving academicexcellence, providing optimal oral healthcare, and actively engaging in research,scholarship, and creative endeavours. In view of these commitments, thedepartment affirms its determination: • To provide outstanding educational

programmes to prepare dental profes-sionals at the predoctoral and post-doctoral levels and to offer lifelong learning opportunities for members of the profession

• To provide high quality, state-of-the-artperiodontal and dental treatment,which includes oral health promotionand oral disease prevention, and whichencourages innovation in dental healthcare delivery to meet the changingdental health care needs

• To conduct research that generatesand applies biomedical knowledge andtechnology to oral health and diseaseand promotes the transfer of techno-logy to the dental care delivery system

• To provide postgraduate training(based on European Guidelines) inMaM of Endodontics, of PaediatricDentistry and Special Dental Care, of Periodontology, of RestorativeDentistry, of Orthodontics, of ForensicOdontology, of Medical Imaging,option oral imaging, and of Oral HealthResearch.

Group Biomedical Sciences

Department of Dentistry, OralPathology & Maxillo-Facial Surgery

I Keywords

Dentistry- restorative dentistry- orthodontics -periodontology - paediatric dentistry - endo-dontics - prosthodontics - oral imaging - forensicdentistry - stomatology - oral epidemiology - painand dysfunction -biomaterials - oral physiology

I Divisions and projects

CONSERVATIVE DENTISTRY SECTIONConservative dentistry covers preventive dentistryand epidemiology, restorative dentistry, endo-dontics, and paediatric dentistry, including careof the medically-compromised patients andnarcodontics. The section focuses on minimalinvasive techniques, using adhesive compositeapproaches, microscopic magnification, and oralimaging, CAD-CAM chair-side CEREC IIIreconstructions, nickel-titanium rotary root canalpreparation, and thermoplastic obturation tech-niques. Their research activities are groupedtogether in the BIOMAT research cluster, concentrating on adhesive interfaces, nanotechnology materials, wear and fatiguetesting, micromechanical testing, and ultra-morphological observation.

ORTHODONTIC SECTIONOrthodontics is the field of dentistry concernedwith the diagnosis, guidance, and treatment ofdisproportionate dentofacial growth and all typesof malocclusions in children and adults. In thisdepartment, orthodontic specialty treatmentis provided with fixed, removable, extra-oral,

or implant anchored appliances. The search forgenetic causes of oligodontia, EB orthodontictreatment, and the study of orthodontic bio-materials are some of the present scientificchallenges. Orthodontics is taught in under-graduate and postgraduate dental education.Since 2002, orthodontics has been recognizedas a specialty of dentistry in Belgium. Researchprojects and special clinics: dentofacial devel-opment and genetics, dentofacial aspects ofjuvenile idiopathic arthritis, cleft lip and palateteam, orthognathic team, orthodontic biomaterialresearch.

PERIODONTOLOGY SECTIONThe department of periodontology focuses itsclinical activities on the diagnosis and treatmentof periodontal infections (bacterial and viral),halitosis, trauma to the periodontal ligament,pathologies of the soft and hard tissues, surgicaltissue regeneration and bone augmentationtechniques, and rehabilitation by means ofendosseous implants. Its training programmeis accredited by the European Federation ofPeriodontology. Besides clinical trials, specialattention is paid to more basic research (osseo-perception, oral microbiology and bacterialadhesion, implant surface characteristics,antiseptics, etc.).

PROSTHODONTICS SECTIONProsthetic Dentistry focuses on oral rehabilitationby means of conventional removable andfixed prostheses, superstructures on implantsand maxillofacial prosthetics, as well as coveringgerodontology. Current research activitiesinvolve clinical follow-up studies

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(e.g. long-term evaluation of oral implants andsuprastructures, ceramic restorations, non-vitaltooth restoration), animal experimental research(bone response to mechanical loading andbiomaterials), and new developments such asCadCam framework manufacturing by SelectiveLaser Sintering and the exploration of “intelligent”prostheses.

STOMATOLOGY AND MAXILLOFACIALSURGERY SECTIONThis medical-dental discipline covers a widerange of non-surgical and surgical disciplines.Among these: pain and orthognathic dysfunction,oral cancer diagnosis and therapy, head andneck traumatology, orthognathic surgery, schisistherapy, and orofacial reconstruction. The focusis on multidisciplinary care programmes witha broad range of medical disciplines.

ORAL IMAGING CENTERThe centre operates as a service provider(clinically, scientifically, and educationally) forthe School, several organisations and a widegroup of external referrers in oral health care.It collaborates with about 40 different researchcentres both nationally and worldwide. Currentresearch focuses on image quality and dosimetryof novel techniques with a specific focus oncone beam CT technology pre-operativeimplant planning and bone quality assessment.

CENTRE FOR SELFSTUDY AND SKILL TRAININGIn the Skills Training Centre, students learn a wide range of fine psychomotor skills in asimplified, simulated manner under constantguidance of a multimedia teaching environmentand the DentSim computer navigation simulator.Procedures are repeated as many times asnecessary until the student displays anacceptable level of manual dexterity prior to the start of patient care.

FORENSIC DENTISTRYForensic Dentistry relates to the application of dental knowledge in criminal proceedingswith the intention of contributing to theprocess of solving crimes or establishingidentifications of deceased individuals, whetherin mass disasters or individual accidents.Forensic odontologists are also providingexpert opinion in cases of dental fraud and litigation. The department of Forensic Dentistryis one of the few departments worldwideoffering a Master of Forensic Odontology programme at the international postgraduatelevel, covering all relevant topics in forensicdentistry as well as forensic medicine andforensic anthropology (www.mfo.be).

We are currently an ORCA associate(Odontology Research ConsortiumAssociates) at www.orca-forensic.org looking

at research topics and problems at an inter-national level. Active research topics arehuman identification through RFID tags, 3Dbite mark analysis, and dental age estimation.

I Funded chairs

• Toshio Nakao Chair, Leerstoel AdhesiveDentistry

• Prof. P-I. Brånemark, LeerstoelOsseointegration

I Collaboration with industry

• NobelDirect OD Study T-113 (NobelBiocareAB Göteborg, Sweden)

• 3M ESPE (St. Paul, USA; Seefeld,Germany)

• AstraTech (Mölndal, Sweden)• Coltène (Altstätten, Switzerland)• Dentsply (Konstanz, Germany• DMG (Hamburg, Germany)• Friadent (Mannheim, Germany)• GC (Haasrode, Belgium; Tokyo, Japan)• Kerr (Orange, USA)• Kuraray (Frankfurt, Germany; Tokyo, Japan)• Nobel Biocare (Göteborg, Sweden)• Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Division• SDI (Australia)• Shofu (Kyoto, Japan)• Straumann (Basel, Switzerland)• Ultradent (Salt Lake City, USA)• Vivadent-Ivoclar (Schaan, Liechtenstein)• Confi-Dental products co. (Louisville Co.,

USA)• GABA (Basel, Switzerland)• GlaxoSmithKline (Genval, Belgium)

I Unique infrastructure

• 3D-laser scanner Scan-Pro (Willytech) for wear measurement

• Micro tensile strength measurement• Micro fatigue measurement• Ultratomy for SEM & TEM• Image analysis system for oral hystology• In-vitro wear simulator• Halitosis gaschromatography• Artificial mouth for biofilm growth• Bacteriological plating, culturing

and typing facility• Implant planning software

I Figures

Senior academic staff: 17 Assistants in specialty training: 50PhD students: 17

I Contact

Department of Dentistry, Oral Pathology and

Maxillo-Facial SurgeryKapucijnenvoer 7 - P.O.Box 7001

B-3000 Leuven

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