The discipline of Orthodontics is indeed a very challenging and rewarding aspect of Dentistry. In aligning teeth and enhancing the patient’s facial appearance, orthodontic treatment contributes considerably to the patient’s self-perception and wellbeing.

Orthodontic treatment should not be discarded into the ‘tertiary care’ box, as it is a known fact that those who look different are treated differently. It is therefore neither vain nor irrational to desire aesthetic change to overcome a social handicap.

Nationally, the demand for orthodontic treatment is high and this is manifest in a five to seven year waiting list for patients seeking treatment from the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Pretoria. In order to address this problem the Department targets children with an urgent need for treatment in order to maximise the psychological comfort that orthodontic treatment can render.

The Department of Orthodontics strives toward excellence in teaching and training at both under- and postgraduate level as this will extend and uplift orthodontic treatment in the private and public sectors. It is mandatory for all academic and support staff in the Department to attend job specific continuing education programmes offered by the University in order to develop themselves and fulfill the objectives of the Department.

Research in the Department is an important component of postgraduate training and is directed at finding affordable orthodontic solutions for African problems. In addressing the three tiers of health care, viz. service rendering, teaching and research, the Department of Orthodontics of the University of Pretoria hopes to make a meaningful contribution to orofacial health both nationally and internationally and become a leader in this discipline of dentistry. 


Prof S M Dawjee