Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics
Established in 1975, the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics at Manipal College of Dental Sciences (MCODS), Manipal, has built a distinguished legacy of excellence in orthodontic education, patient care, research, and professional service. It is the dental speciality concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of irregularly positioned teeth, improper jaw relationships, and associated facial growth problems. Its focus is craniofacial growth and the development of the dentition and occlusion, with a concentration on the prevention and correction of occlusal anomalies. The department provides comprehensive care for children, adolescents, and adults. It incorporates digital diagnostic tools (CBCT, intra-oral scanner, digital cephalometric and treatment planning software) and contemporary treatment techniques to improve precision, efficiency, and patient comfort. Supported by experienced faculty, comprehensive clinical facilities, and a strong academic legacy, its programs prepare graduates as skilled clinicians, researchers, academicians, and responsible leaders in orthodontics within diverse national and international professional settings. Through its integrated approach to teaching, research, and clinical service, the department remains dedicated to creating healthy, functional, and confident smiles while carrying forward its proud Manipal legacy.
Highlights
- A well-equipped clinical section treating 10,000 cases a year, offering the finest treatments to both young and adult patients.
- A PG clinic equipped with 9 dental chairs, advanced digital planning software, a Trios 4 intra-oral scanner, and in-house aligner fabrication.
- Advanced treatment planning powered by Dolphin imaging software for 2D/3D imaging and diagnostics, supported by patient management software that tracks patient information, diagnoses, and treatment progress.
- Structured undergraduate learning that begins in the second year of the BDS program, blending didactic lectures, demonstrations, laboratory exercises, group discussions, case discussions, chairside case-history discussion, and practical classes.
- Undergraduate students learn the principles of normal craniofacial growth, development of occlusion, diagnosis of malocclusion, and basic orthodontic management. In clinical postings, they learn to identify dental and skeletal irregularities and their effects on oral health, function, facial appearance, and quality of life.
- Undergraduate training covers case history recording, clinical examination, orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, preventive and interceptive procedures, and removable appliance design and fabrication, with an emphasis on evidence-based decision-making, ethical practice, effective communication, and patient-centred care.
- II BDS: Pre-clinical wire bending.
- III BDS: Examination and diagnosis of dental and craniofacial anomalies, fabrication of components of removable appliances, retainer fabrication, and alginate impressions.
- IV BDS (final year): Training to treat mild malocclusions with removable and functional orthodontic appliances, including fabrication of active and retentive components of removable appliances; fabrication of anterior and posterior bite planes, habit-breaking appliances, expansion appliances, and Catalan appliances; case history discussion of different malocclusions; cephalometric landmark tracing and analysis; study model analysis of patient models; activator appliance wax bite registration and fabrication; group discussion method of appliances; and an end-posting exam.
- Rich postgraduate training that covers all aspects of the discipline: preventive, interceptive, corrective, and surgical orthodontics, including growth modification, fixed appliances, clear aligners, orthognathic treatment planning, and the management of craniofacial anomalies.
- Postgraduate emphasis on clinical care, patient satisfaction, evidence-based practice, critical thinking, ethical patient care, and the appropriate use of contemporary digital technologies. PG students also undertake independent research, take part in scientific presentations, and develop teaching and leadership skills.
- Postgraduate learning through seminar presentations on topics from the MDS Part-1 and Part-2 curriculum, journal clubs to critically appraise recently published articles in reputed orthodontic journals, clinical case presentations of PG cases and chairside case discussions, CDE programs, and an inter-department clinical club.
- Broad core competencies spanning study model and cephalometric analysis, FEM evaluation of craniofacial deformities, bond strength and frictional properties of brackets and arch wires, remineralising adhesive systems, and newer methods to reduce treatment duration.
- Active research thrust areas, including in-vitro analysis of bond strength using conventional etching vs laser etching systems; comparison of bond strength properties of newer composite adhesive systems; remineralization of white spot lesions using newer fluoride-releasing agents; cephalometric analysis of craniofacial deformities and evaluation of appliance outcomes using FEM; newer methods (piezocision vs corticotomy) to reduce overall orthodontic treatment duration; comparison of frictional properties of various bracket types and newer arch wire materials with nano-surface coatings; in-vitro comparison of properties and cytotoxicity of newer aligner materials; FEM studies on arch wires; and bracket recycling.
