Brief History

The evolution of the Dental school of the University of Jos dates back to 1976 when the medical school of the University commenced. Efforts were made to see that the Dental program also commenced but all to no avail.

The accreditation panel from the Nigerian University commission (NUC) came in June 2014 after which the Dental school officially took off on the 3rd of July 2014 although as a department under the faculty of medical sciences. However, this was quickly corrected with the establishment of the Faculty of Dental sciences in 2018. Presently the Faculty of Dental sciences have five (5) approved departments namely:

-           Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

-           Department of Restorative Dental sciences (Conservative & Prosthetic Dental units Dentistry).

-           Department of Preventive Dental sciences (Periodontology, Community Dental Health).

-           Department of Oral Pathology (Oral radiology, Oral Medicine, Oral pathology & Oral Biology).

-           Department of Child Oral Health (Paedodontics & Orthodontics).

It is hope that in the nearest future, the full complement of departments will exist in the faculty of dental sciences to provide quality training for students admitted into the Bachelor of Dental Surgery Program.

Then Bachelor of Dental Surgery Program

At present, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program at the University of Jos is the only available program in the North-Central region of Nigeria and aim to provide quality surgeons who will be relevant in the prevention and treatment of orofacial and head/neck diseases which is on the increase. This increase is largely due to dearth of manpower.

Dentistry is a rapidly changing field and courses initially thought to be insignificant in the training of the Dental Student have now been discovered to be highly relevant especially with the ever-widening scope of Dentistry which have transformed from management of “tooth and tooth related conditions” at its inception, to surgical and medical management of head/neck diseases and conditions such as congenital disorders, trauma, infections, tumors, orofacial pain, and temporo-mandibular joint disorders. In addition, the practice of soft/hard tissue reconstruction of the head/neck have become established in the field of Dentistry.

The present curriculum of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program has been carefully updated to meet the ever-widening scope of Dentistry which is in line with the objectives of the program. It is hoped that this will produce Dental surgeons who are able to practice the ever-widening scope of Dental and orofacial surgery and medicine independently and provide quality leadership as team members both locally and internationally.

All students who are interested in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program of the University of Jos are welcome and are assured of an enriching/fulfilling journey into the world of Dental Surgery. This enriching journey is made possible by a team of Academic and non-Academic staff who are dedicated to the aims and objectives of the program, and show great excellence in teaching, research and community service.

Admitted students into the Faculty of Dental sciences should acquaint themselves with the content of the faculty handbook to enable them have a smooth sail in their journey to acquire a degree in Dental surgery.

My best wishes to all students of the Faculty of Dental sciences.

Dr Rowland Agbara (Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)

Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences