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Faculty of Medicine and Health

Sydney Dental Hospital exterior

Facts & figures

Global leaders in dentistry

#33 in the world 2018 QS Subject Rankings

Faculties and schools_

The University of Sydney School of Dentistry

Australia's first dental school

For more than 100 years, we have provided education and training in dentistry and oral health, creating exceptional graduates, conducting research with a real world impact and offering continuing education.

About Sydney Dental School

Our school is based around integrated research, teaching and clinical practice. We have connections not only with Sydney Dental Hospital, Nepean Hospital and the Westmead Centre for Oral Health, but also with other local health district dental hospitals in remote, regional and rural NSW such as Ballina, Broken Hill, Dubbo, Orange and Armidale.

Teaching in functioning dental hospitals allows students the opportunity to meet patients, learn from diverse real world oral health issues, interact with dental and medical professionals, and develop an understanding of current healthcare issues.

Our simulation clinics based at Sydney Dental Hospital and the Westmead Centre for Oral Health also help students develop their confidence and skills to perform new procedures in a safe environment.

Our disciplines

Our teaching, clinical activities and research are structured into six disciplines:

oral biosciences
oral health
oral surgery, medicine and diagnostics

orthodontic and paediatric dentistry
population oral health
restorative and reconstructive dentistry.

Teaching and research facilities

Dental simulation clinic at Sydney Dental Hospital

Sydney Dental Hospital, Surry Hills — Outside Sydney Dental Hospital in Surry Hills

Student practicing dental skills — Student practicing dental skills in the simulation clinic at Sydney Dental Hospital

Education facilities at Westmead Centre for Oral Health — Education facilities at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health

Outside the Westmead Centre for Oral Health

Clinical facilities at Westmead Centre for Oral Health — Clinical facilities at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health

Clinical facilities at Nepean Hospitals Oral Health Centre — Clinical facilities at the Nepean Hospital Oral Health Centre (Image source: Vic Lilli & Partners)

Nepean Hospital — Outside Nepean Hospital

Dental simulation clinic at Sydney Dental Hospital

Sydney Dental Hospital, Surry Hills

Student practicing dental skills

Education facilities at Westmead Centre for Oral Health

Outside the Westmead Centre for Oral Health

Clinical facilities at Westmead Centre for Oral Health

Clinical facilities at Nepean Hospitals Oral Health Centre

Nepean Hospital

Student in dental simulation

Study with us

As an oral health therapist, dentist, specialist or researcher, you’ll contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community, and contribute to our mission of ‘putting the mouth back into health'.

Student with gloved hands and instruments ready to work with simulation dummy

Dentistry short courses

We offer a large number of continuing professional development courses in endodontics, general dentistry, hygiene and therapy, implants, oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics.

Dentistry lab

Our research

With a focus on lifespan oral health, our research goes beyond the mouth to enhance studies in fundamental cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology and biomechanics, with our dental expertise.

Faculties and schools_

Close-up of a microscope and slide

Locations and facilities

Based throughout NSW and with partners and affiliates around the globe, our facilities support a wide network of medicine and health students, teachers, clinicians and researchers across a range of disciplines.

Oral health student assessing primary school student

Community engagement

Explore our range of programs supporting local communities. With a focus on providing healthcare and improving health outcomes, we are committed to supporting initiatives globally and locally.

Our community

As part of the wider Faculty of Medicine and Health community, our school community is engaged, socially conscious, and always seeking new ways to learn by sharing best practice. This helps us continue to offer education of the highest calibre and conduct leading research, which translates to real world impact.

Through our professional associations, our teachers, researchers, students and alumni are part of an inspiring, welcoming community of dental professionals with access to resources, real world advice and a large professional support network throughout their career. Our professional associations include:

Our people

Leadership

Professor Heiko Spallek
Head of School and Dean

Emma Dupal
School Manager

Associate Professor Ky-Anh Nguyen
Deputy Head of School, Academic Lead (Research)

Dr Delyse Leadbetter
Academic Lead (Learning and Teaching)

Tracey McClure
Manager, Education and Research Support

Academic staff

For enquiries, please contact dentistry.hosdean@sydney.edu.au

Browse our academic staff

Advanced search

Find a staff member (University phonebook)

Find a research project supervisor

Dentistry courses

Explore our range of courses

Continuing education for dentists

Upcoming professional development short courses

Head of School and Dean

Heiko Spallek

Professor Heiko Spallek

View academic profile

View of city skyline from Quad

Studying dentistry in Australia: your questions answered

If you're considering moving here to study dentistry, you probably have a lot of questions. We asked two Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) students to answer frequently asked questions about studying dentistry in Sydney.

Useful links

Sydney Dental School

Phone

+61 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) - in Australia
+61 2 8627 1444 - outside Australia
+61 2 8890 7178 (Westmead Centre for Oral Health)

Email

dentistry.hosdean@sydney.edu.au

Address

Westmead Centre for Oral Health, Darcy Road, Westmead NSW 2145

Get directions

Latest news

06 November 2019

Surgeon looking at screens

Healthcare sector offers enticing career prospects

While job growth in many industries is stagnating in an age of automation, Australia’s healthcare sector is thriving, opening doors for young people seeking job security and career flexibility.

30 October 2019

Dental researchers develop new glass fibre composite materials

Associate Professor Ayman Ellakwa is part of a team of researchers from UNSW and the University of Wollongong who have received a CRC-P grant with a total project value of $8.3 million, to develop a new fibre-reinforced dental composite.

Child in dentist chair

A history of thinking forward in paediatric dentistry

As the first Australasian university to offer specialty training in paediatric dentistry, Sydney Dental School's unique registrar-based program has been firmly embedded in the Western Sydney Local Health District since 1987.

Dentist holding model of tooth with dental decay

Brushing up on tooth conservation is key to good dental practice

During Dental Health Week, we asked Professor Martin AO about the role dentists play in helping patients keep track of their oral health. She emphasised the need to start conversations about preventing tooth decay and practicing conservative dentistry.

model of teeth

10-year plan to expand Medicare funded dental care

Two million Australians who needed dental care in the past year either didn’t get it or delayed getting it because it cost too much. The new Grattan Institute Report shows how to fill the dental gap.

dental examination

Involving consumers in dental decisions

Following a competitive tender process, the Australian Dental Council has appointed the University of Sydney to complete research into the involvement of consumers in the design and delivery of dental assessments and examinations.

19 February 2019

Woman in grey sweater with hands on pregnant belly

Is oral health in pregnancy key to understanding allergies?

University of Sydney researchers have received over $300,000 in funding from the Bupa Health Foundation to evaluate how the oral health of pregnant women affects the allergy status and overall health of the newborn.

18 February 2019

Dr Lain in his Navy uniform

Sydney dentist on the frontline

Dr Russell Lain (BDS, 1977) received an Australia Day award for his contribution to dentistry. A forensic odontologist, he’s identified missing soldiers and the victims of crises including the Bali bombings and Thai tsunami.

12 December 2018

Discussing the future of caries management

For the first time in Australia, the Sydney Dental School recently hosted a Caries Management Symposium with the support of the Dental Alumni Association of the University of Sydney (DASUS) and Colgate.

21 November 2018

pills on a table

Helping to reduce opioid use in dental care

The project aims to de-implement the reliance of opioid analgesics and to implement reliance on non-opioid analgesics to manage postoperative pain following dental extractions.