Greetings from the Faculty of Dentistry (FOD). It was an eventful 2018. In this issue of Dental Mirror, I am glad to report several milestone events in the Faculty including our move to the National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS) in September 2018.

The Faculty is appreciative of the opportunity to engage the community in our Oral Health Awareness Roadshow at the Main Building of the National University of Singapore. The event included educational games, engagement talks as well as dental screening at the NUH Dental Centre 1. We held a successful 22nd NUS Clinical Dentistry Symposium that attracted more than 200 participants and 12 exhibitors.  We are honoured to have Professor William Philip Saunders from the University of Dundee, and Professor Leung Wai Keung from the University of Hong Kong as eminent overseas guest speakers sharing with us on “Currents Thoughts on the Obturation of the Root Canal” and “Gum Health – Part and Parcel of General Well-Being?” respectively. This was a multidisciplinary symposium that included topics like the role of Information Technology in the evolving landscape of Dentistry.

I would like to congratulate our staff and students who are award recipients of our 14th FOD Annual Awards Day.  And to our prize winners at the 96th General Sessions of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) in London, UK, and the IADR-SEA and Southeast Asia Association for Dental Education (SEAADE) Conference in Danang, Vietnam. Well done in keeping our Faculty’s flag flying high!

Finally, I am delighted to report that the NUCOHS building received its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) in April 2018. The Dean’s Office successfully moved into the building in September. The University Dental Cluster Clinics as well as the Postgraduate Clinics also started operation in the new building on 7 January 2019. I want to thank everyone involved in the shift and the subsequent operationalisation, for their hard work and dedication to see through these important milestones. I am confident the impending Undergraduate Clinics and Research Laboratory shifts will be equally successful.

Besides the successful operationalisation of NUCOHS, 2019 is also a special year. It is the Faculty’s 90th anniversary. The Faculty’s excellent reputation and achievements is through our alumni, staff and students’ commitment to high standards in their endeavours.  As part of our year-long celebrations, two events will be organised. One is the Community Oral Health Awareness Roadshow at the Star Vista, and the second is the highlight of our celebrations. It is the Gala Dinner on 31 August 2019 at the SUNTEC Convention Centre.  We look forward to seeing you for an evening of celebration, renewing friendship and great fun.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Dental Mirror.

Professor Patrick Finbarr Allen

Dean, Faculty of Dentistry