History of Community Oral Health Department in Tehran University of Medical Sciences

The primary core of the Department of Community Oral Health (COH) was formed in 2001, in School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences by three peadodontists as faculty members. In 2005, the department was officially established, and Dr. Ahmad Jafari as the head of the department was assigned. Four PhD candidates in Dental Public Health studying in University of Helsinki and Sydney University added to the department (Dr. Khami, Dr. Yazdani, Dr. Mohebbi and Dr. Pakdaman).

The number of dental schools was increased through the country and the schools were in a high need of faculty members to organize the community oral health educational activities. Accordingly, in 2007, School of Dentistry was approved to establish PhD degree in COH.

In a further step, the Master of Dental Public Health program was approved in 2014. The program planned to train general dental practitioners working in Primary Health Care settings or those dentists who are in favor of public health activities.