Course for Oral Health Engineering
TOPCourse for Oral Health Engineering
Message from AOKI Kazuhiro, Chief Professor of Course for Oral Health Engineering
The School of Oral Health Care Sciences affiliated with the Faculty of Dentistry consists of the
Course for Oral
Health
Care Sciences and the Course for Oral Health Engineering. Upon graduation, students of either
course are awarded a
bachelor’s degree in oral health.
The predecessor of the Course for Oral Health Care Sciences was the School of Dental Hygiene,
established in 1951 as
an
affiliate of the Faculty of Dentistry, and four-year education has been offered since 2004. Upon
graduation, students
completing the Course for Oral Health Care Sciences are eligible to take the National Examination
for Dental
Hygienists.
Further, after lectures and training to acquire basic knowledge and skills, students undergo
clinical training in
medical institutions.
The predecessor of the Course for Oral Health Engineering was the School for Dental Technicians,
with origins going
back
to the training course for dental technicians established in 1919, and four-year education has
been offered since
2011.
Upon graduation, students completing the Course for Oral Health Engineering are eligible to take
the National
Examination for Dental Technicians.
Pursuing either course, students explore the liberal arts, acquire knowledge of oral health and
health of the entire
body, and master advanced specialized techniques. These courses foster consummate dental health
technicians possessing
the humanistic qualities required of members of the dental profession, and also emphasize the
mastery of specialized
skills through practical training in addition to knowledge building. Moreover, with an eye to
cultivating specialists
capable of fulfilling vital roles in interprofessional collaboration in health care, which are
becoming increasingly
important, we are offering interdisciplinary lectures, training and seminars that bring together
students from the
School of Medicine, the School Dentistry, the School of Health Care Sciences, and the School of
Oral Health Care Sciences.
The School of Oral Health Care Sciences offers a number of study abroad programs and opportunities
for international
exchange, including programs with affiliated overseas universities, in order to foster dental
professionals with a
global perspective who are capable of contributing to healthy longevity through oral health, not
only in Japan but
throughout Asia and across the globe. It is our earnest desire and expectation that graduates of
the School of Oral
Health Care Sciences will cultivate a global perspective and support the well-being and livelihood
of all people
through
advanced oral health.
Movie
Education
Course for Oral Health Engineering was established in 2011, as the second
Japanese university to offer a four-year program for future dental technicians. The mission of this
course is to cultivate dental professionals capable of combining advanced engineering, science and
technology to improve oral health and aesthetics. We anticipate that our graduates will become
professionals who support and promote health, wellbeing and quality of life, and while exhibiting an
international outlook. We strive to nurture the future leaders who have rich and warm humanity and contribute to society to realize healthy happy life of the people, based on knowledge and technology of oral health care sciences and welfare.
The first-year students study mainly liberal arts and sciences during spring semester. Starting from
the autumn semester of first year students begin to learn the basic subjects such as Structure and
Function of Human Body, and gradually start to focus on more specific subjects such as Sciences of
Oral Biomaterials, Complete Denture, Partial Denture, Fixed Prosthodontics, Maxillofacial
Prosthetics, and Digital Fixed Prosthodontic Practice/Digital Dentistry Practice. During the fourth
year, the students engage in research for their Graduation Theses, as well as prostheses and
appliances for patients visiting the TMDU Dental Hospital.
TMDU has been chosen as Top Global University, Type A, the group of universities that provide
education and research at a global level. Thus, we also give our students the opportunity to learn
presentation skills in English and to participate in an overseas training program held in
Taiwan.
After the course, our graduates will not only fabricate appliances and prostheses, but will also
have broader medical and dental knowledge and techniques to work together with other medical and
dental team members. They will also be able to develop new CAD software and have a potential of
becoming global leaders in the field of oral health sciences.
General Educational Objectives Our graduates will
- 1. Understand the dignity of life, scientific principles and concepts, and acquire bioscience knowledge.
- 2. Acquire a rich sensibility and high ethic perspective as an oral health engineering professional.
- 3. Understand the role and importance of oral healthcare sciences and welfare in society.
- 4. Cultivate a willingness to provide advanced knowledge and skills to society as a specialist in fabricating prostheses and oral appliances that improve the quality of life.
- 5. Acquire scientific inquiry and problem-solving skills and cultivate the motivation to pursue lifelong learning.
- 6. Acquire the ability to work as an inter-disciplinary team member in the related fields of health sciences, medical care and welfare.
- 7. Acquire the ability to make global contributions from the viewpoint of oral health.
Curriculum of Course for Oral Health Engineering Apr. 2023～
Oral Health and Professions
Small-group discussions are held in the problem-based learning style.
Globalization for Oral Health Engineering
Complete Denture Prosthodontics
Fixed Prosthodontics
Maxillofacial Prosthetics
Digital Fixed Prosthodontic Practice/Digital Dentistry Practice
Graduation Research
Competences and Competencies of Course for Oral Health Engineering, TMDU
By the time of graduation, all students will be able to:
- 1. Professionalism
- 1) Have high ethic perspective as a dental professional
- 2) Behave as a dental professional
- 3) Maintain self-control
- 4) Comply with regulations
- 5) Behave actively
- 6) Be flexible and apply knowledge
- 2. Global mindset
- 1) Acquire fundamental knowledge for global contribution
- 2) Communicate in English
- 3. Communication skills and Interprofessional collaboration
- 1) Establish trusting rapport with patients, their families, and team members
- 2) Obtain appropriate language and manner as an adult member of society
- 3) Collaborate as a team member
- 4) Show leadership
- 5) Transmit and share information
- 4. Scientific inquiry and problem-based and problem-solving skills
- 1) Study as a dental professional through continuous learning
- 2) Manage information appropriately
- 3) Analyze information
- 4) Collect latest information
- 5) Acquire competence in finding and solving problems
- 6) Plan, design, and execute scientific research
- 7) Make presentations on scientific research results
- 5. Broad medical and dental knowledge
- 1) Acquire basic knowledge of medical science
- 2) Acquire the basic knowledge of oral health and dental care
- 3) Acquire the basic knowledge of dental technique
- 6. Advanced dental technical skills
- 1) Acquire the advanced dental technology
- 2) Acquire the knowledge and techniques of the latest digital dentistry
International Exchange Program (Course for Oral Health Engineering)
This unique International Exchange Program to Taiwan is held in fall of their
third year. This program includes visits to Taipei Medical University and some dental laboratories
in Taiwan. The third-year students have the opportunity to give presentations in English concerning
Japanese culture, oral engineering and dental care in Japan, and give a short overview of TMDU. They
prepare these presentations with the help of faculty who are native English speakers, in a portion
of the 'Globalization to Oral Health Engineering Practice' class. They also compete with students of
Taipei Medical University in a Carving Contest.
TMDU is part of the Top Global University Project, with the concept of cultivating human resources
to promote TMDU-type global health. This project provides undergraduate students with short-term
scholarships and opportunities to visit overseas affiliated institutions, which means one in five
students in TMDU can have an overseas study experience before graduation. In our course, almost all
students can gain such an experience through this International Exchange Program to Taiwan, since
2015.
International Exchange Program Schedule
Day1
Travel to Taipei, Taiwan
Day2
●Visit Taipei Medical University
●Visit Taiwanese dental laboratories
Day3
●English presentation about Japan, oral engineering, and TMDU overview ●Carving competition
Day4
●Visit a Taiwanese dental laboratory
Day5
Return to Japan
Number of students who gained overseas experience
| 1st Graduating Class |
2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2012- 2013 |
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Country | Taiwan, Korea |
Taiwan | Taiwan | Taiwan | Taiwan | Taiwan | Taiwan | Taiwan | Korea (Taiwan, Online) |
Taiwan (Online) |
Taiwan |
| Class size (# students) |
14 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 15 |
| Students who go overseas |
13 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 1（9） | 7（1） | 15 |
| Experience rate (%) |
93 | 79 | 91 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 11（100） | 88（12） | 100 |
The 11th International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（17 to 21th, Oct. 2023）
The 10th International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（11 to 14th, Jan. 2023）
The 9th International Exchange Online Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（9 to 11th, Mar. 2022）
The 9th exchange program was held on March, 2022, by online system. Nine TMDU students participated in English lecture by TMU professor, Virtual tour of Taiwanese laboratoris, English presentation, discussion, and tooth carving competition.
The 8th International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（19 to 23th, Nov. 2019）
2019 The International Exchange Program Report (Annual News Vol. 13)
The 7th International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（4 to 8th, Dec. 2018）
The 6th International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（21 to 25th, Nov. 2017）
The 5th International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（22 to 25th, Nov. 2016）
The 4th International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（24 to 28th, Nov.2015）
The 3rd International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（11 to 15th, Nov.2014）
The 2nd International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（25 to 29th, Nov. 2013）
2013 The 2nd International Exchange Program Report（Annual News Report 06）
The International Exchange Program: Korean University, South Korea.（12 to 15th, Nov.2013）
The 1st International Exchange Program: Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.（18 to 22th, Nov. 2012）
Study Abroad Programs (Course for Oral Health Engineering)
To cultivate professionals with sensitivity and international awareness, TMDU
offers Undergraduate Overseas Studying Awards to excellent undergraduate students who wish to
participate in overseas training. Using this awards program, a selected student is given an
opportunity to study at an overseas university for 2-4 weeks.
Many students have visited the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, which has a
three-year program for dental technicians.
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student year | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 4th |
| Year/Month | 2014/3 | 2015/3 | 2016/3 | 2016/9-10 | 2017/9 | 2018/9 | 2019/9 | 2022/9 | 2023/7-8 | 2023/8-9 |
| Duration | 1 month | 1 month | 2 weeks | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 3 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| University | University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy (Sweden) | Taipei Medical University (Taiwan) |
University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy (Sweden) |
Catholic University of Pusan (South Korea) |
University of Arts London, Central Saint Martens (UK) |
University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy (Sweden) |
||||
Reports on Study Abroad Programs
2019 Report (Vol 12 Report 07)
2018 Report (Vol 11 Report 08)
International Exchange Program from Other Countries
Every March, students and faculty from the School of Dental Technology, Faculty
of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, visit TMDU through the International Exchange
Program. During their stay, they participate in our lectures and practices, plus we also organize a
carving contest and farewell party at the end of their stay.
In addition, during summer vacation, students from Taipei Medical University can join our course to
conduct research; for example in 2015, two students came to study oral biomaterials.
The 9th International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (4th to 6th Mar. 2024)
The 8th International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (1st and 2nd Mar. 2023)
The 2nd International Online Session Program between Taipei Medical University and TMDU.
O-SEP_TMU-TMDU_（March_2022）
On March 9-11th, 2022, the International Online Session Program was performed between 18 undergraduates and 4 master course students of Taipei Medical University (TMU) and 26 undergraduates of TMDU. Students took part with Virtual tours of both Japanese and Taiwanese laboratories, English lectures, the lively student-led group discussion and summary presentation, the lively tooth morphology carving competition and general debate.
The 1st International Online Session Program between Taipei Medical University and TMDU.
O-SEP_TMU-TMDU_（March_2021）
On March 9th, 2021, the International Online Session Program was performed between 15 undergraduates of Taipei Medical University (TMU) and 25 undergraduates of TMDU. Students took part with the lively tooth morphology carving competition, two presentations by TMU students, the lively student-led group discussion and general debate.
The 7th International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (4th to 6th Mar. 2019)
The 6th International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (5th to 7th Mar. 2018)
International Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (October 2017 to August 2018)
The 5th International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (27th, Feb. to 1st Mar. 2017)
The 4th International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (29th, Feb. to 2nd Mar. 2016)
Research Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (July 2015)
The 3rd International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (2nd to 4th Mar. 2015)
The 2nd International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (3rd to 5th Mar. 2014)
The 1st International Exchange Program from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. (27th, Feb to 1st Mar. 2013)
Events
Graduation Research has been presented at conferences, such as the Japanese Congress of Dental Technology, the International Congress of Dental Technology, and the annual session of the Stomatological Society. Technical Contests for students from schools for dental technicians in Japan has been held at the Japanese Congress of Dental Technology. Two students were selected in the carving contests competition from our course. Students' Technical Contests also have been held at the International Congress of Dental Technology.
2nd Meeting of International Oral Health Engineering Consortium (Taipei, Taiwan, 18th Nov. 2019)
The 2nd meeting of the International Oral Health Engineering Consortium for universities with a 4-year education system for Oral Health Engineering was held at Taipei Medical University.
Our 2 graduate students presented their research at the Oral Presentation Competition, and Mr. Sasaki and Ms. Hirohashi won the second and third prize, respectively.
1st Meeting of International Oral Health Engineering Consortium (Tokyo, JAPAN, Sept. 2018)
The first meeting of the International Oral Health Engineering Consortium for universities with a
4-year education system for Oral Health Engineering was held at TMDU on 24th September, 2018.
The consortium includes Panel Discussion about Oral Engineering Education of undergraduate study
and Oral Presentation Competition with undergraduate and graduate students. An undergraduate
student of our course and two graduate school students presented their research at this meeting.
The 1st International Oral Health Engineering Consortium was held at TMDU, and professors participated in panel discussions concerning undergraduate education.
Nine students competed in oral presentations. Our students; 1 undergraduate and 2 graduates, presented their research at the Oral Presentation Competition, and Ms. Ayaka Urakawa, a 4th year Oral Health Engineering student, won the second prize.
1st Meeting of International Oral Health Engineering Consortium Site
Technical Contests at 5th International Congress of Dental Technology (Daejeon, Korea, 2013)
Working as an Oral Health Engineer
Upon graduation students will be granted with Bachelor's Degrees.
Through
this course students become qualified to take the Japanese National Examination for Dental
Technicians.
| 2015 1st cohort |
2016 2nd |
2017 3rd |
2018 4th |
2019 5th |
2020 6th |
2021 7th |
2022 8th |
2023 9th |
2024 10th |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Students | 14 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| Number of people already qualified | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Number of examinees | 10 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12+1 | 9 | 9+1 |
| Number of successful candidates | 10 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 12+1 | 8 | 9+1 |
| Pass rate | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 92% | 100% | 89% | 100% |
| National Passing Rate | - | 99.1% | 97.5% | 94.7% | 95.1% | 95.0% | 95.8% | 94.8% | 90.7% | 95.7% |
Workplace (fields)
- ・ Dental laboratory
- ・ Laboratory at dental clinics
- ・ Dental laboratory at hospitals
- ・ Companies or corporations manufacturing and/or selling dental materials, equipment, and/or instruments
- ・ Companies or corporations (others)
- ・ Research institutions/Graduate school (Masters / Doctoral)
- ・ Education (Schools of dental technology)
Careers after graduation
| 2015.4 1st cohort |
2016.4 2nd | 2017.4 3rd | 2018.4 4th | 2019.4 5th | 2020.4 6th | 2021.4 7th | 2022.4 8th | 2023.4 9th | 2024.4 10th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate schools | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Other schools | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dental corporations | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Corporations (others) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Government / Incorporated Foundations | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dental laboratory at Hospitals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Dental laboratories (others) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Laboratory at dental clinics | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Others | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
Departments and Faculty
Lectures and practices for Oral Health Engineering students are mainly held by faculty from three departments; departments and Biomedical Engineering and Doctoral Program: Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Graduate Scho ol of Medical and Dental Sciences.
| Basic Oral Health EngineeringDatabase |
Professor
AOKI Kazuhiro Associate Professor
OKI Meiko Assistant Professor
KAMIJO Shingo Staff
Masud Khan |
Department of Basic Oral Health Engineering is a section of oral health care sciences that focuses on the basic oral health sciences to perform evidence-based oral health care and to support people to attain healthy and happy living. |
|---|
| Digital DentistryDatabase |
Asociate Professor
IWAKI Maiko Assistant Professor
TSUCHIDA Yumi |
Department of Digital Dentistry is providing education regarding oral material sciences and digital dentistry, as well as the evaluation and development of new dental CAD/CAM technologies. |
|---|
| Oral
Biomedical EngineeringDatabase |
Professor
IKEDA Masaomi Senior Assistant Professor
SATO Takaaki Assistant Professor
SHIOZAWA Maho |
Department of Oral Biomedical Engineering is one of the dental sciences that works toward restoration and maintenance of oral function, form and health for partially and/or completely edentulous patients. |
|---|
Course Schedule
