Oman's first dental college opens

Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq Al Saeed, Adviser to the Sultan, Sunday opened Oman Dental College (ODC), the first in the country. The 6,300-sqm purpose built in Al Wattayah district aims to provide international standards in education and quality healthcare services while creating rewarding job opportunities for young Omani nationals. In addition to the latest cutting-edge dental simulator technology, diagnostic and clinical equipment available today, the new facility has both a day care operating theatre and capacity for nearly 70 dental chairs in its outpatient clinical teaching facility. The institute offers dental care across all specialties including oral surgery, conservative dentistry and endodontics, prosthodontics, child dental health and orthodontics. Clinical students, under the supervision of a team of experienced faculty, treat members of the public as an integral part of their learning experience to prepare them for independent clinical practice. "The college provides a nurturing and stimulating academic and clinical environment for training both Omani and expatriate professionals who will be able to enhance the provision of dental care in the country," said Dr. Mohammad Al Esmaily, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the ODC. "We are cultivating skilled, competent and caring professionals who are able to advance the science, art and ethics of dentistry thereby producing sustainable value for Oman and its residents," said College Dean Dr Rahul Arora.