Oral Development and Orthodontics
The Department of Oral Development and Orthodontics provides introduction for under- and postgraduate dental students in topics such as growth and development of the jaws, development of the dentition and occlusion, as well as development, prevention, and treatment of malocclusions.
Malocclusions occur commonly and the need for treatment is high. In Finland, orthodontic care of children and adolescents is mainly given in municipal health centers. A significant part of the treatment is carried out by general practitioners under the supervision of orthodontists. The undergraduate curriculum trains the students to work in the orthodontic teams. For this, the students must master the basics of growth and development of the orofacial structures, understand the role of functional factors in the development of occlusion and how these factors may disturb occlusal development, recognize the signs and symptoms of malocclusions in the deciduous, mixed and permanent dentition, and be familiar with the principles and appliances of orthodontic treatment given in deciduous and mixed dentition.
During their internship, the postgraduate students must acquire a comprehensive understanding of the craniofacial growth and development, and a detailed knowledge of malocclusions, as well as of common syndromes and developmental disorders of the orofacial region. In addition, they must learn to master a variety of orthodontic techniques and appliances and they are required to treat complicated cases as a member of a multidisciplinary team. The curriculum of the postgraduate students will train them to act as leaders of orthodontic teams and to take responsibility for the organization of orthodontic care at population level.
Teaching methods vary from lectures, seminars, PBL and laboratory work to treatment of patients. Clinical training is carried out in part at the orthodontic clinics of Turku Health Centre and the University Hospital
Staff of the Department of Oral Development and Orthodontics
Professor and Head, Juha Varrela, DDS, PhD
Tel. +358 2 333 8350, juha.varrela@utu.fi
Associate Professor Anna-Liisa Svedström-Oristo, DDS, PhD
Tel. +358 2 333 8318, anna-liisa.svedstrom-oristo@utu.fi
Assistant Professor Heidi Kerosuo, DDS, PhD
heidi.kerosuo@utu.fi
Senior Scientist (part time) Päivi Jääsaari, DDS
Tel. + 358 2 333 8208, paivi.jaasaari@utu.fi
Senior Scientist Terttu Pietilä, DDS, PhD
Tel. +358 2 621 3633, terttu.pietila@pori.fi
Docent Kirsti Hurmerinta, DDS, PhD
Tel. +358 9 4718 7248, kirsti.hurmerinta@helsinki.fi
Docent Janna Waltimo, DDS, PhD
Tel. +358 9 512 7162, janna.waltimo@mappi.helsinki.fi
Secretary Sirpa Laakso
Tel. +358 2 333 8337, sirpa.laakso@utu.fi
PhD Student Hanna-Leena Tefke, DDS
Tel. +358 9 816 2303, hanna-leena.tefke@teo.fi
PhD Student Katri Keski-Nisula, DDS
Tel. +358-6-323 1574, Katri.Keski-Nisula@vshp.fi
Contact information
Professor Juha Varrela
Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku
Lemminkäisenkatu 2, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
Phone +358-2-333 8350 / +358-40-580 4898
Fax +358-2-333 8450
juha.varrela@utu.fi