Oral Pathology

Personnel

• Prof WFP van Heerden: Head: Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology
• Dr T Kungoane: Specialist in Oral Pathology and lecturer for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Anatomical Pathology and Oral Pathology
• Prof TJP Swart: Specialist in Oral Pathology and part-time lecturer for undergraduate Anatomical Pathology students
• Prof H Bernitz: Extraordinary Professor & lecturer in Maxillofacial Pathology for Oral Hygiene students
• Dr Diana Mavuso: Module coordinator in Maxillofacial Pathology for Oral Hygiene students

Courses

• Maxillofacial Pathology (MFP 371): A one year examination course for in the third year of study for the degree in Oral Hygiene
• Anatomical Pathology (ANP370): A one year examination course in the third year of study for the degree in Dentistry
• Maxillofacial Pathology (MFP 470/570): A two year examination course forfourth and final year dental students.
• General Pathology (APA 808): A semester course for postgraduate students in General Pathology.
• Maxillofacial Pathology (MPG 800):  A semester course in Oral Pathology for registrars in Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery.
• Maxillofacial Pathology (MPG 801):  A semester course in Oral Pathology for registrars in Orthodontics.
• Maxillofacial Pathology (MPG 803):  A semester course in Oral Pathology for registrars in Periodontics.
• Maxillofacial Pathology (MPG 804):  A semester course in Oral Pathology for registrars in Prosthodontics.
• TPM 801: A semester course in Oral Pathology for registrars in Community Dentistry.
• Specialisation in Oral Pathology (MChD): A five year full-time course, the first two years of which are spent in the Department of Anatomical Pathology with the last three being spent in the Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology.  Registrar training posts are advertised in the national press when available.
• PhD (Oral Pathology)

Course Content

Oral Pathology includes the study of disease involving the soft tissues, bone and dental hard tissues of the maxillofacial region. The aetiology, pathogenesis and clinical presentation of all reactive, infective and neoplastic processes involving the head and neck and specifically the oral cavity are studied. This module forms part of the undergraduate curriculum for a Bachelor degree in Dentistry (BChD) and a Bachelor degree in Oral Hygiene (BOH) degrees.

 At the postgraduate level, the Oral Pathology course is expanded with emphasis on the clinical recognition of disease and the formulation of an appropriate differential diagnosis. For students specialising in the fields of Periodontics and Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, the histopathological aspects of these disease processes are also included. 

Oral Pathology is a specialisation of dentistry in its own right. Registrars in Oral Pathology are required to rotate through the Department of Anatomical Pathology for a minimum of two years followed by an additional three years in the Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology. The exit examination is that of the College of Pathologists culminating in a fellowship qualification.

The course outline in the subject of Oral Pathology specifically includes developmental abnormalities, dental hard tissue pathology, inflammation and infectious disease with particular focus on HIV/AIDS related pathology, oral cancer and the prevention thereof, immune-mediated disease, reactive and pigmented lesions, odontogenic cysts and tumours, salivary gland pathology, bone and soft tissue pathology as well as forensic odontology.