Postgraduate Studies - Prosthodontics

Reasearch in Prosthodontics

Research Facilities – Equipment – Infrastructure

Infrastructure / Facilities

  • Laboratories: 2 (79 workstations)

  • Undergraduate Clinical Training Clinics (U.G.P.S.): 2 (51 dental units)

  • Postgraduate Clinical Training Clinics (P.G.P.S.): 3 (15 dental units)

  • Dental Technology Laboratory: 1 (5 workstations)

  • Dental Technology Training Laboratories for Postgraduate Students (P.S.): 2 (8 workstations)

  • Research Laboratories:

    • Ceramic Synthesis Unit

    • Histotechnology Unit

    • Biomechanical and Chewing Simulation Unit

    • Micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) and Bioimaging Unit

  • Clinical Research: A specialized clinical facility for the conduct of clinical studies.

Description of Facilities

  • Prosthodontics Laboratories: Two fully equipped laboratories with 39 and 40 workstations respectively (total 79).

  • Prosthodontics Clinics for U.G.P.S.: 51 fully equipped dental units, distributed across two independent clinics.

  • Prosthodontics Clinics for P.G.P.S.: 15 fully equipped dental units, distributed across three independent clinics.

  • Dental Technology Facilities: One fully equipped, independent dental technology laboratory with five workstations, and two additional training laboratories for postgraduate students.

  • Research Laboratories: The P.G.P.S. in Prosthodontics has access to advanced research facilities:
    a) Ceramic Synthesis Unit: Synthesis and characterization of ceramics, biomimetic simulation, assessment of antibacterial properties, and mechanical testing of dental materials/biomaterials.
    b) Histotechnology Unit: Experimental research on regeneration and restoration of craniofacial tissues using advanced histotechnology methods; studies on the biocompatibility/cytotoxicity of biomaterials in cell cultures and tissue analogs, employing molecular biology techniques.
    c) Biomechanics and Chewing Simulation Unit: Evaluation of the performance of prosthetic restorations and dental materials using a chewing simulator.
    d) Micro-Computed Tomography and Bioimaging Unit: Facilities for postgraduate students to study dental biomaterials, restorations, cells, and tissues using micro-CT, fluorescence microscopy, and bioluminescence systems (in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo).
    e) Clinical Research Facility: Dedicated clinic for the conduct of clinical trials.

Teaching, Practical, and Clinical Training

Teaching activities are conducted in lecture halls of the School of Dentistry, fully equipped with audiovisual systems, as well as in the dedicated classroom/library of the Prosthodontics Laboratory, which supports interactive education.

Clinical training is carried out in the three independent and modernly equipped Prosthodontics Clinics of the School for postgraduate students. Laboratory training is conducted in the fully equipped Dental Technology Laboratory and the two postgraduate dental technology training laboratories. Research activity is undertaken in the research units of the Prosthodontics Laboratory described above.

Equipment – Quality Assurance

While the current infrastructure is considered adequate, its quality is “at risk” due to the progressive aging of dental units and supporting equipment. To ensure the quality of education and research within the P.G.P.S. in Prosthodontics, periodic replacement of both small and large equipment, as well as procurement of advanced devices and instruments, is deemed essential.

Given the rapid technological progress in dentistry/dental technology and the integration of innovative technologies (e.g., CAD/CAM, 3D printing, digital scanning and imaging) into clinical practice, an annual budget allocation is foreseen for the justified acquisition of high-level technological equipment.

Description and Allocation of Teaching, Practical, and Clinical Facilities

All clinics and laboratories are equipped with supporting facilities and complementary equipment for postgraduate training in clinical, laboratory, and teaching skills.

Specifically:

  • The clinical units include surgical implant motors, surgical kits and instruments, consumables, dental instruments, handpieces, mixing devices, sterilization ovens, and auxiliary devices ensuring smooth clinical training.

  • The dental technology laboratory is equipped with: casting unit, sandblasting unit, steam cleaner, pin-drill systems, saws, trimmers, vibrators, heating oven, stereomicroscope, hydraulic press, washer-disinfector, ceramic furnace, vacuum pump, polymerization unit, polishing devices, dust extractor, micro-motors, wax heaters, vacuum mixers, etc.

  • The Ceramic Synthesis Unit includes high-temperature furnaces, incubators, centrifuges, analytical balances, ball mills, mechanical stirrers, hydraulic presses, digital microscopes/stereoscopes, incubating chambers, laminar flow cabinets, ultrasonic devices, probe sonicators, pH meters, etc.

  • The Biomechanics and Chewing Simulation Unit provides mechanical and physical data acquisition systems, computer workstations, finite element analysis software (e.g., ANSIS), as well as a state-of-the-art chewing simulator, unique in Greece.

  • The Histotechnology Unit contains systems for cell culture, molecular biology, and tissue engineering (laminar flow cabinets, two incubators, real-time PCR, spectrophotometry, ELISA, fluorescence microscopy, Western blot analysis, chemiluminescence detectors, etc.).

  • The Micro-CT and Bioimaging Unit houses a high-technology micro-CT scanner, advanced fluorescence microscope, and bioluminescence imaging system.

  • The Clinical Research Facility is equipped with a full digital technology suite for the conduct of clinical studies and patient care, including digital impression systems, specialized design software, and 3D printing.