As the earliest oral preventive discipline established in China, the Department of Preventive Dentistry of West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, has been committed to the innovation and development of clinical work, teaching tasks, scientific research, and commonweal activities focusing on preventing and controlling oral diseases, and has formed the characteristic concept of “Prevention First”, which is greatly consistent with the requirements of the Healthy China 2030 Plan. The department has a strong professional team, consisting of 1 professor, 3 associate professors, 2 associate chief physicians, and 2 attending physicians, and most of the faculty members have doctoral degrees and overseas study experience.

Clinic & Public Interests
In response to the Healthy China Plan and to achieve the goal of oral health, risk assessment, and early prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases are carried out under the principle of “Prevention First”. Guided by the principle of “Oral Cavity Comfortable”, minimally invasive treatment and health management of dental caries and periodontal diseases are carried out. With the goal of Health & Aesthetics, the aesthetic repair of tooth defects and the preservation of complex and difficult root canals are developed. For the general clinic work characterized by prevention, the department also covers caries susceptibility testing, caries prevention by fluorides, pit and fissure sealant, resin infiltration restoration, crown prosthesis for young permanent teeth, desensitization therapy for dentin hypersensitivity, bad breath detection and prevention. Moreover, the department actively practices oral health epidemiological investigation and monitoring, focuses on oral health education and science popularization, undertakes government commonweal projects and national and provincial oral health action plans, and provides policy suggestions to reach regular prevention of oral diseases and long-term maintenance of oral health.

Education
The Department of Preventive Dentistry is the higher training center of preventive dentistry specialty in China. Our education lays emphasis on developing training program for postgraduate students, residents, and practicing dentists in how to correctly make strategies to prevent oral diseases from initiation and development, and achieve the early diagnosis and clinical intervention. We aim to graduate students with international and broad vision in oral health care, together with advanced clinical skills for general oral diseases and solid foundation of scientific research. Academic and residency programs are also offered.

Research
The research directions of the department include oral epidemiology and oral health survey method, oral health promotion and health education, preventive strategies and etiology research of dental caries, periodontal diseases, and general oral diseases, oral health and care of special populations, development and application of oral care products, project management of oral hygiene, prevention and control of infections related to oral hygiene, and research and development, application and promotion of appropriate technology. Funded by dozens of provincial and national projects, the research carried out by the faculty members is consistent and innovative, with the leading place in the field of preventive dentistry, forming a broad interdisciplinary research with evidence-based medicine, biology, clinical medicine, and material.