Orthodontics Laboratory; is a clinical training environment where students gain hands-on experience in the production of removable and fixed appliances, retention devices, and model analyses used in the treatment of dental and jaw misalignments. At Üsküdar University, we prepare our students for the professional sector by providing direct practical experience from their first year, covering processes ranging from traditional appliance production to digital planning.
Technical Equipment and Devices Available in the Orthodontics Laboratory
Key Features: The Orthodontics Laboratory has an infrastructure of devices and hand tools designed for the production of both removable and fixed appliances in accordance with professional craftsmanship and technological standards. The main equipment and material groups used in the laboratory are as follows:
- Orthodontic Wire Shaping and Bending Stations: Precision orthodontic pliers and hand tool sets used to create the frameworks of fixed and removable appliances and to shape functional components such as acrylic clasps, screws, and springs.
- Acrylic Polymerisation and Shaping Units: Pressurised and heated polymerisation systems in which acrylic powder and liquid materials are processed to form the pink or transparent bases of removable appliances.
- Dental Finishing and Polishing Motors: High-speed micromotors and grinding units used to remove surface irregularities, smooth edges, and polish newly produced or repaired orthodontic appliances so that they do not damage oral tissues.
- Appliance Repair and Restoration Kit: Specialised soldering and rapid acrylic repair sets used to restore the structural integrity of appliances that have been broken, cracked, or structurally deformed over time.
Practical Training and Appliance Production Conducted in the Laboratory
The activities conducted in the laboratory consist of practical applications aimed directly at improving the quality of orthodontic treatment and developing students' professional competencies:
- Removable Orthodontic Appliance Production: Complete design and production of functional, mechanical, or protective removable appliances in accordance with patients' upper and lower jaw models.
- Laboratory Stages of Fixed Orthodontic Applications: Preparation of components used in fixed treatment protocols that require laboratory support through current production techniques.
- Appliance Revision and Technical Repair: Repairing broken or deformed appliances using the laboratory infrastructure without compromising their structural properties, or reproducing them in accordance with their original form when necessary.
- Experience with Current Dental Materials: Students gain practical knowledge of biomaterials, acrylics, metal alloy wires, and chemical components used in modern orthodontics by applying them directly.
The Impact of Practical Training on Careers in Dentistry and Oral and Dental Health
- Supportive Clinical Training: Students develop a comprehensive understanding of orthodontics by supporting theoretical knowledge and clinical case practices with production processes carried out in the laboratory.
- Advanced Manual Skill Development: Through the use of state-of-the-art devices and instruments, students maximise their dental manipulation abilities, including craftsmanship and fine motor skills.
- Adaptation to Industry Dynamics: Students who learn to use current materials and next-generation laboratory methods gain the competence to adapt quickly and work effectively in professional environments and orthodontic clinics after graduation.
