First NIDE Course organised at the University of Turku
– In Morocco, orthodontic care is given to adults. Now, we are here to learn especially about the orthodontic care of younger patients, says Doctor Younesse El Ghomari. El Ghomari and 15 other Moroccans are currently studying at the University of Turku and their studies are led by Professor Juha Varrela and Senior Lecturer Anna-Liisa Svedström-Oriston.
The first NIDE refresher course at the University of Turku explores orthodontic care. 16 Moroccans wish to take home knowledge on early stage orthodontic care which is mostly new to their home country.inuing education course at the University of Turku explores orthodontic care. 16 Moroccans wish to take home knowledge on early stage orthodontic care which is less common in their home country.
The visit of the Moroccans is the first practical course of the Nordic Institute of Dental Education (NIDE) at the University of Turku. NIDE is an education export company of the University of Turku and Planmeca Oy, one of the world's leading dental technology companies, and its previous courses have been organised in Helsinki.
– The strengths of the University of Turku include, for instance, orthodontics, biomaterials science and implantology. We are starting our collaboration with Moroccans from orthodontic care, and hopefully this co-operation continues and expands, says CEO Jenni Pajunen from NIDE.
NIDE has previously brought several international groups to visit and learn about dentistry in Finland, but this is the first cource at the University of Turku. Now, the program also includes presentations with practical patient examples vy the students.
– When we were planning the course together with the Moroccans, they wished they could go through some of their patient cases with dentistry experts at the University of Turku. It is extremely important to them that the evaluation is based on research-based knowledge, says Pajunen.
According to Professor Juha Varrela, cultural and methodical differences exist, but mutual understanding will be accomplished. What they are looking for in Finland in particular, is knowledge on early orthodontic care.
– In many countries, orthodontic care is only given to adults. Finland is internationally at the very top in orthodontic care, notes Varrela.
One of the assets in teaching is the LM activator which Varrela and Katri Keski-Nisula once developed particularly for early orthodontic care and which is now produced by LM Instruments. Students learn about the use of the activator during the lectures.
According to El Ghomari, Finnish expertise is well-known worldwide, and it is the reason why the Moroccans now study in Turku and in the Planmeca facilities in Helsinki where the group will learn more about the latest dental technologies after the orthodontics course.
Text: Erja Hyytiäinen
Translation: Saara Yli-Kauhaluoma