The Department of Operative Dentistry is responsible for establishing the foundational concepts of dentistry. The primary focus to provide the knowledge, technical skills, critical thinking and judgment for the diagnosis, prevention and management of dental caries, non-carious dental defects (attrition, abrasion, erosion, abfraction, developmental abnormalities, discoloration, and trauma), and elective esthetic smile enhancements. The department has access to well-equipped laboratories for basic and clinical translational research. In addition, there are excellent clinical facilities for the development of clinical techniques and for clinical research. Our educational goals are to: