The education of undergraduate students on the topic of Operative Dentistry includes lectures and practical training both in laboratory and clinical conditions. The course is delivered from the 2nd to 10th Semester and it includes the following subjects:

Dental Morphology (100211C)

Cariology – Operative Dentistry I (100310C)

Operative Dentistry II – Medium Sized Restorations (100412C)

Operative Dentistry III – Extensive Restorations (100510C)

Clinical Operative Dentistry I – (100707C)

Clinical Operative Dentistry II (100808C)

Operative Dentistry – Comprehensive Dental Care Clinic (101001C01)

Tooth Bleaching – (100605S)

Lasers in Dentistry (100806S)

Digital Restorative Dentistry with CAD/CAM technology (100807S)

The postgraduate program of Operative Dentistry – Conservative Aesthetic Restorations is providing advanced clinical training, theoretical knowledge and skills development on the treatment of functional and aesthetic problems of the dentition with modern methods and techniques of minimum intervention.

The objective of the course is the development of sufficient knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Minimally invasive or non-invasive techniques for treatment.
• Direct and indirect composite restorations.
• Treatment planning and smile designing.
• Treatment of the aesthetically compromised dentition using CAD/CAM technology.
• Treatment of aesthetical and pathological problems of the hard dental tissues using LASER technology.
• Literature review and dissertation writing.
• Presentation skills.
• Introduction to research methods.
• Development of teaching skills.

The Department is focused on the following research fields:

• Cariology
• Preventive Dentistry
• Dental Materials
• Biomaterials Science
• Lasers in Dentistry
• Digital Dentistry
• Adhesive Dentistry
• Tooth Wear
• Biocompatibility
• Polymer Science
• Aesthetic Dentistry
• Restorative Dentistry

The in vitro studies are carried out in the laboratories of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, while the clinical trials are conducted mainly in the undergraduate and postgraduate clinics of the Department of Operative Dentistry of A.U.Th. There is also a wide collaboration with research laboratories of other national and international universities.

Post-educational Activities

Since 2019 the Department of Operative Dentistry of A.U.Th organize anually a Programme of Continuous Education entitled: “Education in clinical skills in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry”, which yields to 7.5 ECTS units.

Since 2017 the Department of Operative Dentistry of A.U.Th collabotate with Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology of the University of Aachen (RWTH) and Hellenic Academy for Laser Dentistry (H.A.L.D) and organize together various educational and research activities focusing on the area of Lasers in Dentistry. On this context they organize an annual Mastership / Fellowship Course which regards training in use of all laser wavelengths, as well as annually a seminar for Laser Safety Officer (L.S.O) certificate.

Representative publications during the last 5 years

• Evaluation of the surface characteristics of dental CAD/CAM materials after different surface treatments. K. Papadopoulos, K. Pahinis, K. Saltidou, D. Dionysopoulos, E. Tsitrou. Materials 2020; 13(4):981.
• Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of enamel erosion following air-abrasion surface pre-treatment with bioactive glass 45S5. D. Dionysopoulos, K. Tolidis, E. Tsitrou, P. Kouros, O. Naka. Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry 2020; 18(3):529-536.
• Evaluation of photopolymerization efficiency and temperature rise of a composite resin using a blue diode laser (445 nm). P. Kouros, D. Dionysopoulos, A. Deligianni, D. Strakas, T. Sfeikos, K. Tolidis. European Journal of Oral Sciences 2020; 128(6):535-541.
•  Spectrophotometric evaluation of the effectiveness of Er,Cr:YSGG laser-assisted intracoronal tooth bleaching treatment using different power settings.  A. Papadopoulos, D. Dionysopoulos, D. Strakas, E. Koumpia, K. Tolidis. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy 2021 Mar 30:102272. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102272.

• Effect of CPP-ACPF and Nano-hydroxyapatite Preventive Treatments on the Susceptibility of Enamel to Erosive Challenge. Dionysopoulos D, Tolidis K, Sfeikos T. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2019; 17(4):357-364.
• Effect of air-abrasion pre-treatment with bioactive glass 45S5 on enamel surface loss after erosion/abrasion challenge. Dionysopoulos D, Tolidis K, Sfeikos T. Dent Mater. 2019; 35(9):193-203.
• Short-term and long-term release of monomers from newly developed resin-modified ceramics and composite resin CAD-CAM blocks. Mourouzis P, Andreasidou E, Samanidou V, Tolidis K. J Prosthet Dent. 2020; 123(2):339-348
• Structural Integrity Evaluation of Large MOD Restorations Fabricated With a Bulk-Fill and a CAD/CAM Resin Composite Material. Papadopoulos C, Dionysopoulos D, Tolidis K, Kouros P, Koliniotou-Koumpia E, Tsitrou EA. Oper Dent. 2019; 44(3):312-321.
• Evaluation of a clinical preventive treatment using Er,Cr:YSGG (2780 nm) laser on the susceptibility of enamel to erosive challenge. Dionysopoulos D, Tolidis K, Strakas D, Sfeikos T. Lasers Med Sci. 2019;34(6):1089-1097.
• Qualitative evaluation of hybrid layer formation using Er:YAG laser in QSP mode for tooth cavity preparations. Kallis A, Tolidis K, Gerasimou P, Dionysopoulos D. Lasers Med Sci. 2019; 34(1):23-34.
• Effect of a calcium chloride solution treatment on physical and mechanical properties of glass ionomer cements. Dionysopoulos D, Tolidis K, Tortopidis D, Gerasimou P, Sfeikos T. Odontology. 2018; 106(4):429-438.
• Effect of a blue diode laser (445 nm) treatment on water sorption, solubility and surface roughness of dental glass ionomer restoratives. D. Dionysopoulos, K. Tolidis, D. Strakas, P. Gerasimou, T. Sfeikos, N. Gutknecht. Opt Laser Tech 2018; 99:249-255.
• Bonding of composite to base materials: Effects of adhesive treatments on base surface properties and bond strength. Anastasiadis K, Koulaouzidou EA, Palaghias G, Eliades G. J Adhes Dent. 2018; 20(2):151-164.
• Effect of acidulated phosphate fluoride gel on the surface of dental nanocomposite restorative materials. D. Dionysopoulos, E. Koliniotou-Koumpia. J Nano Res 2018; 51:1-12.
• Effect of filler composition of dental composite resins on radiopacity in digital radiographic images. D. Dionysopoulos, K. Tolidis, P. Gerasimou, Ch. Papadopoulos. Polym Comp 2018; 39(1):351-357.
• Spectrophotometric analysis of the effectiveness of a novel in-office laser-assisted tooth bleaching method using Er,Cr:YSGG laser. Dionysopoulos D, Strakas D, Tolidis K, Tsitrou E, Koumpia E, Koliniotou-Koumpia E. Lasers Med Sci. 2017; 32(8):1811-1818.
• Effect of three clinical curing treatments on fluoride release and surface hardness of glass-ionomer cements. Dionysopoulos D, Tolidis K, Gerasimou P, Sfeikos T. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2017; 37:e197-e203.
• Evaluation of surface microhardness and abrasion resistance of two dental glass ionomer cements after radiant heat treatment. D. Dionysopoulos, K. Tolidis, T. Sfeikos, C. Karanasiou, X. Parisi. Adv Mater Sci Engin 2017 Article ID: 5824562.
• Effect of fluoride treatments on bleached enamel microhardness and surface morphology. Dionysopoulos D, Koliniotou-Koumpia E, Tolidis K, Gerasimou P. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2017; 15(2):169-175.
• Effect of radiant heat on conventional glass ionomer cements during setting by using a blue light diode laser system (445 nm). Dionysopoulos D, Tolidis K, Strakas D, Gerasimou P, Sfeikos T, Gutknecht N. Lasers Med Sci. 2017; 32(3):703-709.
• Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation on bovine enamel surface during in-office tooth bleaching ex vivo. Dionysopoulos D, Strakas D, Koliniotou-Koumpia E, Koumpia E. Odontology 2017; 105(3):320-328.
• Effects of shade and composition on radiopacity of dental composite restorative materials. D. Dionysopoulos, K. Tolidis, P. Gerasimou, E. Koliniotou-Koumpia. Oral Radiol. 2017; 33(3):178-186.
• Effect of radiant heat and ultrasound on fluoride release and surface hardness of glass ionomer cements. Tolidis K, Dionysopoulos D, Gerasimou P, Sfeikos T. J Appl Biomater Funct Mater. 2016; 14(4):e463-e469.
• Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser on the surface of composite restoratives during in-office tooth bleaching. Dionysopoulos D, Strakas D, Tsitrou E, Tolidis K, Koumpia E. Lasers Med Sci. 2016; 31(5):875-882.
• Comparative in vitro evaluation of CAD/CAM vs conventional provisional crowns. Abdullah AO, Tsitrou EA, Pollington S. J Appl Oral Sci. 2016; 24(3):258-263.
• Intra-pulpal temperature rise of different tooth types during dental bleaching supported by an Er,Cr:YSGG laser. A pilot study. Strakas D, Tolidis K, Koliniotou-Koumpia E, Vanweersch L, Franzen R, Gutknecht N. Lasers Med Sci. 2016; 31(1):77-82.
• Polymerization efficiency of bulk-fill dental resin composites with different curing modes. D. Dionysopoulos, K. Tolidis, P. Gerasimou. J Appl Polym Sci. 2016; 133(18) doi:10.1002/app.43392.
• The effect of composition, temperature and post-irradiation curing of bulk fill resin composites on polymerization efficiency. D. Dionysopoulos, K. Tolidis, P. Gerasimou. Mater Res. 2016; 19(2):466-473.
• In vitro inhibition of enamel demineralisation by fluoride-releasing restorative materials and dental adhesives. Dionysopoulos D, Koliniotou-Koumpia E, Helvatzoglou-Antoniades M, Kotsanos N. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2016; 14(4):371-380.
• Viscoelastic properties, creep behavior and degree of conversion of bulk fill composite resins. Papadogiannis D, Tolidis K, Gerasimou P, Lakes R, Papadogiannis Y. Dent Mater. 2015; 31(12):1533-1541.
• The influence of a novel in-office tooth whitening procedure using an Er,Cr:YSGG laser on enamel surface morphology. Dionysopoulos D, Strakas D, Koliniotou-Koumpia E. Lasers Surg Med. 2015; 47(6):503-511.
• Bonding strength of silorane-based composite to Er-YAG laser prepared dentin. Koliniotou-Koumpia E, Kouros P, Dionysopoulos D, Zafiriadis L. Lasers Med Sci. 2015; 30(2):509-516.
• Color match of resin composites to intact tooth structure. Mourouzis P, Koulaouzidou EA, Palaghias G, Helvatjoglu-Antoniades M. J Appl Biomater Funct Mater. 2015; 13(3):e259-265.

• The effect of low-concentration fluoride solutions on fluoride recharge ability of contemporary dental restoratives and adhesives. D. Dionysopoulos, E. Koliniotou-Koumpia, N. Kotsanos. Fluoride 2015; 48(4):351-363.

The secretary’s and faculty’s offices are located in the 5th floor of the Dental School building.

The training (laboratory and clinical) of the students is taking place to the following venues:

a) the Laboratory of Operative Dentistry on the 3rd floor which includes 17 phantom heads and

40 lab training units

b) the Clinic of Operative Dentistry on the ground floor of the Dental School building which is

equipped with 28 new dental units

The clinical training of the postgraduate dental students is taking place in:

a) the CAD/CAM and LASER clinic suites on the ground floor of the Dental School

b) the postgraduate clinic located on the ground floor at the Mandalidion Building

equipped with 4 dental units and

c)  the postgraduate clinic located on the 5^th floor equipped with 2 dental units.

For the theoretical training the Department uses the Lecture Theatre and Seminar rooms of the Dental School.

Secretary: Mrs Eliza Liakou

                    Tel.: (+30) 2310999608
                    e-mail: ealiakou@dent.auth.gr

Address: Department of Operative Dentistry

Faculty of Dentistry, 5th floor

School of Health Sciences

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

54124 Thessaloniki

Greece