KCD History
Khyber College of Dentistry (KCD), a premier institution in the country, since its establishment in 1964, has been carrying forward the legacy of Prof. Dr. Ahmad Iqbal. It has been guiding hundreds of students on their way, shaping their future to look after the oral health problems of the community. The passion for excellence that drives it can be seen in every aspect of this vibrant future focused institution from its stringent recruitment policy and academic performance to its outstanding infrastructure and placement criteria.
Khyber College of Dentistry is located within the University Campus adjacent to Khyber Medical College, Khyber Teaching Hospital and the Administration Block of the Peshawar University. To provide oral health care facilities to the people of the region, it was considered necessary to set up a teaching dental department at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. The idea to start a dental department came from late Dr. Hassan Raza Shah, the then principal of De,Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore. It was gladly accepted; appreciated and very much encouraged by General Mohammad Akram, the then Principal of Khyber Medical College and Mr.Mohammad Ali, the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar. The Department of Dentistry was formally declared open by the then Minister for Health Begum Mahmuda Salim on12th October, 1964. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Iqbal was the founder chairman of the department.
The department of dentistry was housed in two rooms on the first floor of pathology block of Khyber Medical College (KMC). Besides the head of the department there were four teachersand14 students were inducted as first batch. To get training in general medicine and general surgery thestudents had to travel 15 kilometers for practical teaching and ward rounds to the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar.
The first batch graduated in 1968 while Pakistan Medical and Dental Council accorded permanent recognition to BDS degree in its session held in Dacca (Bangladesh), the capital of the then East Pakistan in November, 1968.
On 9th September 1978, this department was shifted to a new building “Oral &Dental hospital department of Dentistry Khyber Medical College”. In1988, oral & maxillofacial ward and Operation Theater was added for indoor patients.
On 11th January 1990, the Department of Dentistry was upgraded to the status of the College by the then Chief Minister, Mr. Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao who made this announcement while presiding over the inaugural function of the Silver Jubilee of the Department of Dentistry. In 2009 the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery was shifted to a new purpose built building comprising of 18 beds ward 9 private rooms with 4 well equipped operation theaters along with extended minor oral surgery facility. In 2010, R&D Cell, Pathology Laboratory and a new digital library were established.
The annual intake of students has gone up gradually from 14 in year 1964 to 77 in 2008. So far more than 1800 dental graduates have qualified. Apart from undergraduate studies this institute provides postgraduate training in different disciplines of Dentistry.
The College is recognized by College of Physician and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) for FCPS Part II training in the specialties of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics and Orthodontics. The College is also recognized by CPSP for training of MCPS in Oral &Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Operative Dentistry, Orthodontics and Family Dentistry. In addition, Khyber Medical University and PMDC has approved postgraduate diploma courses (DCD) in the specialties of Periodontology, Operative Dentistry, Orthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry.
More than 300 patients receive daily dental treatment of various natures. This includes highly specialized treatment modalities like Orthodontics/Facial Orthopedics, treatment for Orofacial surgery, facial injuries, oral cancer, fixed and removable prosthesis of various kinds, highly specialized regenerative procedures of Periodontal therapy/Dental Implant placements and advance dental care for child health, endodontics and restorative dentistry.
Construction of a new seven story building is underway over an area 85402 square feet for extension of various departments. With completion of this project KCD will become the largest teaching dental facility in the country.