كلية الطب وجراحة الفم والأسنان

An-Najah National University

Department of Basic Sciences in Dentistry

The Department of Basic Sciences in Dentistry is responsible for teaching courses offered to students prior to their transition to the clinical phase. The department includes a range of courses that form the scientific and knowledge foundation for dental students, such as dental anatomy and embryology, dental pharmacology, oral and maxillofacial pathology, dental materials science, oral histology, and maxillofacial radiology, among other core subjects.

The department aims to prepare students academically and intellectually, enabling them to understand the fundamental concepts necessary for comprehending clinical subjects. This facilitates their transition to the clinical phase and enhances their ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings with confidence and competence.

Department Vision

To achieve excellence in teaching basic sciences in dentistry and contribute to preparing students with a strong scientific foundation that qualifies them for success in the clinical phase and professional practice.

To provide balanced academic education in basic sciences for dental students, focusing on sound scientific understanding and strengthening the link between theoretical knowledge and clinical application through modern teaching methods that support effective learning.

1- To provide students with the essential foundational knowledge before entering the clinical phase.

2- To enhance integration between basic science courses and clinical courses.

3- To develop students’ analytical thinking and scientific reasoning skills.

4- To support and continuously update courses in line with scientific advancements in dentistry.

5- To encourage scientific research in fields related to basic dental sciences.

The educational facilities of the Department of Basic Sciences in Dentistry support the practical teaching of specific courses and include:

  • Oral Histology Laboratory
  • Dental Anatomy and Embryology Laboratories
  • Radiology Laboratories

The Department of Basic Sciences in Dentistry includes a team of faculty members from various disciplines within basic sciences and dental sciences. The staff contributes to supporting the educational process, practical training, supervision of radiology laboratories, and ensuring the implementation of safety and quality standards. The academic staff includes:

  • Dr. Majd Barham (3646) – Head of Department – Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Zakriyat Badrasawi (3656) – Faculty Member – Lecturer
  • Dr. Hasnaa Makkawi (3659) – Faculty Member – Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Sura Kazlik (51094) – Faculty Member – Lecturer
  • Dr. Yasmeen Theeb (51073) – Faculty Member – Lecturer

The department is also supported by administrative and technical staff, represented by dental radiology specialists (radiology technicians) working within the Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Unit:

  • Ms. Sajda Saleh (9647)
  • Ms. Shams Qadah (9876)
  • Ms. Jumana Yasmeen (52041)
  • Ms. Ru’a Hennani (52040)

The Department of Basic Sciences in Dentistry offers a range of courses taught during the pre-clinical phase, including:

  • Introduction and Medical Terminology for Dentistry (7503201)
  • Professional Ethics in Dentistry (7503202)
  • Dental Anatomy and Embryology (1) (7503204)
  • Dental Anatomy and Embryology (2) (7503206)
  • Dental Anatomy and Embryology / Practical (7503214)
  • Dental Anatomy and Embryology Lab (2) (7503216)
  • Oral Histology (7503205)
  • Oral Histology / Practical (7503215)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (7503301)
  • Dental Materials (1) (7503304)
  • Dental Materials (2) (7503305)
  • Preventive Dentistry and Cariology (1) (7503309)
  • Preventive Dentistry and Cariology (2) (7503310)
  • Dental Pharmacology and Therapeutics (7503318)
  • Clinical Psychology for Dentistry (7503319)
  • Oral Microbiology (7503320)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (1) (7503321)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (2) (7503322)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (1) / Practical (7503323)
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (2) / Practical (7503324)

The Department of Basic Sciences in Dentistry places significant emphasis on scientific research. Faculty members demonstrate active engagement in research and continuous commitment to scholarly output. Several research papers have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals across various fields related to the department’s specialties. This contributes to advancing scientific knowledge, strengthening the integration between basic sciences and clinical applications, and enhancing the academic and scientific standing of the department and the faculty.

Among these research contributions are:

  1. Badrasawi T, Nazzal Z, Massad N, Salameh E, Ibdah A. Stress and occupational burnout levels among Palestinian dentists, and associated factors: A cross-sectional study in 2023. Heliyon. 2024;10(11):e32034. Published 2024 May 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32034  
  2. Badrasawi T, Basha W. Trichomonas Tenax and Entamoeba Gingivalis Prevalence Among Palestinian Adults, A PCR-Based Cross-Sectional Study. (2025). European Journal of Dental and Oral Health, 6(1), 34-39. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejdent.2025.6.1.364
  3. Badrasawi T, Basha W, Badrasawi I. iTrichomonas Tenax /iand iEntamoeba Gingivalis /iRelation to Periodontal Diseases Prevalence: A Literature Review. (2025). European Journal of Dental and Oral Health, 6(6), 19-23. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejdent.2025.6.6.410 
  4. Al-Hammad WE, Kuroda M, Kamizaki R, Tekiki N, Ishizaka H, Kuroda K, Sugimoto K, Oita M, Tanabe Y, Barham M, et al. Mean Heart Dose Prediction Using Parameters of Single-Slice Computed Tomography and Body Mass Index: Machine Learning Approach for Radiotherapy of Left-Sided Breast Cancer of Asian Patients. Current Oncology. 2023; 30(8):7412-7424. 
  5. Kamizaki, R., Kuroda, M., Al-Hammad, W. E., Tekiki, N., Ishizaka, H., Kuroda, K., Sugimoto, K., Oita, M., Tanabe, Y., Barham, M., Sugianto, I., Nakamitsu, Y., Hirano, M., Muto, Y., Ihara, H., Sugiyama, S.”Evaluation of the accuracy of heart dose prediction by machine learning for selecting patients not requiring deep inspiration breath-hold radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery”. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 26.5 (2023): 536.
  6. Fukumura, Y., Kuroda, M., Yoshida, S., Nakamura, Y., Nakamitsu, Y., Al-Hammad, W. E., Kuroda, K., Kamizaki, R., Shimizu, Y., Tanabe, Y., Sugimoto, K., Oita, M., Sugianto, I., Barham, M., Tekiki, N., Kamaruddin, N. N., Yanagi, Y., & Asaumi, J. (2023). Characteristic Mean Kurtosis Values in Simple Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging of Dentigerous Cysts. Diagnostics, 13(24), 3619.
  7. Nakamitsu, Y., Kuroda, M., Shimizu, Y., Kuroda, K., Yoshimura, Y., Yoshida, S., Nakamura, Y., Fukumura, Y., Kamizaki, R., Al-Hammad, W. E., Oita, M., Tanabe, Y., Sugimoto, K., Sugianto, I., Barham, M., Tekiki, N., & Asaumi, J. (2024). Enhancing Diagnostic Precision: Evaluation of Preprocessing Filters in Simple Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging for Head and Neck Tumors. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(6), 1783.
  8. Al-Hammad, W. E., Kuroda, M., Al Jamal, G., Fujikura, M., Kamizaki, R., Kuroda, K., Yoshida, S., Nakamura, Y., Oita, M., Tanabe, Y., Sugimoto, K., Sugianto, I., Barham, M., Tekiki, N., Hisatomi, M., & Asaumi, J. (2025). Robustness of Machine Learning Predictions for Determining Whether Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold Is Required in Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy. Diagnostics, 15(6), 668.
  9. Yoshida, S., Kuroda, M., Nakamura, Y., Fukumura, Y., Nakamitsu, Y., Al-Hammad, W. E., Kuroda, K., Shimizu, Y., Tanabe, Y., Oita, M., Sugianto, I., Barham, M., Tekiki, N., Kamaruddin, N. N., Hisatomi, M., Yanagi, Y., & Asaumi, J. (2025). Improving Diagnostic Performance for Head and Neck Tumors with Simple Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging and Machine Learning Bi-Parameter Analysis. Diagnostics, 15(6), 790.