In 1960 the Department of Dentistry was established at the Minsk State Medical Institute. The department was engaged in the training of dentists of therapeutic, surgical and orthopedic profile. Improving the training of dentists contributed to the allocation of highly specialized departments. So, in 1967 the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry was formed (now - the 1st Department of Therapeutic Dentistry). The head of the department was Associate Professor Yuri Klimentyevich Metlitsky.
During 1970 – 1971, the duties of the head of the department were performed by Associate Professor Ivan Danilovich Tesevich, a student of Yu. K. Metlitsky, a veteran of the Second World War, who made a great contribution to the development of training programs in therapeutic dentistry.
Scientific developments of the department staff covered a wide range of issues. The influence of odontogenic infection on the functional state of internal organs was studied. Methods of treatment of apical periodontitis were developed. Much attention was paid to the organization of dental care for the population, especially in country areas.
From 1971 to 1988, the department was headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Georgy Petrovich Sosnin. Under the guidance of Prof. Sosnin G. P. developed and introduced for the first time in practical health care a method of laser therapy treatment for mucosal diseases and periodontal diseases.
In 1979 the course of pediatric dentistry taught at the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry was transformed into the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, which was headed by Professor Eduard Melnichenko.
In the period from 1988 to 1990, the duties of the head of the department were performed by Associate Professor Orda Valery Nikolaevich.
The scientific activity of the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry during this period was completely reorganized for the first time and included solutions to a number of issues that study diseases of the oral mucosa and periodontal diseases from the position of causal relationship with the pathology of the body as a whole.
From 1990 to 2004, the department was headed by Professor Leus Pyotr Andreevich. Thanks to the efforts of Professor P. A. Leus, drastic changes have taken place in the dental service of the Republic of Belarus. When providing dental care, first at the department, and then in practical health care, new modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases were used, outdated methods of treatment were banned, local anesthesia was widely used in the treatment of teeth. During this period of time, the department was equipped with modern equipment that allows to receive patients in ergonomic conditions.
In 1996 according to the recommendations by WHO experts, for the first time in the CIS countries, the course "Dental public health" was developed and introduced into the educational process.
The improvement of the system of teaching students caused the need to organize new departments. In 1998, the department organized the 2nd Department of Therapeutic Dentistry (head of the department – Associate Professor Alexander Grigor’evich Tretyakovich), in 2003 - the 3rd Department of Therapeutic Dentistry (head of the Department - Professor Lyudmila Nikolaevna Dedova).
From 2005 to the present, the duties of the head of the department are performed by Associate Professor Kazeko Lyudmila Anatolyevna. Currently, the department teaches two disciplines: therapeutic dentistry and dental public health for students of the III and V courses of the Faculty of Dentistry and the Medical Faculty for foreign students in Russian and English languages.
Today, the 1st Department of Therapeutic Dentistry is a solidary creative team, a huge methodological and scientific work of teachers and students, medical and advisory work using innovative technologies. The department conducts practical classes and lectures with students of the 3rd and 5th courses in therapeutic dentistry and dental public health in Russian and English, advanced training courses for dentists, prepares students to participate in Olympiads and brain-rings abroad.