Rate My Professor Fiona Firth

Dr Fiona Firth is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Orthodontics, Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago. She earned her BDS with Distinction from the University of Otago in 2012, followed by general dental practice experience in the North Island, particularly in Levin. She then completed a three-year Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent) in Orthodontics at Otago, along with Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDS) in General Dental Practice, Membership in Orthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MOrth RCSEd), Membership in Orthodontics from the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (MRACDS(Ortho)), and certification from the Australasian Orthodontic Board. In her academic role, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate dental students, operates a craniofacial anomaly clinic at the Faculty of Dentistry, and maintains a private orthodontic practice in Dunedin. Additionally, she has served as Editor of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists’ newsletter.

Fiona Firth's research focuses on orthodontics, craniofacial biology, and the biology of tooth movement, including the development of tissue culture models to study orthodontic tooth movement, mechanical strain responses in periodontal ligament cells, endoplasmic reticulum stress, patient compliance during treatment, craniofacial growth and development, and clinical genetics. Her publications include 'The effect of clear aligners with posterior occlusal attachments on daytime masticatory muscle activity' (Hu et al., 2025, American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics), 'Treatment outcomes of Class II subdivision with clear aligners: A retrospective study' (Hatami et al., 2025, American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics), 'Orthodontic patient co-operation: a review of the clinician's role in predicting and improving patient compliance' (2021), 'Investigating orthodontic tooth movement: challenges and future directions' (2019), 'An in-vitro mechanical strain three-dimensional culture model: periodontal ligament cell viability, apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress response' (2020), and 'Sclerostin injection enhances orthodontic tooth movement in rats' (2018). With 134 citations, her contributions influence orthodontic research and practice. In 2023, she received the Sir John Walsh Research Institute Postgraduate Research Supervisor of the Year award for her exemplary supervision of Doctor of Clinical Dentistry students, noted for her supportive approach, constructive feedback, and encouragement of student achievements.