The Faculty of Dentistry contributes to our profession’s body of knowledge through our active faculty research, outstanding curriculum and amongst the most technologically advanced dental clinics in the world, the Nobel BioCare Oral Health Centre.

There have been remarkable changes in dentistry in almost 60 years since the first class began, and the UBC Faculty of Dentistry has been instrumental in these advances in the oral health sciences. The Faculty of Dentistry is particularly well prepared to continue making significant contributions to our profession’s body of knowledge through our active faculty research, outstanding curriculum and amongst the most technologically advanced dental clinics in the world, the Nobel BioCare Oral Health Centre.

UBC Dentistry is committed to delivering outstanding research-intensive MSc and PhD graduate studies in the field of Craniofacial Science. Studies can be done in the areas of population health, oral health-related clinical research including both interventional and observational studies, and basic science research in the areas of biomaterials, cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology and molecular biology.

Our training programs include endodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Specialty training must be completed in combination with an MSc or PhD degree. These programs complement our General Practice Residency Program and Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology Residency Program. Our combined educational approach ensures that newly graduated clinicians are well prepared to critically evaluate new treatment modalities as they are developed, and participate actively in clinical research.
 

Mission
To advance oral health through outstanding education, research, and community service.
 

Research Facilities

Opened in March 2006, the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre is the hub of UBC Dentistry patient care and clinical learning. The 39,000 sq. ft clinical facility accommodates 144 operatories, a state-of-the-art central sterilization dispensary, as well as a suite of seminar rooms, clinical laboratories and radiology units. A networked chairside software system manages patient information and stores digital images. The Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre uses state-of-the-art technology and an innovative architectural design to create a modern, efficient space for clinical learning, community service and research.

Research Highlights

UBC Dentistry’s areas of excellence are grouped in three research clusters:

Research Supervisors in Faculty

Name Research Interests
Aleksejuniene, Jolanta Theory-based behavioural management, Evidence-based Practice, Caries risk assessment, ePortfolio learning, Oral Epidemiology
Almeida, Fernanda Dentistry and oral health; Sleep and Sleep Disorders; craniofacial characteristics in sleep apnea; diagnosis; edentulism; oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea; sleep apnea
Bromme, Dieter Lysosomal proteases, centre for blood research
Brondani, Mario Dentistry and oral health; Community Health / Public Health; Dental Health; social determinants of health; Health Policies; Quality of Life and Aging; Adult Education and Continuing Education; Epidemiology; Access to care; Dental Education; Dental Geriatrics; Dental Public Health; Epidemiological data; Health Policy; Qualitative research
Bryant, Ross Prosthodontics, Geriatrics, Patient-based assessments, Oral implants, Jawbone densitometry
Carvalho, Rick Other health sciences, n.e.c.; Biomaterials; materials interfaces; bonding to hard tissues; materials development
Coil, Jeffrey Martin Pulp Biology, Endodontic Materials
Donnelly, Leeann Oral Malodor, Special Care Populations, Community Oral Health Education and Program Development
Ford, Nancy Medical physics; Medical biotechnology diagnostics (including biosensors); Dental materials and equipment; micro-computed tomography; physiological gating; contrast agents; models of respiratory disease; image-based measurements; dental imaging; x-ray imaging
Gebril, Mohamed
Grazziotin Soares, Renata Dentistry and oral health; Endodontics - materials and techniques, digital technologies, micro-CT and synchrotron images; Dental Education
Hakkinen, Lari Dentistry and oral health; Cell signaling; Cell therapy; Cell to cell communication; Connective Tissue; Extracellular matrix; Fibroblasts, MSC; Oral mucosa and skin; Tissue regeneration; Wound Healing
Hieawy, Ahmed Endodontics; Pedodontics; Dental Trauma; Endodontic Treatment Outcome; Endodontic Microsurgery; Endodontic Instrumentation; Pediatric Endodontics; Endodontic Treatment for Medically Compromised Patients
Kim, Hugh platelet biochemistry
Larjava, Hannu Wound healing
Laronde, Denise Cancer; oral cancer screening; malignant transformation; early detection; oral premalignant lesions
MacDonald, David Systematic review, Diagnostic radiology, particularly of the Hong Kong Chinese
Macdougall, Mary molecular mechanisms associated with epithelial mesenchymal interactions, identification of critical signaling pathways, matrix formation and biomineralization
Mathu-Muju, Kavita Public Health Dentistry, Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
Matthew, Ian Dental Education, biomaterials; implantology
Moghavemitehrani, Hooman Dentistry and oral health, n.e.c.; Prosthodontics dentistry
Overall, Christopher Mark Blood research, antiviral immunity
Pigozzo Manso, Adriana Dentistry and oral health; Color shade in resin composite; Dental adhesive interfaces; Resin dentin bond stability
Pliska, Benjamin Dentistry and oral health; Sleep and Sleep Disorders; Oro-Dental Disorders; Facial growth and development; sleep medicine
Poh, Catherine Optical Techniques and oral precancer management

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Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Dentistry.

 

Publication: Bioactive Materials
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 2452199X
Volume: 23
Page Range: 394-408
Publication Date: May 2023

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Publication: Bioactive Materials
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 2452199X
Volume: 23
Page Range: 16-44
Publication Date: May 2023

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Publication: JHEP Reports
UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: April 2023

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Publication: Cleft and Craniofacial Orthodontics
UBC Author(s): Benjamin Pliska (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Page Range: 757-769
Publication Date: 10 March 2023

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Publication: Journal of Dental Research
UBC Author(s): Fernanda Almeida (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 00220345
Volume: 102
Page Range: 263-269
Publication Date: March 2023

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Publication: Oral Diseases
UBC Author(s): Fang-Yeu Poh (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 1354523X
Volume: 29
Page Range: 483-490
Publication Date: March 2023

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Publication: Thrombosis and Haemostasis
UBC Author(s): Hugh Kim (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 03406245
Volume: 123
Page Range: 219-230
Publication Date: 7 February 2023

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Publication: Scientific reports
UBC Author(s): Lari Hakkinen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 13
Page Range: 2047
Publication Date: 4 February 2023

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Publication: Sleep Medicine Reviews
UBC Author(s): Benjamin Pliska (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 10870792
Volume: 67
Publication Date: February 2023

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Publication: Clinical Oral Investigations
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 14326981
Volume: 27
Page Range: 715-725
Publication Date: February 2023

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Publication: Bioactive Materials
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 2452199X
Volume: 20
Page Range: 418-433
Publication Date: February 2023

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Publication: European Journal of Dental Education
UBC Author(s): Hsingchi von Bergmann (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry), Leeann Donnelly (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 13965883
Volume: 27
Page Range: 174-180
Publication Date: February 2023

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Publication: Journal of Medical Imaging
UBC Author(s): Nancy Ford (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 23294302
Volume: 10
Publication Date: 1 January 2023

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Publication: Kidney International
UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 00852538
Volume: 103
Page Range: 218-222
Publication Date: January 2023

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Publication: European Journal of Dental Education
UBC Author(s): Hsingchi von Bergmann (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 13965883
Publication Date: 2023

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Publication: Journal of School Health
UBC Author(s): Hsingchi von Bergmann (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry), Jolanta Aleksejuniene (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 00224391
Volume: 93
Page Range: 34-43
Publication Date: January 2023

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Publication: Journal of Dental Sciences
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 19917902
Publication Date: 2023

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Publication: Odontology
UBC Author(s): Ahmed Hieawy (Dentistry, Dean's Office / Faculty of Dentistry), Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 16181247
Volume: 111
Page Range: 49-56
Publication Date: January 2023

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Publication: Dentistry Journal
UBC Author(s): Jolanta Aleksejuniene (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 11
Publication Date: January 2023

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Publication: Progress in orthodontics
UBC Author(s): Mary Macdougall (Dentistry, Dean's Office / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 23
Page Range: 53
Publication Date: 30 December 2022

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Publication: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
UBC Author(s): Hugh Kim (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 9
Publication Date: 20 December 2022

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Publication: Journal of Proteome Research
UBC Author(s): Christopher Mark Overall (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 15353893
Volume: 21
Page Range: 2837-2839
Publication Date: 2 December 2022

View Publication

Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2022 Dr. Urbanetto Peres investigated the role of adhesion molecules and oxidative stress markers in sleep apnea patients. These long-term follow-up studies help us understand how can we better identify which patients are at increased risk of serious adverse consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Hamoda's research focused on the management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. She conducted clinical trials to compare the effectiveness of the two main OSA therapies. She also explored the combination of these two therapies. Her work is a step towards providing a personalized treatment approach and an improved overall management of OSA. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Alwafi introduced novel methods to assess three-dimensional tooth movement for the maxillary and mandibular dentitions. These methods help clinicians and researchers in assessing tooth movement and planning treatments. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Orthodontics (PhD/Dip. Orthodontics)
2022 Dr. Gazzaz studied how social factors influence oral health in children and adolescents. She found that several psychosocial factors associate with oral health providing insights into the pathways potentially linking social factors and oral health. Her research contributes to our understanding of oral health inequalities. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Alawaji studied the factors that could impact the risk of having gum diseases in a group of never treated individuals. She found many factors contributed to having the gum disease such as the increased age, male sex, low education, low income, cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
2022 Dr. Liu examined the biological signatures of tumour spread to neck lymph nodes in early-stage oral cancer. Her work revealed micro-RNA and immune genes, and nuclear phenotype that can identify high-risk patients. This contributes to translating clinical biomarkers for the decision of early neck management and preventing under- and over-treatment. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
2021 Dr. Adeniyi explored the views of healthcare providers and pregnant women in British Columbia on integrated prenatal oral care. Her results show the need for a clear referral process for prenatal oral care, oral health funding, and interprofessional collaboration. A model to guide healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocates was produced. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Al-Sahan identified that the integration of five biopsychosocial theories can help explain how people cope and adapt to loss of visible body parts. She subsequently applied the theories in the context of coping with complete tooth loss thereby proposing a model that explains the process of coping with tooth loss. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Prosthodontics (PhD/Dip. Prosthodontics)
2020 Dr. Danescu established novel microscopic methods to visualize the embryonic face as it develops. He was able to see coordinated and symmetrical patterns of cell behaviour and observe how specific drugs block cell movements. The insights from his work will impact our understanding of normal and abnormal facial development. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
2020 Dr. Ahmed investigated the effects of preparation design and sintering on the marginal accuracy of zirconia crowns, and established an innovative method for measuring the shrinkage of zirconia crowns during processing. This research provides valuable knowledge for achieving precise fit and improving the clinical success of zirconia restorations. Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Prosthodontics (PhD/Dip. Prosthodontics)

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