 Dr. Richard A. Williamson, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Dentistry, is featured in the Daily Iowan video "Memorial Garden." Dec 09, 2015 The University of Iowa is creating a garden and memorial area in Gibson Square, which is located directly south of the UI Main Library. The space will honor U.S. veterans and offer a healing and resiliency space for the campus and community. The idea was originally conceived by Dr. Rick Williamson, Department of Family Dentistry after he witnessed the difficulties experienced by his son who had served in Iraq. Williamson and April Tressler (DDS '16) originally proposed the Honor, Healing and Resiliency Garden to former UI President Sally Mason. "Credit should be given to President Harreld," says Dr. Williamson, "as this came to fruition just two weeks after a meeting between UI student veteran Nick Misiano and me with the UI president...President Harreld is dedicated to making the University of Iowa the number one veteran friendly campus in the nation, and his actions demonstrate his commitment to veterans." The tribute includes special garden landscaping, seating, memorial plaques to each of the Armed Services Branches, and a flagpole supporting the American flag. Site preparation and landscaping are finished, and final completion is expected in spring 2016. |
 Dr. Steven Levy, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, received a two-year $361,342 award from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Dec 07, 2015 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues at the UI Colleges of Dentistry and Public Health have received a two-year $361,342 award from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Dr. Levy is Wright-Bush-Shreves Endowed Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry and professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health. In addition to Dr. Levy, the other research team members include Drs. John Warren, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry; Karin Weber-Gasparoni, head of the the Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Teresa Marshall, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry; Justine Kolker, Department of Operative Dentistry; and Dr. Joseph Cavanaugh, Department of Biostatistics at the College of Public Health. The Iowa Fluoride Study began in 1991 and recruited a cohort of nearly 1,900 women with newborns to study longitudinally the complex exposures and intakes of fluoride from water, many foods, other beverages, and dental cavity prevention products, as well as relationships with dental caries (cavities) and other oral health conditions. Dietary and other factors were also assessed. Dental examinations were conducted at ages 5, 9, 13, and 17 to assess dental caries prevalence and incidence, as well as risk factors. Previous funding has been received from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other foundations. The new Carver Trust funding will support conducting a new wave of dental caries examinations at age 23 and will complement new NIDCR funding. |
 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues have received a $2,318,154 NIDCR award. Nov 23, 2015 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues at the UI Colleges of Dentistry, Public Health, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have received a two-year, $2,318,154 award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Their research project is entitled "Fluoride, Dietary and Other Factors Related to Young Adult Bone Measures and Dental Caries." Dr. Levy is Wright-Bush-Shreves Endowed Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry and professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health. Co-investigators include Drs. John Warren, Preventive and Community Dentistry; Karin Weber-Gasparoni, Pediatric Dentistry; Teresa Marshall, Preventive and Community Dentistry; and Justine Kolker, Operative Dentistry; College of Public Health faculty, Drs. Joseph Cavanaugh (Biostatistics), James Torner (Epidemiology), Linda Snetselaar (Epidemiology), and Trudy Burns (Epidemiology); Dr. Kathy Janz (Health and Human Physiology), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Punam Saha (Electrical-Computer Engineering), College of engineering. The NIDCR-funded Iowa Fluoride Study began in 1991 and recruited a cohort of nearly 1,900 women with newborns to study longitudinally the complex exposures and intakes of fluoride from water, many foods, other beverages, and dental cavity cavity preventiono products, as well as relationships with dental caries and other oral health conditions. Dietary and other factors were also assessed. Dental examinations were conducted at ages 5, 9, 13, and 17 to assess dental caries prevalence and incidence, as well as risk factors. As an extension of the Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS), the Iowa Bone Development Study (IBDS) was funded by NIDCR in 1998 to better understand normal childhood bone development and relationships with fluoride and other dietary intakes and physical activity, anthropometric, and genetic factors. Bone assessments were conducted with NIH and other grant support at ages 5, 8-9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. The new NIH funding will support conducting a new wave of assessments at age 23 that will include both dental caries examinations and bone assessments that include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the hip, lumbar spine, and whole body, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) of the radius and tibia, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) of the tibia. |
 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dental Research, and Department of Family Dentistry, and Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, have received a two-year Biohorizons grant. Nov 06, 2015 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dental Research and Department of Family Dentistry, and Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, have received a two-year, $64,248 grant from BioHorizons, Inc. for their research, "Comparison of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Bone Metabolism Mediators Around Laser-Lok and Machned Transmucosal Abutments: A Pilot, Randomized Clinic Trial." The study will be a pilot, prospective, randomized clinical trial to assess the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and bone metabolism mediators adjacent to Laser-Lok microgrooved (LL) or machined (M) transmucosal healing abutments. The study will seek recruitment of 12 subjects and is designed to investigate two principle aims driven by curren gaps in knowledge. Dr. Barwacz is principal investigator. Dr. Kim Brogden, Dental Research and Department of Periodontics, and Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz are co-investigators. |
 Shaun O'Neill (D3) was asked to speak to the Board of Regents on behalf of the UI College of Dentistry. Nov 02, 2015
Shaun, who is president of the Iowa American Student Dental Association (IASDA), highlighted the dental student research program; the student organizations and their impact on the local, state and national levels; and outreach activity across the state of Iowa. He also mentioned the first IASDA Summer Pre-Dental Academy, which took place in June. The board queried Shaun about the number of in-state students in each dental class, whether the students were selected/screened based on county in Iowa, and the amount of student debt, including details of the ranges and average amounts of debt at graduation. |
 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues at the University of Iowa's Colleges of Dentistry, Public Health, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have received a two-year NIDCR award for the Iowa Fluoride Study. Oct 26, 2015 Dr. Steven Levy, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, and colleagues at the University of Iowa's Colleges of Dentistry, Public Health, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have received a two-year award of $2,318,154 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) for their study, "Fluoride, Dietary and Other Factors Related to Young Adult Bone Measures and Dental Caries." Other research tream members include Drs. John Warren (Preventive & Community Dentistry), Karin Weber-Gasparoni (Pediatric Dentistry), Teresa Marshall (Preventive & Community Dentistry), and Justine Kolker (Operative Dentistry) all from the College of Dentistry; Drs. Joseph Cavanaugh (Biostatistics), and James Torner, Linda Snetselaar and Trudy Burns, all Epidemiology from the College of Public Health; Dr. Kathy Janz (Health and Human Physiology) from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Punam Saha (Electrical-Computer Engineering) from the College of Engineering. The NIDCR-funded Iowa Fluoride Study began in 1991. A cohort of nearly 1,900 women with newborns were recruited to study longitudinally the complex exposures and intakes of fluoride from water, many food, other beverages, and dental cavity prevention products, as well as relationships with dental caries (cavities) and other oral health conditions. Dietary and other factors were also assessed. Dental examinations were conducted at ages 5, 9, 13, and 17 to assess dental caries prevalence and incidence, as well as risk factors. As an extension of the Iowa Fluoride Study, the Iowa Bone Development Study was funded by NIDCR in 1998 to better understand normal childhood bone development and relationships with fluoride and other dietary intakes and physical activity, anthropometric, and genetic factors. Bone assessments were conducted with NIH and other grant support at ages 5, 8-9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. The new NIH funding will support conducting a new wave of assessments at age 23 that include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the hip, lumbar spine, and whole body, peripheral quantitative computer tomography (pQCT) of the radius and tibia, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) of the tibia. |
 Dr. Nathan Holton, an anthropologist researcher in the Department of Orthodontics, has been featured in a research profile video. Oct 16, 2015 The Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development, in collaboration with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Office of Strategic Communication, has produced a series of < 1 minute research profile videos featuring graduates of their "Communicating Ideas" workshop this past summer. Dr. Nathan Holton, an anthropologist researcher in the Department of Orthodontics, participated in the workshop and is featured in a research profile video. View the video. |
 UI College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics featured on ABC network's Good Morning America. Oct 07, 2015 On October 7, ABC's Good Morning America featured the UI College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics during a story, "How to Save Money on Dental Procedures." The College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics was included in the story to offer an option for providing affordable dental care in the faculty-supervised dental student clinics. Watch the video. |
 Dr. Jie Yang has been elected president of the International Association of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Radiology. Oct 05, 2015 Dr. Jie Yang ('96 MS and certificate, oral and maxillofacial radiology), professor and director of oral and maxillofacial radiology at Temple University in Phildelphia, is president-elect of the International Association of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Radiology (IADMFR). He was elected during the IADMFR's 20th International Congress in Santiago, Chile and will serve from 2015-2017. |
 Dr. Judy Greenlea-Taylor (DDS '91) is president-elect of the National Dental Association (NDA). Oct 05, 2015 Dr. Judy Greenlea-Taylor (DDS '91) is president-elect of the National Dental Association (NDA). As an Iowa dental student, Judy Greenlea-Taylor received the Dean's Leadership Award in 1988, 1989, and 1990. From 1989-1990, she was president of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA). In 1989 Judy attended the SNDA national meeting as a study represenative and was elected national recording secretary and regional coordinator for Region 2. In 1990, she also attended the SNDA national meeting. That same year, Judy also presented "Hemostatic Agents Used in Surgical Procedures" at the College of Dentistry's Local AADR Research Day. Dr. Greenlea-Taylor is past president of the North Georgia Dental Society (Atlanta chapter of the NDA). She was appointed by Georgia Governor Deal to the Georgia Board of Public Health and serves as the only dentist on the board. She has also worked with local and national leaders to promote awareness of disparities in healthcare. She has practiced dentistry in the public and private sectors for 22 years; she currently maintains a private practice in Union City. Ga. |
 Dr. Kathryn Kell (DDS '79) has been elected president of the Federation Dentaire International (FDI). Oct 05, 2015 Dr. Kathryn Kell (DDS '79) has been elected president of the Federation Dentaire International (FDI), an organization of nearly 200 worldwide dental associations and specialist groups, representing more than 1 million dentists internationally. She previously served as treasurer for the FDI and has been a member of the FDI Executive Committee. Dr. Kell is a past FDI Council member as the liaison for North America, and as a former chair of the FDI's Education Committee, she was responsible for running the FDI annual international congress. She has also served on the FDI Science Committee and the FDI Strategic Planning sessions. In 2012, Dr. Kell received the Alumna of the Year Award from the UI Dental Alumni Association and the College of Dentistry. She has a private practice in Davenport, Iowa. |
 Drs. Isabelle Denry and Julie Holloway have been notified that their latest patent has been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Sep 18, 2015 Drs. Isabelle Denry, Dental Research and Department of Prosthodontics, and Julie Holloway, head, Department of Prosthodontics, have been notified that their latest patent has been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent application was filed by the University of Iowa Research Foundation in November 2012. The award was announced September 8, 2015. The invention covers fluorapatite glass-ceramic compositions that can be processed at low temperature and possess a biomimetic microstructure, to be used as scaffold materials for bone replacement. |
 College of Dentistry students helped prepare mouthguards for area middle and high school athletes. Aug 25, 2015
Local dentists volunteered to go to the area middle and high schools during the evening, take impressions and pour up the casts for each school's football players. The project included most of the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids schools, along with several smaller rural schools -- in all, about 12 schools. The dental students first examined and fixed the casts, then trimmed and cleaned them. The mouthguards were given the school's color, and after cleaning and trimming some more, they were packaged up for delivery. Approximately 800 mouthguards were made. Proceeds from the mouthguard project will benefit the 2011 Patient Fund, to support patients who cannot pay for needed procedures. |
 Dr. Sreedevi Srinivasan, Department of Orthodontics, has been awarded an American Association of Orthodontics Scholarship to attend the 2015 ADEA/AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning. Aug 24, 2015 Dr. Sreedevi Srinivasan, Department of Orthodontics, has been awarded an American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) Scholarship to attend the 2015 ADEA/AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITL). The ITL gives awardees an opportunity to interact face-to-face with 60-70 colleagues who are in private practice and want to transition to full- or part-time teaching positions or are in the process of making this transition, along with faculty who are early in their teaching careers. There will be two phases of the ITL program: the first phase will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, August 20-22, 2015. The second phases will be held in Atlanta on October 22-24, 2015. |
 Dr. Michael Kanellis, associate dean for patient care, and professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has been appointed to the Iowa State Board of Health. Aug 24, 2015 Dr. Michael Kanellis, associate dean for patient care, and professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has been appointed as a member of the Iowa State Board of Health. He will serve a three-year term. The Iowa State Board of Health is the policy-making body for the Iowa Department of Public Health. Its responsibilities include adopting, promoting, amending, or repealing rules and regulations. It also advises or makes recommendations to the governor, General Assembly, and the director of Public Health, on public health, hygiene and sanitation. |
 Dr. Rodrigo Rocha Maia, Department of Operative Dentistry, has received two grants from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Jul 14, 2015 Dr. Rodrigo Rocha Maia, Department of Operative Dentistry, has received two grants from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). A $4,100 ADEA grant will support his research project, "Comparison of Light Propagation in Dental Tissue and Resin-Based Composite by Lasers." The use of laser (He-Ne) in three different wavelengths (red, green and blue) will be used to evaluated the light propagation (absorption, transmittance, attenuation coefficient, scattering and back scattering) in enamel dentin and dentino-enamel junction (DEJ) and to compare the difference among three incremental build-up techniques: one shade (body shade), two shades (enamel and dentin shades) and three shades (enamel, transparent and dentin shades) using a nano-filled resin based composite. Dr. Rocha Maia is principal investigator. Dr. Hanan Adel Elgendy, an operative dentistry resident, is co-investigator. A $3,300 ADEA grant will support Dr. Rocha Maia's research on "Esthetic Blending: Visual vs. Spectrophotometer Data Analysis for Different Bevels in Class 4 RBC's Direct Restorations." The use of bevels in anterior direct resin restorations has been advocated for both improved retention and esthetics of class IV restorations. Research is available to support the retentive aspect of bevels but there is limited scientific evidence to support the esthetic need and a lack of literature on what type of bevel to use on a factured incisor to make the finish line disappear. The goal of this research will be to determine what type of bevel to use on class IV build ups. Dr. Rocha Maia is principal investigator. Dr. Tracy D'Antonio, an operative dentistry resident, is co-investigator. |
 Dr. Liu Hong, Dental Research and Department of Prosthodontics, has received a two-year, $417,125 NIH grant to support his research project, "A MicroRNA-based Approach for Periodontitis-associated Bone Loss." Jul 14, 2015 Dr. Liu Hong, Dental Research and Department of Prosthodontics, has received a two-year, $417,125 NIH grant to support his research project, "A MicroRNA-based Approach for Periodontitis-associated Bone Loss." The research will determine with molecular function and potential underlying mechanism(s) mediated by a member of the microRNA-200 family on major proinflammatory and bone factors that cause peridontitis-associated bone loss. It will establish a proof of concept in which this specific microRNA can be used to inhibit periodontal bone loss. Dr. Hong is principal investigator for the project. Brad A. Amendt, associate dean for research; Kim Brogden, director of Dows; and Dr. Ali Salem, College of Pharmacy, are co-investigators. |
 Dr. David Drake, Department of Endodontics and Dental Research, has been appointed as a new University of Iowa (UI)faculty representative. Jul 14, 2015 Dr. David Drake, Department of Endodontics and Dental Research, has been appointed by University of Iowa (UI)President Sally Mason as a new faculty athletics representative. He will serve as one of two representatives who advise the president, monitor compliance with student athlete eligibility and other National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, and serve as the UI's institutional voice at national meetings and conferences. Dr. Drake will replace Dr. Gene Parkin, College of Engineering, who is retiring. Dr. Ellie Herman, College of Education, will continue to serve as the second representative. Dr. Drake has served on several UI committees, including the Graduate Council, the Faculty Senate, and Faculty Council. He was Faculty Senate president from 2009 to 2010. From 2011 to 2013, he also served as senior associate to President Mason. Most recently, he has served as presiding officer of the Judicial Commission from 2013-2015. In 2011, Dr. Drake received the Board of Regents Award for Faculty Excellence and also the Michael J. Brody Award for Faculty Excellence in Service. |
 The Iowa orthodontics residents win first prize in the AAO Resident Case Display Program. Jun 23, 2015
Residents from all ADA-accredited orthodontic residency programs across North America are invited to display their best treated cases for the College of Diplomates -- Resident Case Display Program each year during the annual AAO session. This year, 62 orthodontic residency programs from the U.S. and Canada participated in the competition. The criteria used by the judges include treatment planning and execution, quality of the completed case, records, case write-up, and unique features from pretreatment to the final result. Amongst 180 cases judged this year, the Department of Orthodontics was selected as the best and was awarded first prize. Last year, the Orthodontics department won second prize in the same competition with 56 orthodontics residency programs and more than 150 cases. |
 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Department of Family Dentistry, has received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. Jun 22, 2015 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Department of Family Dentistry, has received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. Kate Hoogeveen (Class of 2015) nominated her mentor because of his excellent advice and encouragement during her research project, "Comparison of Instruction and Provision of Clinical Implant Therapy in Pre-Doctoral Curricula in United States and Canadian Dental Schools." Co-authors on her research project included Dr. Barwacz, Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, and Dr. Veerasathpurush Allareddy, Department of Orthodontics. Dr. Avila-Ortiz was also one of Kate's mentors. |
 Dr. Arwa Owais received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. She was nominated by Walker Clark (D2) for her mentorship during his research project Jun 22, 2015 Dr. Arwa Owais, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. Walker Clark (D2) nominated Dr. Owais, one of Walker's mentors, who led him through the research process. His project, "Success of Partial Pulpotomy Treatment in Crown-Fractured Young Permanent Insisors," took second place in the Procter and Gamble Pre-Doctoral Poster Competition at the Iowa Section of the American Association for Dental Research. Co-authors on Walker's poster included Dr. Owais; Dr. Karin Weber-Gasparoni, head, Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. Mike Kanellis, Clinic Administration and Pediatric Dentistry; and Dr. Fang Qian, Biostatistics Unit. Drs. Weber-Gasparoni and Qian are also Walker's mentors. |
 Keyla Pagan-Rivera, a graduate research assistant in the Biostatistics Unit at the College of Dentistry, has received the William R. Clarke Graduate Research Assistant Award. Jun 22, 2015 The College of Public Health's biostatistics department honored Keyla Pagan-Rivera with the award, which recognizes her outstanding performance as a graduate research assistant. Keyla has just completed her fourth year as a PhD student and hopes to complete her dissertation during the next one and one-half years. |
 Dr. Christopher Friedl receives the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) / Dentsply Resident Award. Jun 22, 2015 Dr. Christopher Friedl, an endodontics resident, received the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) / Dentsply Resident Award during the recent AAE meeting in Seattle, Wash. He received the award for his oral presentation, "Comparison of Mechanical and Indirect Ultrasonic Placement Technique on MTA Retrofill Density in Simulated Root-End Surgery." Co-authors on his presentation included Dr. Anne Williamson, Chris's primary mentor; Dr. Manuel Gomez, also Endodontics; and Dr. Deborah Dawson, Biostatistics Unit director. |
 Ms. Elaine Brown receives the Hancher-Finkbine Medallion. May 15, 2015 Ms. Elaine Brown, director of student admissions, was presented with the Hancher-Finkbine Medallion during the 2015 Finkbine Dinner, which was held May 5 at the Iowa Memorial Union. Ms. Cathy Solow, associate dean for student affairs, noted that Elaine Brown "has held five positions of increasing responsibility" during her 42 years of service to the college. "Ms. Brown does an outstanding job of leading the highly selective admissions process... holds a national leadership position on the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service Task Force." Ms. Solow adds that Elaine Brown "shows outstanding judgment in how she represents the College and profession, views applicants as individuals, and in how she cultivates and encourages the best and the brightest for the dental profession." |
 Justin Anderson (D4) awarded a Distinguished Student Leader Certificate. May 15, 2015 Justin Anderson (D4) was awarded a Distinguished Student Leader Certificate during the recent 98th Anniversary Dinner for UI Representative Student Leaders, which was held May 5, 2015. Justin was honored for his involvement with the Hispanic Dental Association, including his role as a board member; his Simulation Clinic tutoring; and his academic involvement. He has participated in the Miles of Smiles Team (MOST) mission trip to Guatemala and has presented his research at national meetings. "I am very proud to have been selected for the award," Justin says. |
 Dr. Vrushali Abhyankar, a periodontics resident, receives first place at the 2015 IDA meeting. May 08, 2015 Dr. Vrushali Abhyankar, a resident in the Department of Periodontics, received first place at the 2015 Iowa Dental Association Meeting for her table clinic, “The Chemokine and Cytokine Response of a Keratinocyte, Dendritic Cell, and T-cell Co-culture Model Treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis Hemagglutinin B.” She received a certificate and cash prize of $500. Co-authors on her table clinic include Dr. Carol Fischer, Dows; Amber Bates, PhD candidate, Dows; Prashant Nair, Robinson Vivda and Shwetha Chandrashekaraiah, Cellworks Group, Inc.; Dr. Georgia Johnson, head of the Department of Periodontics; Taher Abbasi and Shireen Vali, Cellworks Group, Inc.; and Dr. Kim Brogden, director of the Dows Institute and faculty in the Department of Periodontics. Dr. Brogden is Vrushali’s mentor. The research was supported by an NIH grant and also a grant from Cellworks Group, Inc. |
 Ursula Diehl (D4) has received the AAPD Certificate for Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Pediatric Dentistry. May 07, 2015 Ursula Diehl (D4) was awarded the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Certificate for Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Pediatric Dentistry during the Department of Pediatric Dentistry's annual awards luncheon on April 8. Following the June graduation of the fourth-year dental students, Ursula will begin the pediatric dentistry residency program at Iowa on July 1. |
 Dr. Nathan Holton, Department of Orthodontics, is receiving worldwide press for his article, "The Ontogeny of the Chin: An Analysis of Allometric and Biomechanical Scaling." May 06, 2015 An article by Dr. Nathan Holton, Department of Orthodontics, is receiving worldwide press. "The Ontogeny of the Chin: An Analysis of Allometric and Biomechanical Scaling" will be published in the June 2015 issue of Journal of Anatomy. It is currently available as an "early bird" selection on the journal's website. The article's research on the human chin has been featured on television station KGAN, Discovery News, Christian Science Monitor, Time, BBC World News Radio, and Mentalfloss.com. Although one long-standing hypothesis has suggested that humans and no other primates, including Neandertals (also known as Neanderthals), have chins to resist mechanical forces during chewing, Holton and colleagues have not found any correlation. Instead, they argue that the chin may simply be a consequence of human evolving smaller faces over time. According to Robert Franciscus, a professor in the University of Iowa Department of Anthropology, as modern humans evolved from isolated communities into more social and cooperative groups, the changes in hormone levels, particularly testosterone, results in smaller faces, which led to the development of a chin. The research done by Holton and colleagues performed facial biomechanical analyses by collecting 292 longitudinal cephalometric observations from 19 females and 18 males who were part of the Iowa Facial Growth Study from age 3 to 20+ years. This study began in 1946 and was run by Dr. L. Bodine Higley, Department of Orthodontics, and Dr. Howard V. Meredith from the Child Welfare Research Station. Co-authors on the Journal of Anatomy article include Dr. Laura Bonner, formerly Department of Orthodontics; Jill E. Scott, a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology; Dr. Steven Marshall, adjunct associate professor, Department of Orthodontics; Dr. Robert Franciscus, UI Departments of Anthropology and Orthodontics (secondary appointment); and Dr. Thomas Southard, head of the Department of Orthodontics. |
 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dows Institute and Department of Family Dentistry, has received a one-year, $26,125 research grant from DENTSPLY Implants IH AB (Molndal, Sweden) as part of a multicenter study. May 06, 2015 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dows Institute and Department of Family Dentistry, has received a one-year, $26,125 research grant from DENTSPLY Implants IH AB (Molndal, Sweden) as part of a multicenter study entitled "A Retrospective Multicenter Study Evaluating ATLANTIS Abutments on Implants from Four Manufacturers." The purpose of this retrospective study is to provide scientific outcomes data on the clinical performance and stability of titanium and gold-shaded titanium computer-aided design and computer-aided manufactured (CAD/CAM) ATLANTIS abutments when connected to implants from four major implant manufacturers. Dr. Ghadeer Thalji, Department of Prosthodontics, is a clinical co-investigator on this project. |
 Josephine Meis (D2), Shaun O'Neill (D2), Zachary Goettsche (D3), and Mary Kaufmann (D2) attended the March 31 Hawkeye Caucus in Des Moines. Apr 13, 2015
The four dental students met with Iowa Senator Roby Smith and Iowa Representatives Cindy Winckler, Vicki Lensing, and Cecil Dolecheck. |
 Dr. Fabricio Teixeira, DEO of the Department of Endodontics, is a co-author on a 2014 Journal of Endodontics best article. Mar 27, 2015 An article co-authored by Dr. Fabricio Teixeira, head of the Department of Endodontics, was recognized by the Journal of Endodontics (JOE) editorial board as one of the best articles published in JOE during 2014: Martin DE, De Almeida JF, Henry MA, Khaing ZZ, Schmidt CE, Teixeira FB, Diogenes A. Concentration-dependent effect of sodium hypochlorite on stem cells of apical papilla survival and differentiation. J Endod. 2014;40(1):51-5. The article won the award under the Basic Science: Biology category. The JOE editorial board announced the paper represents significant advances in endodontics and was selected for its scientific merit and broad impact on dental research, originality of research objective, ideas presented, creativity of study design and uniqueness of approaches and concepts, validity of statistical and/or epidemiological methods; and clarity of presentation. |
 Ms. Nancy Slach, Department of Periodontics, has been reappointed to the Iowa Dental Board for another three-year term. Mar 20, 2015 Ms. Nancy Slach, Department of Periodontics, has been reappointed to the Iowa Dental Board for another three-year term. Dr. Will McBride (DDS '10) has just been appointed to the board. Dr. Kaaren Vargas, former faculty in Dows and the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, is also a board member. Her current position will expire in 2016. The board members are appointed by the Iowa governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. |
 Dr. Michelle McQuistan, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, has been selected to attend the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Leadership Institute. Mar 20, 2015 Dr. Michelle McQuistan, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, has been selected to attend the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Leadership Institute for 2015-2016. The ADEA Leadership Institute is a yearlong program designed to develop the most promising individuals at academic dental institutions to become future leaders in dental and high education. The program helps participants gain decision-making, priority setting and conflict resolution skills and learn to use them effectively. Participants also learn about policy issues affecting academic dentistry, speaking as an advocate with national policymakers, strengthening relationships within their institutions and nationwide, expanding their administrative competencies, understanding how a dental education institution fits into the parent institution, and emerging with a personal career plan. |
 The 62nd Annual Meeting of the Iowa Section of AADR was held February 10, 2015, at the College of Dentistry. Feb 20, 2015 The 62nd annual meeting of the Iowa Section of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) was held February 10, 2015, at the UI College of Dentistry. Dean Johnsen gave the welcome address and Dr. Chris Barwacz, president of the Iowa Section of AADR gave introduction for the keynote speaker, Dr. Anthony Brennan, University of Florida at Gainesville, whose address was “A New Model for Bioadhesion.” Following Dr. Brennan there were oral, poster and table clinic presentations. The awards banquet was held that evening at the Coralville Holiday Inn. Ms. Rebecca Van Horn, Procter and Gamble, attended the meeting and awards banquet. Meeting sponsors included DENTSPLY Implants, the American Dental Association, Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, and Procter and Gamble.
|
 Drs. Lina Moreno Uribe and Azeez Butali receive five-year NIH subcontract grants. Feb 09, 2015 Dr. Lina Moreno Uribe, Dows Dental Research and Department of Orthodontics; Dr. Azeez Butali, Dows Dental Research and Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; and Dr. Jeffrey Murray, UI Department of Pediatrics, have received subcontracts within an $11.8 million five-year NIH grant entitled, "Extending the Phenotype of Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts," which was awarded to Dr. Mary Marazita at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Moreno Uribe's subcontract amount is $1,324,191. The subcontract amount for Dr. Murray, who is the principal investigator, and for Dr. Butali, who is a co-investigator, is $1,300,000. This project will continue to investigate the genetic factors underlying the spectrum of craniofacial and dental anomalies present in about 1,500 families with orofacial clefting and 2,000 controls from Colombia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Pennsylvania. Drs. Moreno and Butali will be involved in the Colombian and Nigerian data collection and analyses. Co-investigators on this grant will include Martine Dunnwald, UI Department of Pediatrics, and Dr. Seth Weinberg and Alexandre Vieira, University of Pittsburgh. |
 Dr. Dan Caplan, head of the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, has received a $25,000 Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation grant. Feb 04, 2015 Dr. Daniel Caplan, DEO, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, has received a $25,000 Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation grant. Dr. Caplan will be principal investigator and Dr. Cowen, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, will be a co-investigator. The grant money will be used for the project, “Restoration and Tooth Longevity among Nursing Home Residents: a 30-Year Retrospective Study.” The researchers will evaluate the longevity of dental restorations and teeth among nursing home residents treated by UI College of Dentistry students and faculty from 1985-2014, to determine what factors were related to restoration (or tooth) longevity. The information could be used to better inform community-dwelling functionally dependent elderly or nursing facility residents about their restorative treatment options and potentially generate preliminary “best practice guidelines” for restorative dental care. |
 Dr. Arwa Owais, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, receives two grants from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation for her research, "Bedsharing and Nighttime Oral Health Habits among WIC-Enrolled Children Study." Feb 04, 2015 Dr. Arwa Owais, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has received two grants from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Her $4,000 grant will support her research, “Bedsharing and Nighttime Oral Health Habits among WIC-Enrolled Children Study.” The purpose of the one-year grant is to determine if there is a relationship between a child’s habit of bedsharing with its mother and the child’s nighttime oral health habits and subsequent risk for early childhood caries (ECC). Data from 1500 charts will be collected from records of patients seen at the University of Iowa’s Infant Oral Health Program (IOHP) at the Johnson County Department of Public Health WIC Clinic. Dr. Owais will be principal investigator; Dr. Karin Weber-Gasparoni, head of Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. Fang Qian, Biostatistics Unit; and Dr. Vanessa Axelson, Pediatric Dentistry resident, will be co-investigators. Dr. Owais also received a second Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation grant for her research, “Medical Management of Caries in the Primary Dentition Using Silver Nitrate: a Pilot Study.” The one-year $25,000 grant will be used to study children having at least one primary tooth where caries extend into dentine. Children will be randomized and treated according to one of two treatment approaches: conventional caries management with best practice prevention, or medical management of caries using silver nitrate with best practice prevention. Dr. Owais will be principal investigator on this project. Drs. Michael Kanellis, Deborah Dawson, Matthew Geneser, and Karin Weber-Gasparoni, Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Gayle Gilbaugh and Cathy Skotowski, also Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. David Drake, Dows Dental Research; Dr. Alberto Gasparoni, Oral Pathology, Radiology & Medicine; Wei Liu, Biostatistics Unit; Dr. Reem Oweis, dentistry fellow associate, and Dr. John Warren, both Preventive & Community Dentistry; and Dr. George Wehby, College of Public Health, will be co-investigators. |
 Dr. Gustavo Avila Ortiz receives a $40,000 BioHorizons grant. Jan 27, 2015 Dr. Gustavo Avila Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, received a $40,000 research grant from BioHorizons, Inc. (Birmingham, Ala.) to conduct a study entitled "Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Different Surgical Approaches to Increase Peri-implant Mucosa Thickness: A Randomized Clinical Trial." The purpose of this non-inferiority trial is to determine the clinical efficacy of a soft tissue allograft (i.e., acellular human dermal matrix) in the augmentation of facial mucosa thickness around an implant as compared to an autologous subepithelial connective tissue graft in human adults. Dr. Christopher Hutton, a second-year resident in Periodontics, is the main co-investigator. He will use the results of this clinical trial to complete the requirements to obtain his MS. Other co-investigators include Dr. Georgia Johnson, DEO of Periodontics; Dr. KelseyTengan, first-year periodontics resident; Dr. Chris Barwacz, Department of Prosthodontics and Dows Institute for Dental Research; and Dr. Veersathpurush Allareddy, Department of Orthodontics. This study is currently ongoing and is actively recruiting patients. Mr. Richard Barwacz is the study coordinator. For further details, visit this website. |
 Dr. Satheesh Elangovan, Department of Periodontics, receives a two-year NIH R21 grant. Jan 12, 2015 Dr. Satheesh Elangovan, Department of Periodontics, has received a two-year NIH grant. The award amount is projected to be $406,285 and will be used for his research, "A Novel RNA-Based Biomaterial for Bone Regeneration." Results from this study will provide critical information on the feasibility and effectiveness of cmRNA-based therapeutics for bone regeneration. New knowledge gained from the research will likely have implications in developing future bio-inspired materials for tissue engineering applications. Co-investigators on Dr. Elangovan's research project include Dr. Liu Hong, Dows Research; Dr. Deborah Dawson, director, Biostatistics Unit; and Dr. Aliasger Salem, College of Pharmacy. Drs. Georgia K. Johnson, Department of Periodontics; Clark M. Stanford, University of Illinois, Chicago; and Michael Kormann, University of Tübingen, Germany, are consultants on this project. |
 Dr. Leonardo Marchini receives a $166,440 Delta Dental Foundation grant. Jan 12, 2015 The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has donated $166,440 to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics to support oral health research for aging Iowans. The project focuses on the implementation and evaluation of preventive oral health care treatments provided in a nursing facility. “There is increasing evidence that oral health plays an important role in nursing facility residents’ nutrition, general health and life satisfaction,” said Dr. David Johnsen, dean of The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. “Further understanding of the complex tooth decay process and opportunity to develop a feasible, easy-to-deliver treatment in the nursing facility setting will help improve oral health and overall health of aging Iowans.” “The Foundation recognizes the growing need for preventive treatment among aging Iowans in nursing facilities,” said Jeff Russell, president of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. “Alongside the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, funding for this research initiative demonstrates the Foundation’s long-term investment in the oral health of aging Iowans.” The funding also reflects the Foundation’s 2020 goal and commitment to ensure access to oral health care for every Iowa nursing home resident and homebound elderly person. The results of this research will provide important information to dental and health professionals in the nursing facility setting on the most effective oral health treatment. As principal investigator, Dr. Leonardo Marchini, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, will use the two-year grant for his research, "Iowa Nursing Facility Oral Hygiene Intervention: A Pilot Study." The project will evaluate the effectiveness of dental hygienist-delivered oral health interventions in six area Iowa nursing facilities. Co-investigators include Drs. Daniel Caplan, Howard Cowen, and Jennifer Hartshorn, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry; Drs. Michael Kanellis, Clinic Administration; Deborah Dawson, director of the Biostatistics Unit; and Dr. David Drake, Dows Research. Heather Stallman and Allison Winter, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, will provide staff support. |
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, 801 Newton Rd., Iowa City, IA 52242-1010, 319-335-9650
©2018 The College of Dentistry & The University of Iowa. All rights reserved. | Privacy Statement
Shaun O'Neill (D3) was asked to speak to the Board of Regents on behalf of the UI College of Dentistry. He gave a presentation during their October 21 meeting, which was held on campus in the Iowa Memorial Union.
College of Dentistry students helped prepare mouthguards for area middle and high school athletes. 
The UI Department of Orthodontics won first prize in the Resident Case Display Program during the annual meeting of the recent American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), which was held in San Francisco.
Josephine Meis (D2), Shaun O'Neill (D2), Zachary Goettsche (D3) and Mary Kaufmann (D2) attended the March 31, 2015, Hawkeye Caucus. The goal of their visit was to lobby Iowa lawmakers to change dental boards so live patients are not included.