Dean's Message

Research and discovery are central to the mission and vision of the College of Dentistry. Over the last several years, the college has made remarkable advances in every metric for research success with increases in external and NIH funding, a record numbers of NIH grant submissions, and an award-winning student research program among other metrics. We are being recognized by our peer dental institutions and within the larger university. Just this week, the university recognized Karen Weber-Gasparoni and her team’s recent NIH-funded clinical trial. With our on-going efforts to provide seed funds for pilot projects and secure a research center grant in oral cancer, we are excited for what the future holds! ~Clark Stanford

Updates for July 15, 2022–July 21, 2022

Iowa undergraduate and soon-to-be first-year dental student wins research award

At the annual meeting of the International Association for Dental Research, the Cranofacial Biology Group awarded Vi Phan a Junior Competition award for her research presentation, "Spatial-Temporal Transcriptomic Profiling of Initiation Stage of Tooth Development." Huojun Cao, assistant professor in the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research, is Phan's mentor, and Fan Shao, postdoctoral fellow in Cao's lab was also integral to her work. Phan just completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and will be started her first-year of dental school at Iowa this fall. 

New department head for prosthodontics

The college is proud to announce the appointment of Aaron Cho, as the next department head of prosthodontics at the University of Iowa. Cho will start this new role beginning on August 29, 2022.

2022 IASDA Pre-Dental Summer Academy draws students from around the country

The 2022 IASDA Pre-Dental Summer Academy was a great success! For three days at the end of June, a group of students from all over the country came to Iowa to learn about dental school and the application process while gaining some hands-on experience simulating life as a dental student.

Michaela Bobenhouse Awarded IDF Scholarship

The Iowa Dental Foundation (IDF) awarded seven scholarships this year, including five scholarships to dental students at the University of Iowa and two scholarships to dental hygiene students. The IDF will spotlight the dental student winners each week, beginning with Michaela Bobenhouse.

"I grew up in Des Moines, and I became interested in dentistry when I was in middle school. My initial interest was sparked through my orthodontist. I was intrigued by how a dentist is a part of a patient’s comprehensive health and the connection a dentist makes with patients and their families. I always wanted a career in healthcare, and I quickly learned that dentistry was so important to a patient’s overall health.  

After high school, I attended at the University of Iowa and studied human physiology. During my time in undergrad, I was involved in the Pre-dental Club, Iowa Mission of Mercy, and I worked as a dental assistant. These opportunities gave me additional exposure to dentistry, and I learned first-hand how important and rewarding the career can be.

Dental school has given me the opportunity to create relationships with my patients. Through these relationships, I have been able to not only relieve my patient’s symptoms and restore their function, but I have also had the opportunity to give them a smile they are happy with. I am looking forward to my final year of dental school to continue building relationships with patients and gaining the experience needed to treat my future patients with the best care. I am so grateful for this generous financial gift from the IDF, as this scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial burden of paying for dental school."

Congratulations to Daniah Alhazmi!

On July 11, Daniah Alhazmi successfully defended her dissertation, "A CBCT Investigation of Morphological Integration, Cervical Spine Non-Segmentation, and Volumetric Maxillary Sinus Association with Dental Impactions." Her mentors are Shankar Rengasamy Venugopalan, associate professor of orthodontics, and Trishul Allareddy, professor and chair of Oral Pathology, Radiology, and Medicine. 

Congratulations to Richard Sinn!

On July 12, Richard Sinn successfully defended his master's thesis, "The Epigenetic Studies in Peri-Implantitis Subjects." His mentors are Satheesh Elangovan, professor of periodontics, and Shankar Rengasamy Venugopalan, associate professor of orthodontics. 

Kudos to you!

Tim P.'s review: "This place is Awesome! I've been going here for several years... The students are thorough and have an experienced professional checking their work and giving advice. The really great thing is if you need something like a root canal, gum work, implants, crowns, [etc.] it can all be done in this same building."

Collaborative and innovative research

Zafar M, Levy SM, Warren JJ, Xie XJ, Kolker J, Pendleton C. Prevalence of non-cavitated lesions and progression, regression, and no change from age 9 to 23 years. J Public Health Dent. 2022 Jul 4. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12538. PMID: 35781658.

Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS) participants were followed longitudinally, and all their permanent tooth surfaces were examined clinically for caries at ages 9, 13, 17, and 23. Non-cavitated lesions found at a given age were reassessed at each follow-up age to determine how the lesion developed, if at all. The team found that these non-cavitated lesions were more prevalent at age 17 than at ages 9, 13, and 23. Given that the rate of regression was greater than the rate of progression or no change, the researchers concluded that many non-cavitated lesions do not progress to cavitated lesions and could be reversed. Thus, according to the researchers, surgical intervention should not be the treatment of choice for incipient lesions.

Hawkeye Trailblazers: The first research institute symposium

In 1977, the college's research institute held a symposium for the first time. It was the first of many such symposiums intended to support dental, oral, and craniofacial researchers at Iowa.

Events

July 22, Noon Presentation: Oliver D. Kripfgans and Hsun-Liang Chan, Anatomical and Functional Real-time Soft Tissue Imaging is Real!, Galagan A, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

August 5, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

August 11, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

August 26, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 8, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 9, CE Course: Olin Family Visiting Lectureship, Peter Nordland, Utilization of Periodontal Plastic Surgery to Assist in the Esthetic Outcome.

September 10, Pregame Professional Program, Iowa v. Iowa State.

September 15, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 16, Alumni Reunion Weekend Reunion and CE-Classes Ending in 2s and 7s (details forthcoming)

September 17, Pregame Professional Program, Iowa v. Nevada (University Family Weekend)

September 17, Alumni Weekend Tailgate, Iowa v. Nevada

September 23, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 30, CE Course: Elevating Patient-Centered Restorative Care: Integrating Technology and Biology to Optimize Outcomes

October 1, Pregame Professional Program (Michigan)

October 1, Alumni Tailgate, Iowa v Michigan

October 3, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

October 14, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

October 21, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

October 28, CE Course: Pediatric Dentistry Legends in the Fall

October 29, Pregame Professional Program (Northwestern/University Homecoming)

October 29, Alumni Tailgate, Iowa v. Northwestern (University Homecoming)

November 4-5, Iowa Mission of Mercy, Des Moines

November 11, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

November 11, CE Course: A Full Day Endodontic Experience

November 12, Pregame Professional Program (Wisconsin)

November 16, Virtual Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

Notes and Resources 

Lend a helping hand. Due to medical issues, Stacey Jones has exhausted her sick leave and vacation. If you would like to help Stacey by contributing vacation time, please go to the following website: CAT Leave, and click on “Catastrophic Leave Donation Form.”

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