Upcoming
Continuing Dental Education Courses
For more information about
these and other continuing
dental education courses
contact:
University of Michigan
School of Dentistry
Office of Continuing Dental Education
1011 N. University Ave.
Room G508
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078
www.dent.umich.edu
You can read more about many of the stories in this issue of
DentalUM by visiting our Web site. Stories from the previous
February 19-23, 2009 (Thursday to Monday) issue are available at this link:
Cruise with CE 2009…aboard the Century in the
Western Caribbean www.dent.umich.edu/alumni/dentalum/springsummer2008/index.php
Join us as we set sail from Miami, Florida, aboard Celebrity Cruises’
newly updated ship, Century. Ports of call include Key West, Florida
and Cozumel, Mexico.
Topics: Everything You Don’t Want to Know about Adhesives,
Using Adhesive Techniques to Restore Posterior Teeth –
Alternatives to Complete Crowns, and Restoring Anterior Teeth
with All Ceramics.
Speaker: Dr. Robert Seghi, associate professor at Ohio State
University, earned his DDS from the U-M School of Dentistry in
1978. Five years later, he earned a master’s degree in the School’s
dual degree program in biomaterials and denture prosthodontics.
His research focuses on dental ceramics, dental polymers and
ceramic composites, and dental adhesion.
For more information and to make cruise reservations, contact
Cruise & Travel Partners, LLC. Toll free telephone number (800)
856-8826. Or register online: www.cruiseandtravelpartners.com.
March 28, 2009 (Saturday)
Ramfjord Symposium – Systemic Implications for
Management of Oral and Periodontal Health
Speakers and Topics:
Steven Offenbacher, DDS, PhD
The Association among Cardiovascular Health, Pregnancy,
Premature Birth, and Periodontal Infection
Brian Mealey, DDS, MS
The Role of Diabetes and Smoking on Periodontal Health
Louis Rose, DDS, MD
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and Associated Complications
Location: Rackham Amphitheatre, University of Michigan
Central Campus
 Fall 2008 Volume 24, Number 2

DentalUM magazine is published twice a year by the

University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Office of Alumni
Relations and Continuing Dental Education.

Mail letters and updates to: Jerry Mastey, Editor, School of

Technology’s
Dentistry, Room G532, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor,
MI 48109-1078. Or you may send your letters and updates
Growing Importance
via email to: jmastey@umich.edu.
in Dental Education
Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Polverini
Director of Communications . . . . . . . Sharon Grayden
Director of External Relations and

Continuing Dental Education . . . . . . Richard Fetchiet
Writer & Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Mastey
Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Jung
Contributing Photographers . . . . . . . . . Per Kjeldsen,
Jerry Mastey, Russell Taichman, Melissa Montague
Member publication of the American more photographs are on our School’s Web site www.dent.umich.
Association of Dental Editors
The Regents of the University:
Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Olivia P.
Maynard, Rebecca McGowan, Andrea Fischer Newman,
Andrew C. Richner, S. Martin Taylor, Katherine E. White,
Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio.
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Alumni Society Board of Governors
Terms Expire 2008:
William E. Brownscombe, ‘74, St. Clair Shores, MI
John R. McMahon, ‘82, Grand Rapids, MI
George M. Yellich, ‘72, Los Gatos, CA
Harold Zald, ‘79, West Bloomfield, MI
Jemma Allor, ‘00, Dental Hygiene, Mt. Clemens, MI
Terms Expire 2009:
Charles Caldwell, ‘77, Grand Rapids, MI
Daniel Edwards, ‘97 DH, Ann Arbor, MI (Chair)
Gary Hubbard, ‘78, Okemos, MI
Metodi Pogoncheff, ‘76, Lansing, MI
Janet Souder Wilson, ‘73, Dental Hygiene, Northville, MI
Terms Expire 2010:
Samuel Bander, ’81, Grand Rapids, MI
Kerry Kaysserian, ’81, Traverse City, MI
Jerry Booth, ’61 DDS, ’64 MS, Jackson, MI
Josephine Weeden, ’96 DDS, ’MS, Saline, MI (Vice Chair)
Kathleen Early Burk, ’77 DH, Lakeland, MI
Student Representative: Jamie Luria (D4)
Ex Officio Members:
Peter Polverini, Dean
Janet Souder Wilson, ‘73, DH, Northville, MI
Alumni Association Liaison
Steve C. Grafton , Executive Director, Alumni Assoc.
Richard R. Fetchiet, Director of External Relations and will continue. As the American Dental Association reported two years
Continuing Dental Education
Copyright © 2008 The Regents of the University of Michigan
Printed on recycled paper.
A
s you have already noticed, this issue of DentalUM is
different than previous issues. Fewer pages have been
printed. Photographs are in color. Many stories are shorter.
However, comprehensive versions of those stories and
edu.
This new approach will help us to better serve two distinct groups
of our alumni – those who enjoy reading stories in a magazine and
the growing number who use technology to search for information
and enjoy reading online.
Technology is a driving force in dental education. An important
element of my vision for our School involves using technology creatively
in classroom education, clinical education, and patient care.
Recently, 160 computers were installed in our four comprehensive
care or student dental clinics. This major advance gives our student
dentists and their clinical supervisors vital information about patients
in seconds. U-M Provost Teresa Sullivan joined us for a special “floss
cutting” ceremony to celebrate our transition from a paper-based to
a digital environment (page 5).
Three years ago, we captured the imagination and attention of
the world when we pioneered a new way of learning by allowing our
students to download classroom lectures so they could review them
on their portable listening devices anywhere and at any time.
Building on that success, the University of Michigan sought our
help launching its iTunes U Web site. The site includes information
from our School (page 8), for example, of recent events and even
dental procedures that were videotaped in our clinics and television
studio more than thirty years ago. We are transferring content from
thousands of videotapes for use on digital devices (page 9).
Advances in technology and digital dentistry are major trends that
ago, “the next generation of dentists is poised to make the dental
offices of the future increasingly digital, connected, and technologically
sophisticated.” We are preparing our students for the future, not just
clinically and academically, but technically too.
Sincerely,

Peter J. Polverini, Dean

1
In this issue:

4 16 26
ON THE COVER
Going Digital Graduates Alumnus
The U-M School of Urged: Be Profile
Dentistry continues Exemplars Dr. Ronald Berris,
developing novel ways The signature sign-off dental history
to use technology to of author, storyteller, enthusiast, volunteer
advance classroom and humorist Garrison police officer, and team
education, clinical Keillor, was the advice dentist for basketball’s
education, and patient given to graduates at this Detroit Pistons and
care. A paper-to-digital year’s commencement Detroit Shock.
transition in four student ceremonies.
dental clinics, new
tools for dentists in the
AEGD Clinic, transferring
content from thousands
of videotapes for digital
use, and offering content
from the School’s Web
Also in this issue:
site are among the “Floss Cutting” Ceremony: Celebrating Technology . . . . . . . . . 5
initiatives designed to Attracting Patients Nationwide: Teeth in an Hour . . . . . . . . . 11
prepare students and Dental Scholars Help the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
help current practitioners Generous Gift to Fund 1st of Kind Program in the Country . . . 20
adapt to an increasingly
digital world.
Design by Chris Jung
Photo by Jerry Mastey

DentalUM Fall 2008


30
Faculty Profile
“I didn’t think I had a
chance when I applied
to the School of
Dentistry to become a
faculty member. I was
surprised when Michigan
wanted me,” Dr. Hom-
Lay Wang said. Today
he is one of the world’s
leading authorities in
periodontics.
6 14
DentalUM Fall 2008
34
Research
News
Two School of Dentistry
researchers think they
have found a way
to speed up wound
healing in patients. Their
research could have
significant implications for
dentistry and medicine.
Fall 2008
43
Joan McGowan
Retires
For 35 years she has
made a difference as an
educator at the School of
Dentistry and has affected
the lives of thousands as
dental coordinator of the
state’s Head Start program
teaching about the dangers
of tobacco use.
20
 G OING D IGITAL

GOING
DIGITAL
How the U-M School of Dentistry
Continues to Advance . . . Read more about this story online
at www.dent.umich.edu
and Why It Matters

he fusion of innovation in technology, dental education, and patient care…an

initiative known as “techKNOWLEDGEy”…has become even more apparent
throughout the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in recent months.
Highlighting the progress was a “floss cutting” ceremony outside the 2 Blue
Clinic in June that celebrated the installation of computers and monitors in
every cubicle in the School’s comprehensive care clinics. The move is a major
transition from a paper-based to a digital environment.
“This is a significant step forward for us because our School is now truly in
the electronic age,” said Dean Peter Polverini. “But this is only the beginning.”
[See page 5.] Other projects that have recently come to fruition include:
• Enhancing the data tracking and information system, known as
MiDENT, so that patient scheduling, treatment histories, billing, and
payments are selectively accessible to dental students, clinical faculty,
and office personnel.
• Offering content on the School’s public “iTunes U” Web site to Jerry Mastey

anyone with a connection to the Internet. The four comprehensive care clinics have a
• Transferring, from analog to digital format, more than 1,200 new look. New computers, monitors, and
instructional videos that were produced, beginning in the early 1970s, keyboards were recently installed in all 160
in the School’s former television studio. operatories in predoctoral clinics on the
“Each initiative builds on our School’s earlier successes in becoming a more second and third floors. A computer in each
electronic environment,” said Dr. Lynn Johnson, director of Dental Informatics. operatory allows dental students and their
“Collectively, these efforts are tied to the dean’s vision of transforming how clinical supervisors to retrieve information
our students are educated and how health care is delivered to patients at about patient scheduling, treatment histories,
the School.” and more.

DentalUM Fall 2008

4
 Per Kjeldsen Per Kjeldsen

Those celebrating the installation of new computer equipment in the School’s predoctoral clinics included (left to
right): Lynn Johnson, director of Dental Informatics; Dean Peter Polverini; Provost Teresa Sullivan; and Dr. Stephen
Stefanac, associate dean for Patient Services.
Provost: “I’m a
Patient Here Too”
Floss Cutting Ceremony Celebrates
All-Electronic Student Clinics After complimenting the
School of Dentistry for
“I have been to many ribbon cutting ceremonies before, but I think this is
its innovative uses of
the first time I have ever been to a floss cutting ceremony,” U-M Provost Teresa
Sullivan said with a laugh as she, Dean Peter Polverini, representatives from Apple technology, U-M Provost
Inc., and others from the School celebrated the transition to a digital environment Teresa Sullivan also
in the School’s four comprehensive care clinics. surprised some when she
The move from paper to a digital environment, as Polverini said, “is a significant said, “I’m a patient here,
step forward for us because our School is now truly in the electronic age. But too.”
this is only the beginning.”
Several weeks earlier, 160 computers were installed in clinics on the second Sullivan, who has been U-M
and third floors that give student dentists and their clinical faculty supervisors the Provost for two years, said
ability to electronically access a range of information about their patients. she receives oral health
“This is a new and exciting time for the School,” Sullivan said. “It’s an important
care in the Dental Faculty
step in developing state of the art services for patients and will improve your
Associates Clinic. “It’s the
services to them, and to me as well since I’m a patient here too.”
only dental service I use,” she
Part of a Major Trend in Dentistry said after the floss cutting
Dr. Stephen Stefanac, associate dean for Patient Services who worked ceremony. “The School’s
extensively with Johnson and others on the paper-to-digital transition, said the
location is perfect for me
School’s efforts parallel a much broader trend.
given my responsibilities. It’s
“The move away from paper to digital records and digital imaging is part of
a major trend that is gaining momentum in general dentistry and in the dental convenient and it’s state of
specialties,” he said. “The steps we have already taken, and those we will take the art.”
in the future, are part of a comprehensive plan that is designed to ensure that
the education of our students is both contemporary and innovative.”

DentalUM Fall 2008

5
 G OING D IGITAL
Today’s Dentists
Going Digital
Dentists age 35 and younger
have the highest levels of interest
and participation in almost every
category of technology, according
to an American Dental Association
survey.
Conducted two years ago, the
survey that was publicized earlier
this year revealed that 100 percent
of those who responded have
high-speed Internet connections
in their homes. A similar number
reported using high-speed Internet
connections in their practices.
“As younger dentists establish
themselves in the dental workforce,
they are bringing an affinity for
technology with them,” the ADA
reported. “If the trends discovered
in the 2006 survey continue, the
next generation of dentists is poised
to make the dental offices of the
future increasingly digital, connected,
and technologically sophisticated.”
For more information, visit:
www.ada.org/prof/resources/
pubs/epubs/brief/brief_0801.
html#younger.
6
Student Clinics Go Digital
Entering any of the four student (comprehensive care) clinics on the second and third floors,
one sees computer monitors prominently displayed in each cubicle.
Dental students use the computer system to view patient information, manage patient
appointments, make referrals, and enter lab orders. However, the system is not yet able to support
digital radiography or other digital images. That will take place with an upgrade of the “electronic
pipeline” in about two years.
Plans to make the four student clinics, also called the Vertically Integrated Clinics, a completely
electronic environment began about the time the School’s graduate orthodontics clinic completed
its transition from paper to digital records. [DentalUM, Fall 2007, page 7.]
“Lessons learned from the ortho clinic implementation gave us important insights into what
we needed to do to make the transition to a totally electronic environment in the student clinics,”
Johnson said.
Scalability and space issues were key project benchmarks.
For example, the “open” layout of the ortho clinic is a sharp contrast to the “closed” cubicle
environment in the four student clinics. While 26 computers are stationed in the orthodontics
clinic, 160 computers are now in cubicles in the comprehensive care clinics.
“Fortunately, for us, Apple developed its Mac Mini dual processor computer several years
earlier,” she said. Just seven inches square and two inches deep, the unit is the smallest desktop
computer that runs both Windows and Mac operating systems. “Because the Mac Mini worked
so well in grad ortho, we didn’t have to buy hundreds of bigger computers,” Johnson said.
Benefits of Digital Clinics
A major benefit of chairside computing “is that students can easily access patient information.
This provides a level of flexibility and efficiency we didn’t have when we used paper,” Stefanac said.
After the floss cutting ceremony, fourth-year dental student Lindsey Wurtzel shows U-M Provost
Teresa Sullivan and Dean Peter Polverini some of the information dentists can retrieve in the
Comprehensive Care Clinics.
Per Kjeldsen
DentalUM Fall 2008
 Other benefits were also cited.
Patient referrals from one of the student clinics to a specialty clinic within the School, lab
order tracking, and writing prescriptions are now easier for student dentists and clinical faculty How They Did It…
members since all are now done electronically. Transforming 4 Clinics
Internet access allows students to tap into other important resources such as prescription
Preparation and teamwork made
drug information. “No one has to walk to another part of the clinic or elsewhere in the School
the difference. “That’s why installing
to get that information. They can spend more time with the patient,” Stefanac said. 160 computers in the four student
Students no longer have to stand in reception areas on the second and third floors clinics the first two weekends in April
waiting for a patient to arrive. Now, when a patient checks in, an electronic notice is sent to went seamlessly,” said Kerry Flynn,
the student alerting them that their patient has arrived. the School’s director of Technology
In addition, students can now electronically monitor their progress in meeting various Services. Another 110 units were
clinical competencies. “This is an important benefit for them,” Stefanac said, “because it greatly installed in the Roberts Preclinical
reduces the uncertainty of knowing how they are doing at any particular moment in time.” Laboratory in July.
As project supervisor, Flynn said
the entire process of installing new
Content Available Globally on iTunes U equipment in the 160 cubicles in the
spring “was a different type of project
The U-M School of Dentistry received considerable publicity when it launched the first for us, not just because of its scope, but
U-M iTunes U site allowing dental students and faculty access to classroom lectures and other also because we developed a process
education-related content virtually anywhere and at any time. [DentalUM, Fall 2005, pages where everyone performed a specific
6-7.] task, similar to an assembly line.”
This pioneering effort led to the University of Michigan launching its iTunes U Web site Paul Blackford was put in charge
this spring. of developing the assembly line process.
Now, new content is becoming available to the public worldwide on a special University He took lessons learned during 17
of Michigan Web site: http://itunes.umich.edu/usingitunes/. years as a robotics automation specialist
and applied them to the installation plan
The School of Dentistry is a part of the University’s Open U-M public site, as are other
for the four clinics.
U-M schools and colleges.

Matt Vuocolo (front) and Paul

Faculty members learned how to use the new MiDENT computer information system in the Blackford tested equipment to make
four predoctoral clinics. Here, Wendy Kerschbaum, dental hygiene program director, and Anne sure it functioned prior to installation
Gwozdek, clinical lecturer, review some of the information that’s available. in the student dental clinics.
Jerry Mastey Jerry Mastey

DentalUM Fall 2008

7
 G OING D IGITAL

iTunes U http.//itunes.umich.edu/usingitunes

The School of
Dentistry’s iTunes U
web page offers a
wealth of information
to oral health care
professionals and
the public.

On the School’s
iTunes U Web Site Clicking the “Open U-M on iTunes U” button opens the iTunes U window. In the
“Topics” menu, one can click “Dentistry” and see the information in the screen shot above
Here is a partial list of topics from the
that is available for watching and listening.
School of Dentistry that are on U-M’s
“Information for Patients” includes a video about what new patients can expect during
iTunes U Web site and the broadcast
their visit to the PAES Clinic.
time of each video:
“Public Events” offers topics of interest, including the Research Day 2008 remarks of Dr.
• Welcome to the PAES Clinic Harold Slavkin.
(6 minutes, 5 seconds) “Educational Resources” includes dental anatomy videos which, at one time, were among
• Research Day 2008 Keynote Address, the “Top Ten” downloads on the U-M site.
Dr. Harold Slavkin Dan Bruell, director of the School’s Digital Learning Lab, says making information from
(47 minutes, 14 seconds) the School of Dentistry available on the University’s iTunes U Web site “is just the beginning
• Peter Ma’s Research of what we hope will become a two-way street. We will share a lot of our content with the
(2 minutes, 35 seconds) world. But we also hope content that others create will be shared with us.”
• Making a Difference, The U-M School Making oral health care-related information publicly available from the Open U-M iTunes U
of Dentistry (9 minutes, 50 seconds) Web site may benefit the public at large, not just oral health care professionals.
• Leaders & Best Research The videos and audio have the potential to offer a wealth of information about everything
(2 minutes, 31 seconds) from proper brushing techniques for children to the importance of oral health to the need
• Fabricating Provisional Crowns for brush biopsies at a dental office to check for the possibility of oral cancer in adults.
(11 minutes, 29 seconds) In the future, one can expect to see more than 1,000 videos that were created at the
School of Dentistry beginning in the 1970s.

DentalUM Fall 2008

8
 Jerry Mastey

More than 1,200

videotapes that
were produced
in School of
Dentistry television
studios beginning
in the 1970s have
been converted
into digital format
for viewing on
digital video disks,
such as the one
being held by
John Squires, chief
media engineer.

“Keeping Our Heritage”

As Videotapes Go Digital
In 1971, the School of Dentistry became a pioneer when it merged classroom and clinical
education with technology.
For more than 20 years, nearly 2,000 videotapes were produced in studios on the third
floor and distributed worldwide. This content, which is still relevant today, has been used by
other dental schools, public health facilities, and dental offices.
With the ascent of digital technology the School of Dentistry has converted more than
1,200 videotapes into digital format for public viewing on the Open U-M iTunes U Web site.
Ana Iacob, research associate who has been digitizing the videotapes for the Open U-M
iTunes U Web site, said, “it’s a tedious process to transfer the content from videotape onto the
more widely used digital video disk (DVD) format,” she said. The process has been tedious, she
explained, because old video playback equipment frequently broke down and fragile videotapes
had to be constantly watched as the conversion process occurred.
Michigan was among the few dental schools that was able to create the content beginning
nearly four decades ago. Now the School of Dentistry is one of the first to offer it digitally.
“We still receive calls asking for copies of videotapes that we made more than thirty years ago
in our studios,” said John Squires, chief media engineer. “As custodians of this information, we
are also preserving our heritage,” he said.
The information on the DVDs takes up very little space compared to the dozens of shelves
that had been used to store videotapes.
Watching the videos, viewers will see how regulations have changed. For example, when
the videos were created, students and clinical faculty members did not wear gloves or facemasks
as they treated patients. “I’m sure that will be a surprise to many of today’s students who will
be seeing that for the first time,” Squires said.

DentalUM Fall 2008

9
 G OING D IGITAL
Jerry Mastey
Dr. Dennis Fasbinder, director of the Advanced
Education in General Dentistry program, shows
patient Theresa Keller how technology is
being used to take three-dimensional digital
impressions of a patient’s teeth. Because both
the dentist and the patient see results in real
time, dentists can discuss what they see with a
patient and answer questions.
10
AEGD Clinic Introduces Students
to Digital Technology
“We’re just one of two dental schools in the country using this system, and we
want our students to be able to take full advantage of it,” said Dr. Dennis Fasbinder
as he talked about new digital technology that was recently added to the School’s
AEGD Clinic.
Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program, Fasbinder
encourages students and other dentists in the Clinic to use the Lava™ COS (chairside
oral scanner) to take three-dimensional digital impressions of a patient’s teeth, from
a single tooth to an entire arch.
During the procedure, the dentist guides an intraoral camera around the treatment
area. The camera electronically records what it sees and transmits 3-D images that
are instantly displayed on a computer monitor next to the chair.
Since both the dentist and the patient see the results in real time, the dentist can
discuss what he’s seeing and answer any patient questions.
Touch screen technology allows the dentist to view an image from different
angles with fingertip control. The dentist simply touches the image and rotates it to
get the desired perspective.
The recorded information is then sent via the Internet to any dental laboratory
that uses the Lava COS system. The lab downloads the information and produces
a digital model to work on to mark the margins.
Patients and Dentists Benefit
“It’s the best of both worlds for the patient and the dentist,” Fasbinder said. “A
patient spends less time in the chair. And the new technology gives the patient a finished
restoration that is identical to what they get using current conventional techniques.”
In the AEGD Clinic, students also learn to use another digital system, the CEREC™
by Sirona Dental Systems.
Used by AEGD residents since 1993, CEREC also uses an intraoral camera to
record a patient’s tooth structure and preparation site.
However, once information is captured electronically, it is used to design the
final restoration – inlay, onlay, or crown – with the 3-D software program. Once
the design is completed to the satisfaction of the dentist, it is sent to a milling machine
in the clinic. Using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD/
CAM), a porcelain restoration is made while the patient waits. “Everything can be
done in a single visit,” Fasbinder said.
Recognizing that dental practice is become increasingly digital, Fasbinder teaches
fourth-year dental students how to use both the Lava and the CEREC system.
“This new technology allows us to do things that we couldn’t do before. Digital
technology is fast becoming the way to help patients, and it will become more important
for dentists and their patients in the future.”
DentalUM Fall 2008
 “Extremely Satisfied”
Patient Says
Teeth in an Hour™ “For the first time in years, I have
been able to enjoy one of my favorite
Service Attracting Patients from foods, cashews,” said Warren Krick
with a laugh as he talked about his
Across the Country experiences with the Teeth in an
Jerry Mastey Hour procedure prior to a follow-
up examination by Dr. Mauricio
Moeller in the School’s graduate
prosthodontics clinic.
Krick, 78, said his dentist,
Dr. Claudia Menton (DDS 1983),
recommended he travel from the
Plymouth area to the School of
Dentistry for a lower jaw implant.
“She had no reservations about
the procedure and said that what the
dental school was doing is cutting-
edge work,” he said. “I’m glad I came
here because this turned out to be
the change I needed.”

Read more about this story online

at www.dent.umich.edu

“I’m extremely pleased with the care and treatment I received at the School of Dentistry,” said
Warren Krick. Both Dr. Marianella Sierraalta (left) and Dr. Mauricio Moeller (right), he said, the model help the dentist to determine
“explained everything that would happen and took time to answer all my questions.”
where to precisely place the implant.
“Patients are coming here to the “What’s especially rewarding,” she However, actually implanting the
School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor from, added, “is that patient satisfaction is very complete or partial denture takes an hour
literally, all parts of the country because high for what we’re doing. No one or less.
they have heard about our Teeth in has ever expressed regret about going The entire approach saves time and
an Hour™ program,” said Dr. Renee through the procedure.” is less stressful, according to Dr. Michael
Duff. “Recently, I worked with a patient Razzoog, professor of prosthodontics.
who flew in from Connecticut. But we How it Works “Because the procedure does not
have also helped patients from Georgia, Both Duff and Sierraalta emphasized require incisions or sutures, there is no
California, and elsewhere.” that Teeth in an Hour is one part of a major swelling or pain, so healing time is
Duff, a clinical assistant professor multi-step procedure that, in the best of greatly reduced,” he said. “Even better for
of dentistry in the Department of cases, requires at least two or three visits the patient is that once he or she leaves,
Prosthodontics talked about a procedure to a dentist. they can eat a normal meal that same
that has been performed at the School Following a preoperative consultation, day.”
since February 2003 where a dentist can a patient is given a three-dimensional The majority of Teeth in an Hour
implant permanent replacement teeth in CT scan. Using computer software patients seen at the School of Dentistry are
a patient in about an hour. developed by a Swedish firm, Nobel senior citizens, according to Sierraalta.
“Since then, we have helped more than Biocare, the scan allows the dentist to Assisting Duff, Sierraalta, and Razzoog
300 endentulous or partially endentulous see a patient’s maxilla and mandible, and are residents in the School’s graduate
patients improve their quality of life,” said associated structures. prosthodontics program.
Dr. Marianella Sierraalta, clinical associate With that information, a “hard copy” For more information, visit the School
professor of dentistry in the Department model of the patient’s oral structure is of Dentistry’s Web site: www.dent.
of Prosthodontics. manufactured. Both the 3-D image and umich.edu/depts/bms/implants.

DentalUM Fall 2008

11
 C ONVOCATION

Per Kjeldsen

Dean Peter
Polverini
discusses some Having a Major Impact on
of his initiatives
with dental
students Jason
Dental Education and Patient Care
Dulac (right)

“
and Daniel
Armstrong
he future is now. Some of this we’re already doing, but look for more in the future. We’re
following the ready to change dental education,” said Dr. Lynn Johnson during the School of Dentistry’s annual
convocation convocation program August 29.
ceremony.
The annual event, inaugurated in 2004, celebrates the beginning of the new academic year
for the School’s faculty, students, and staff.
Johnson, the program’s keynote speaker and the School’s director of Dental Informatics,
gave an overview of how technology is offering new opportunities to educate students, enhance
patient care, and foster greater collaboration with other schools and colleges at the University
of Michigan and around the world.
Developing innovative ways to use technology to educate students and enhance oral health
care is an important component of Dean Peter Polverini’s vision to build a new model of dental
education that he hopes other dental schools worldwide will imitate. “Now is the time for us to
develop learning systems that will put us in the forefront of new and exciting ways to educate
our students,” he said during the convocation program.

DentalUM Fall 2008

12
 Per Kjeldsen

Upgrading the School’s technology infrastructure and

enhancing the electronic information system known as
MiDENT, “has affected hundreds of students and faculty
and thousands of patients,” Johnson said. MiDENT allows
dental students and their clinical supervisors to track patient
scheduling, treatment histories, and other data.
This, however, is just the beginning.

Other Initiatives Underway

Video conferencing, computers in the School’s high
tech preclinic, the e-learning dental hygiene program, and
a new U-M Health Sciences Education Building…which
will offer countless opportunities for collaboration among
the schools and colleges of dentistry, nursing, medicine,
pharmacy, public health, and social work…are just a few
of the initiatives that have the potential to transform oral
health education.
Another program, dubbed Open Michigan, offers
some of the School’s educational resources to schools and
colleges worldwide. One course, Dentistry 718, Advanced
Removable Prosthodontics, taught by Dr. Jeffrey Shotwell,
includes lectures, notes, graphics, and other information
that is available to anyone anywhere in the world with a
high-speed Internet connection.
Some of the information, Johnson said, “is being shared
with two schools in Ghana and two in South Africa to
enhance their dental programs. In the future, we would like
our educational program to benefit from learning materials
provided by these four African dental schools as well.”
Significant potential to transform dental education
exists with handheld or portable computers.
Johnson said about 80 percent of the School’s
predoctoral students have handheld units that can be used
in various ways. One software program, for example,
allows students to retrieve information about medications
patients may be taking to determine the impact of drug
interactions. Dr. Lynn Johnson, Director
Students, faculty, and staff, she said, are actively involved of Dental Informatics
in helping to transform dental education and patient care outlines some new
with the use of new technologies. “Their familiarity with initiatives in education
and comfort in using technology generates new ideas and
and technology during the
encourages adoption,” Johnson added. “They want and
Convocation Ceremony.
expect us to lead in the use of technology. We are doing
that.”

DentalUM Fall 2008

13
 D ENTAL S CHOLARS

Serving the Community…

Dental Scholars Help
Russell Taichman

hey were up early on a Saturday morning

Dental Scholar Irene Haddock gets ready to stack boxes
of cereal on pantry shelves at The Salvation Army.
in September to deliver more than 60 bags of groceries to
The Salvation Army in Ann Arbor.
More than two dozen Dental Scholars, including its six
newest members, delivered, unloaded, and stacked dozens of
boxes of cereal, canned food, soups, and other essentials.
But they also worked in the soup kitchen, stuffed envelopes
announcing a fundraiser, and learned more about the services
and programs the organization has been providing in Washtenaw
County for more than 100 years.
At the end of the morning, their community service efforts
were praised.
“What you have brought here to us this morning will be used,
and most likely will be used right away because the need is great
and we’re running short,” said Janice Nelson, the Salvation Army’s
Washtenaw County volunteer coordinator.
Founded in London, England, in 1865, the organization is active
in 115 countries and territories around the world. In Washtenaw
County, The Salvation Army’s essential services include a food
pantry, soup kitchen, clothing, a family shelter, transitional housing,
and emergency and disaster relief, to name a few.
“When someone comes to us for help, we make an effort
not just to help, but to get to know each person,” Nelson said.
“Our mission is helping people in need, but it wouldn’t be possible
without the volunteers, because everything we do is run by the
volunteers, including the one activity everyone is familiar with, our
Red Kettle drive during the Christmas season.”
Jillian Dettloff, one of six new Dental Scholars, said she was
surprised to learn The Salvation Army provided “so many services”
including food, clothing, a place to stay, a recreation center, and
more. “It was a humbling experience to be able to help those in
need,” she said.
Following their community service efforts, the Dental Scholars
participated in the U-M Challenge Program where they continued
their team building exercises with activities designed to build
relationships, increase confidence, and develop novel problem
solving techniques while also having fun.

DentalUM Fall 2008

14
 Dental Scholars

The Salvation Army

Formally known as the Scholars
Program in Dental Leadership, the
Dental Scholars program brings
a select number of exceptional
Russell Taichman students with diverse backgrounds
together to help them develop
Demonstrating their community service, Dental Scholars collected and delivered a leadership mindset and the
more than 60 grocery bags of food, far exceeding their goal of 40 bags, and
delivered them to The Salvation Army’s Washtenaw County facility in Ann skills they can use to promote
Arbor in September. change in the oral health care
profession. The program’s goals
include empowering individuals
to promote change in dentistry,
preparing students to be leaders
in dentistry and dental hygiene,
and giving students opportunities
to work independently and in
teams. More information about
the program, established in the
summer of 2006, is available on
the School of Dentistry Web
site: www.dent.umich.edu/
prospective/spdl.

6 New Student
Members
Six dental students, members
of the Class of 2011 and 2012,
are the newest members of
the Scholars Program in Dental
Leadership. They bring to 36
the number of dental and dental
hygiene students in the program
that was launched in the fall of
2006. The six are:
• Patrick Condit, D2,
Class of 2011
• Jillian Dettloff, D1,
Class of 2012
• Rachel Embree, D1,
Class of 2012
• Sarah McDermott, D1,
Class of 2012
In this team building exercise, new Dental Scholar Jason Scherer (right), works • Shad Mackert, D1,
with his colleagues to move golf balls down a plastic pipe that has been cut
in half. The goal of the “pipeline” challenge was to move as many balls as Class of 2012
possible, in a set amount of time, down a series of short pipes held by others • Jason Scherer, D1,
to the container at the bottom of the photo. However, once the ball was in Class of 2012
the tube, it had to remain in motion. Participants did that by tilting their
segment of pipe.
Russell Taichman

DentalUM Fall 2008

15
 G RADUATION

Per Kjeldsen
Read more about this story online
at www.dent.umich.edu

Graduates Urged:

Be Exemplars
Commencement speaker, Dr. Muriel Bebeau,
professor of dentistry at the University
of Minnesota School of Dentistry, urged
graduates to pursue both lifelong
learning and reflective practice.
Be well.
Do good work.
Stay in touch.
Those words, the signature
sign-off of author, storyteller, and
humorist Garrison Keillor, were
the cornerstones of advice given
to graduates of the Class of 2008
during commencement ceremonies
at Hill Auditorium on May 2.
Dr. Muriel Bebeau, professor
at the University of Minnesota
School of Dentistry, used Keillor’s
counsel to wish graduates well in
their future endeavors, and more
importantly, to become exemplars
or role models in their profession
and community.
As director of the Center for
the Study of Ethical Development,
she told graduates, “You now
know that more is required than
the gift of intellect. You also know
that society isn’t very tolerant of
the shortcomings of individual
professionals or the profession as
a whole.”

DentalUM Fall 2008

16
 Per Kjeldsen

Alumni Hood
Sons, Daughters
Five fathers who earned a dental degree from the
University of Michigan had an opportunity to hood a
son or daughter before they walked across the stage
at Hill Auditorium to receive their dental degree.

Dental students hooded by their fathers were:

Allison Carey and her father, Dr. Brent Carey Per Kjeldsen

(DDS 1974)
(top right) Dr. Timothy Fitzharris (DDS 1974) is
obviously excited that his son, Benjamin, received
his dental degree.
(right) Dr. Patrick Kelly (DDS 1980) beams with pride
as he gets ready to hood his daughter, Macare.
Michael Setter and his father, Dr. Mark Setter
(DDS 1979; MS, periodontics, 1981)
Jeffrey Yentz and his father, Dr. David Yentz
(DDS 1975)

Per Kjeldsen

Class of 2008
(May Graduates)

• 108 DDS degrees

• 25 Bachelor of Science
degrees, Dental
Hygiene
• 13 Master of
Science degrees
(prosthodontics,
periodontics, and
restorative dentistry)

DentalUM Fall 2008

17
 G RADUATION

Per Kjeldsen

Distinguished Service Award

to Dean Emeritus,
Dr. William Kotowicz
Dr. William Kotowicz, dean or acting dean of the
U-M School of Dentistry for eight years, received
the Distinguished Service Award from the School’s
Alumni Society Board of Governors at graduation
ceremonies.
The annual award is presented by the Board’s
chair at graduation to a U-M alumnus who has made
significant contributions to the School of Dentistry, Dr. Daniel Edwards, chair of the School’s Alumni Society Board of
the dental profession, or to the School’s Alumni Governors, presents Dr. William Kotowicz, dean emeritus, with the
Society. Distinguished Service Award.
Per Kjeldsen

Cordell Receives
Paul Gibbons Award
Graduates of the Class of 2008 presented the annual
Paul Gibbons Award to Dr. Kitrina Cordell. The award
honors an instructor who graduating dental students
consider to be the greatest influence on them during
their four years in the predoctoral program.
Michael Hoffman, dental class president, said
Cordell “is a great instructor, a leader in research,
and above all, a student-centered person who cares Dr. Kitrina Cordell received the Paul Gibbons Award for her outstanding
about students, about how much we learn, and who teaching from Michael Hoffman, president of the Dental Class of 2008.
we are.”

Ryan E. Turner Memorial Award to Michael Hoffman

Michael Hoffman, president of the Dental Class of 2008, was the first recipient of the Ryan E. Turner Memorial
Award.
The award was named for the late Ryan E. Turner who unexpectedly passed away in 2007, just months before
he was to receive his dental degree. [DentalUM, Fall 2007, page 43.]
This year, and in the future, each graduating dental class will honor a colleague who best exemplified Turner’s
character, compassion for patients, passion for life, and enthusiasm for dentistry. Hoffman’s name, and the names of
others who will receive the award, will be displayed on a plaque in the Student Forum.

DentalUM Fall 2008

18
 Future Plans: The Dental Class of 2008
Total: 108 students
• Private Practice/General Practice
Associate: 44 (40.7%)
Graduation Speakers
• Specialty Training: 22 (20.4%)
Periodontics: 1
on the Web
Pedodontics: 7
You can listen to the remarks
Orthodontics: 6
Oral Surgery: 5 of all graduation speakers and
Endodontics: 3 see more than a dozen different
• Military: 4 (3.7%) photographs by clicking this
Army: 1 link on the School of Dentistry’s
Navy: 2
Web site:
Air Force: 1
• General Practice Residency: 20 (18.5%) www.dent.umich.edu/
• AEGD: 9 (8.3%) about/aboutschool/news/
• Community/Public Health: 6 (5.6%) grad2008/index.html
• Pursue PhD: 1 (0.9%)
• Unknown: 2 (1.9%)
Per Kjeldsen

DentalUM Fall 2008

19
 D EVELOPMENT

Coghlan Family Gift

Establishes Craniofacial Anomalies
Fellowship Jerry Mastey

Will Fund First of its Kind Program in the Country

family experience…the passion and determination of a Saline, Michigan orthodontist
who works part time in the School’s orthodontics clinic…and memories of being fitted for braces more than
thirty years ago in the orthodontics clinic were major reasons a Saline family has gifted $500,000 to create
a new fellowship.
When established, the fellowship will be the first of its kind in the country.
A gift from the Michael and Suzanne Coghlan Family Foundation will establish a new craniofacial anomalies
program within the School of Dentistry’s graduate orthodontics program.
The $500,000 will be matched with $250,000 from U-M President Mary Sue Coleman’s Donor Challenge
program which leverages gifts of up to $1 million with a contribution of 50 cents for every dollar gifted.
Pledges must be made before December 31, 2008.
“We want our gift for this new fellowship to help patients who come to the University of Michigan dental
school to receive the best possible care for craniofacial anomalies,” said Michael Coghlan seen in the photo
above with his wife, Suzi, Dr. Katherine Kelly (left) and Dr. Sunil Kapila (right). “We also want to inspire more
graduate students in orthodontics to pursue this specialty knowing that money will be there to help pay for
the final year of their education.”

DentalUM Fall 2008

20
Creating Similar Programs are so many other children who have U-M School of Dentistry, orthodontic
Elsewhere craniofacial anomalies that are the result residents will receive the specialized
Coghlan said his family hopes other of syndromes, facial traumas, childhood knowledge and training they need to go
schools will follow U-M’s lead. leukemia, or other cancers,” she said. into communities and provide long-term
“The fact that this program is not Approximately 3,000 children orthodontics treatment to those patients,
in the mainstream of dentistry was in Michigan have been or serve in hospital- or university-
another big reason for our decision,” he diagnosed with craniofacial based craniofacial
said. “When other universities see what anomalies, Kelly said. anomalies
Michigan is doing, we hope their dental About 100 come to the programs.
schools will be inspired to create similar School of Dentistry for Both Kelly
programs to train specialists so that, after care. Some have to and Coghlan
graduation, they can go into communities travel three or four lauded the
and work with these patients.” hours with a parent or efforts of Dean
Coghlan, who retired six years relative to receive that Peter Polverini
ago at age 37, was one of the founding care. and Dr. Sunil
partners in a financial derivatives trading “But Michigan has Kapila, chair of
company headquartered in Chicago’s only three hundred the Department
financial district. The 200 member firm orthodontists and of Orthodontics
was bought out by Goldman Sachs. many of them and Pediatric
Instead of moving to the New York are retiring, so it’s Dentistry.
City area, the Coghlans returned to the becoming increasingly “There is
Ann Arbor area to raise their three difficult for these no program, yet,
children, where they were introduced patients to get the that has been
to Dr. Katherine Kelly. orthodontic care accredited by the
At Kelly’s office, they were impressed they need,” she ADA’s Commission
by her passion for helping patients said. “The typical on Dental
with craniofacial anomalies. They also craniofacial patient, Accreditation,” Kelly
discovered she was a clinical instructor at born with a cleft said. “But both Dean
the School of Dentistry who specializes in lip and palate, will Polverini and Dr. Kapila
helping these patients, typically between need orthodontic have been pushing
the ages of 7 and 17. care for about hard to establish a
“Dr. Kelly’s passion and drive moved ten years, from craniofacial anomalies
my wife and I to see what, collectively, the time they’re training program within
all of us might be able to do to help our about seven until they’re orthodontics that will
daughter and other children,” Coghlan seventeen. No parent should have to offer advanced education in this field
said. drive for three or four hours for so beyond what is currently offered to
many years in order for their child to students.”
Addressing Multiple Challenges receive care.”
Kelly, an adjunct assistant clinical The Coghlan gift is designed to “An Exceptional Cause”
professor who teaches in the orthodontics address those multiple and interrelated Coghlan said, “Dr. Kapila put us at
clinic twice a week, said craniofacial issues. ease with his commitment to establishing
anomalies are not solely limited to By providing financial support for a this new program and working with
children with cleft lip and palate. “There craniofacial anomalies fellowship at the Dr. Kelly and the dean. That was very

DentalUM Fall 2008

21
 D EVELOPMENT

important to both my wife and me.

Craniofacial anomalies are not highly
Group Effort: Drs. Marcotte, Smith,
visible maladies and do not receive a lot Hodges Pledge $100,000 for
of attention from the media, so it’s not
easy to raise money to help kids with this Endo Clinic Renovations
condition.”
Photo courtesy of Dr. Larry Marcotte
“We are extremely fortunate,”
Kapila said. “I am very grateful to Michael
and Suzi Coghlan for their generosity, and
to Dr. Kelly for identifying an exceptional
cause to support. I believe our School
has an obligation to help patients with
craniofacial anomalies in Michigan and
elsewhere.”
Kapila said the Coghlan’s interest
in helping children with craniofacial
anomalies and Kelly’s efforts “dovetailed
nicely with our desire to create a
knowledgeable workforce to treat this
underserved population of patients who
often require complex treatments.”
Kapila added that by helping educate
highly specialized orthodontists “this
endowment and fellowship will have a
Drs. Scott Hodges (left), Larry Marcotte (center), and Aric Smith have collectively pledged $100,000
long lasting effect on both the access from their practice for the School of Dentistry’s new endodontics clinic.
to and the quality of care that patients
receive.”
The Coghlan Craniofacial Fellowship “I’m proud to be a donor to the dental school’s new endodontics clinic,” said
Endowment will lead to a master’s Dr. Larry Marcotte (DDS 1967; MS, endodontics 1972).
degree in orthodontics and craniofacial “When this was discussed with two other Michigan colleagues at my former
anomalies. practice, all of us decided to become involved. Now, the three of us – Dr. Aric Smith,
This fall, candidates will be interviewed Dr. Scott Hodges, and myself – will make joint personal gifts from one practice that
and, around the end of the year, the will total $100,000,” he said.
name of first Coghlan Fellow will be Once built, the new state of the art facility will be about twice the size of the
announced. current endodontics clinic. Tentative plans for the new clinic call for 15 operatories,
conference rooms, and using digital technology to transmit and receive radiographs,
videos, and patient records. [DentalUM, Spring & Summer 2007, pages 40-42.]

“Exciting to Think About”

“The way new technology will be used to help patients and enhance the
education of students and instructors is exciting to think about because it will offer
new opportunities for learning and collaboration that weren’t available before,”

DentalUM Fall 2008

22
Marcotte added. “That’s great because it will help Michigan
stay in the forefront in the ever changing arena of endodontics
education.”
Marcotte, who served as president of the Michigan Dental
Association from 1991 to 1992, said, “everything about this
project is exciting, especially the opportunity to be involved
from the start, and being able to give back to our School.”
Marcotte practiced endodontics in Grand Rapids for
more than twenty years, retiring in December 2006. Smith
and Hodges now run the four-person practice, West Michigan
Endodontists.
Dr. Aric Smith, who earned his master’s degree in
endodontics from U-M in 1997, five years after receiving his
DDS from Michigan, said he thought it was important to give
back.
The fifth member of his family to graduate with a degree
from Michigan, Smith said, “I want to do something for a School
that has done so much for me and others in my family. I am
pleased to help endodontists, who will be trained in the future
at Michigan, receive an excellent education in state of the art
facilities.”
Program “will get a boost”
Recalling his days in the grad endo program, Smith said,
“I remember how Drs. Gerry Glickman and John Corcoran
emphasized the importance of being patient focused,” Smith
said. “That certainly has been the cornerstone of the grad
endo program. Now it will get a boost with a move to new
facilities where the latest technology will be used.”
Hodges, who received his dental degree from U-M in
1986, said his interest in endodontics began during the two
years he was with the U.S. Public Health Service in northern
Arizona. He returned to Michigan in 1988 with a half-time
teaching appointment and earned his master’s in endodontics
in 1991.
“When Dr. Neville McDonald was chosen to head the
endodontics program, he visited us in Grand Rapids and I
asked him how I could help,” Hodges said. “When he told
me about the new clinic, it didn’t take much for me to become
involved,” Hodges said with a chuckle. “Now, it’s my turn to
make a difference so that others can have the benefit of the
great education that I received.”
DentalUM Fall 2008
Carrie Towns New Meeting
and Special Events Planner
Whether it’s Homecoming Weekend, the annual golf outing,
a reception for alumni at an ADA or MDA annual session,
a considerable amount of time and effort goes into planning
these and other special events hosted by the U-M School
of Dentistry.
The School’s Office of Alumni Relations and Develop-
ment recently hired Carrie Towns to plan and coordinate
these and other activities.
Born and raised in the Flint area, Towns is familiar with
the University of Michigan.
Before coming to Ann Arbor, she spent four years on
the U-M Flint campus, first, as an events supervisor and later as
an alumni officer in the Office of Institutional Advancement.
In that role she coordinated and ran a range of activities
for more than 28,000 U-M Flint alumni that included managing
events, organizing and running alumni board meetings, and
developing print and electronic communications.
“I’m excited to join the School of Dentistry because this
position will allow me to continue something I have always
enjoyed doing, which is planning, organizing, and running special
events,” Towns said. “It’s exciting to be directly involved in
the number and variety of activities hosted by the dental
school.”
Towns received a bachelor’s degree in business
administration from Northwood University in Midland,
Michigan. She hopes to complete her studies for an MBA at
U-M Flint next fall.
Melissa Montague
Carrie Towns
23
 A LUMNI R ELATIONS

Dear Alumni,

Reflecting on the past year as Chairperson of the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society
Dr. Dan Edwards, ’97 DDS Board of Governors, I realize the true definition of an “alum.” One is not only a graduate
Chair, Alumni Society of the University of Michigan, but he or she may also serve as a mentor or advisor to
Board of Governors a current or prospective dental or dental hygiene student. One of the purposes of our
alumni board is to “develop, coordinate, and promote a mentoring service for students…”
This spring, the Board of Governors, Dr. Jerry Booth, Rich Fetchiet, and I hosted our
first Dental Specialty Night. Specialists from every private practice discipline, including
public health dentistry, oral pathology, and oral medicine, discussed various dental career
options. Approximately fifty second- and third-year dental students attended.
The evening started with casual conversations as students met with specialists in
an informal setting in the School’s atrium. Later, the program continued with a panel of
specialists. Each discussed his or her path into their specialty as well as a typical “day in
the life” of that specialist. Students later asked panelists an array of questions. Because
of the success of that program, our Board is planning another Dental Specialty Night
in 2009. If you would like to help sponsor that program, please contact me by e-mail:
dedwards@umich.edu.
As alumni, it is our responsibility to the profession to act as liaisons from the “real
world” to School of Dentistry students or prospective students. The value students place
on these mentorships is immeasurable. Whether it is dental hygiene, general dentistry, a
dental specialty, research, or education, you can help make a difference (by being a Board
of Governors candidate) or in your own special way.
As I pass the gavel to Dr. Josie Weeden, I extend my best wishes to her. She and
other members of the Board of Governors will continue to be effective representatives on
behalf of all alumni of this great school.

GO BLUE!
Dan

DentalUM Fall 2008

24
 Looking For Leaders!
Alumni Society Board of Governors
Here’s your chance to make a difference.
In September 2009 five new members will be elected to the U-M School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society
Board of Governors. The group will include four dentistry graduates and one dental hygiene graduate. All
will serve a three-year term.
This is a perfect opportunity for you to become involved with the School, build relationships with students,
faculty, and staff, and perform a worthwhile and satisfying public service.
If you’re interested in serving, or if you would like to nominate someone, send in the form below. In the
event more than 10 individuals are nominated, the Board’s nominating committee will select a representative
slate.

Please NOMINATION FORM

clip
and I nominate for the Board: __________________________________________________
mail
Class Year(s) ________________________________________________________

Address (if known) _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2nd Name ____________________________________________________________

Class Year(s) _________________________________________________________

Address (if known) ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

If you nominate yourself, please send your biography (45 words or less) on a separate sheet
of paper. However, because of time constraints on our staff and limited space in the
magazine, we cannot accept a CV. Instead, please take a few moments to highlight what
you consider are major achievements, whether personal or professional.

Return the form, and your biography if you’re nominating yourself, to:
Carrie Towns
Office of Alumni Relations
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
540 E. Liberty, Suite 204
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Nominations must be received at the School of Dentistry by December 31, 2008.

DentalUM Fall 2008

25
 A LUMNUS P ROFILE

Jerry Mastey
Read more about this story online
at www.dent.umich.edu

Dental
History
Enthusiast
and
Dental
Artifact
Collector

Dr. Ronald
Berris DDS 1974
hen it’s time to relax, some dentists go to the golf course. Others swim, ride a bike, or work out at
a local health club. But not Dr. Ronald Berris.
He volunteers as a part-time police officer. Berris and his two horses have been a part of the
mounted unit of the Franklin, Michigan Police Department for 10 years.
For the past 32 years he’s been only the second team dentist the Detroit Pistons basketball team
has had. The first was his father, Dr. Henry Berris. Ron is also the team dentist for the WNBA’s
Detroit Shock.
“The rewards have been great,” Berris said. “Five championship rings, great seats, and free
parking.”
But there’s another part of Berris’ life that has been a passion for more than 30 years — he’s a
dental history enthusiast who collects dental artifacts, equipment, and memorabilia.

A Journey into Yesteryear

Not just a few here and there. His collection includes thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of
items, in all shapes and sizes. “I have more stuff packed and stored than I do on display,” said the 1974

DentalUM Fall 2008

26
 Jerry Mastey

graduate of the U-M School of Dentistry.

What patients seen when they open the door to his
practice in West Bloomfield, Michigan is just the start of a
journey into yesteryear.
Hundreds of small artifacts are prominently displayed –
dental instruments with ivory, mother of pearl, and ebony
wood handles; toothpaste containers; toothpaste boxes; dental
bronze sculptures hand crafted by world renowned artist
Ronadro, and porcelain figurines.
Some are on bookcase shelves. Others are behind
large oak exhibit and display cases. If youngsters want to see
something in a display case, they can step onto an oversized
two-foot high plastic tooth. There’s even an old church pew
patients can sit on if they’re so inclined.
But that’s just for starters.
Even bigger displays are visible walking down the hallway
and in each of nine operatories.
Colorful vintage posters from Europe, each more than
100 years old, are framed and displayed on hallway walls and
in each operatory. Each poster measures about three feet by
five feet. Most are in French and advertise a dental product.
Juxtaposing the past with the present, and only a step or
two away from the poster in each operatory, are computers,
monitors, and a dental office with CAD-CAM, digital, and laser
technology.

1940s Operatory Too

One of the nine operatories is unique for another reason
– it’s been renovated to resemble a dental operatory from the
1940s. This wall poster is one of several in the hallway
Berris got the idea from a drawing that is on the wall in
of Dr. Ronald Berris’ dental office. Other photos
the waiting area.
Pointing to the chair, Berris said his father, Henry, who can be seen on the School of Dentistry Web
graduated from the U-M dental school in 1939, “used this site: www.dent.umich.edu.
chair when he practiced dentistry in downtown Detroit until
he closed his office in 1976.”
The re-upholstered chair is one of many items that have
been restored. Others include instrument cabinets, display and
shelving units, plumbing, and light fixtures.
That operatory isn’t just for show, however. Although
it doesn’t happen often, Berris said he can, and has used it to
treat patients “when it really gets busy.”

DentalUM Fall 2008

27
 A LUMNUS P ROFILE
Jerry Mastey
The operatory above, which mimics a
typical 1940s dental office, replicates a
drawing that is on the wall in the waiting
area. Note the dental chair, overhead
lights, cabinets, and the carpeting squares.
The color of the squares matches those
seen in the drawing.
28
“A Wonderful Resource” for
the School’s Sindecuse Museum
Since 1992, the School of Dentistry’s
Sindecuse Museum has been the caretaker of
approximately 700 items loaned by Dr. Ronald
and Maggie Berris. “Because of their high quality,
we have been able to complement many of
our exhibits,” said Sindecuse Museum Curator
Shannon O’Dell.
Most items, she added, “are difficult to find
dental antiques, especially dental products and
advertising which has been a keen interest of Dr.
Berris.”
Other items Berris has loaned, O’Dell said,
include those from 19th and early 20th century
dental offices, including a Victor Shockproof
X-ray unit from the 1920s and 30s, a vacuum
casting machine, rolling mill, electrical distribution
panel, poster-size advertisements for dental
products, and hundreds of product packages for
toothpowder tins and bottles.
“Dr. Berris has been marvelous to work
with and a wonderful resource for the Sindecuse
Museum for many years,” O’Dell said. She noted
that Berris has also provided advice to other
collectors, donors, and to the museum curator
as it was being established between 1991 and
1995 and was developing its first exhibits. The
museum officially opened in September 1992.
“I wish I would have had an opportunity to
talk to Dr. Gordon Sindecuse (1898-1993) and
learn more about him and tell him about some
of what I have collected,” Berris said. “I think he
would have gotten a kick hearing some of my
stories and, I’m sure, I would have learned more
from him.” Sindecuse, who earned his dental
degree from U-M in 1921, gifted $1 million in
1990 to the School to help preserve the heritage
of his profession.
DentalUM Fall 2008
 Jerry Mastey

Each Relic Has a Story

As he opened the door to this exhibit case in
the lobby of his dental office (left), Dr. Ronald
Berris retrieved dental powder that was in a
cardboard box. “During the Second World War
sturdy cardboard was used because metal was
needed for the war effort,” he said. “And that’s
reflected in some of the products you see here.”

Below is a bronze sculpture made by one of the world’s best-

known sculptors, Ronadro. Also visible is a poster for Listerine.
“I got this after a house was taken down in Omaha and later
learned that the pharmacist who lived in the house used these
posters to insulate his home,” Berris said.

“One part of collecting I enjoy is finding both an

ad and the product (above) and then putting
them on display,” Berris said.

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29
 F ACULTY

PROFILE Per Kjeldsen

Read more about this story online

at www.dent.umich.edu

Hom-Lay
Wang
“You’re most committed
to something when you’re
struggling.
It makes you focus. You become
a better person as a result. It was true
as a student. It’s been true as a teacher,”
said Dr. Hom-Lay Wang.
Director of the School of Dentistry’s
graduate periodontics program since
1995, Wang made the comments as
he talked about some of the challenges
he has faced including pursuing a career
in academic dentistry, living on $250 a
month as a student, learning English, and
becoming director of the grad perio
program when he was just 34.
“Looking back at the struggles I faced
in each of those instances, I’m better able
to relate to students because I’ve been
in their shoes,” he said. “That was one
of the major reasons for establishing a
scholarship fund. I know the struggles
that students have.” [See “Graduate
Periodontics Scholarships,” page 32.]
Growing up in Taiwan, Wang wanted
to become a physician. But after taking a
placement examination, he gravitated to
dentistry with hopes of becoming an oral
surgeon. A microsurgery course led to

DentalUM Fall 2008

30
an intense curiosity about periodontics.
Today, Wang is one of the world’s
authorities in the specialty.
After earning his Bachelor of Medicine
in Dentistry degree from Taipei Medical
College in 1983, Wang joined a private
practice for two years. But he wanted
to learn more and do more.
“I knew if I wanted to advance
professionally, I would have to come to the
U.S. and earn a degree, so I did,” he said.
Wang applied to just one dental school,
Case Western Reserve in Cleveland.
The 4:00 a.m. phone call
Not receiving a reply for several
months, Wang thought his application
had been rejected.
“Then on Christmas Eve in 1984,
Dr. Nabil Bissada, the chairman of the
periodontal department and director of
the graduate periodontics program, called
me at home. It was four o’clock in the
afternoon in Cleveland, but four o’clock in
the morning in Taiwan. But that was one
early-morning call I didn’t mind getting,”
he said.
But there was something else
about the conversation Wang said he
remembered.
“Dr. Bissada told me, ‘Your English
must get better if you want to succeed.’
So I struggled to learn as much as I could
as fast as I could. I’m still learning today,”
he said.
But there was another challenge
Wang faced – limited financial support.
“I had a budget of $250 a month and was
struggling to make ends meet on that
money which had to pay for everything
– rent, utilities, and food,” Wang said.
“To keep my expenses low, I ate the
same foods seven days a week – an
apple for breakfast and ground beef and
DentalUM Fall 2008
a vegetable for dinner.”
At Case, Wang earned a master’s
degree and a certificate in periodontics
in 1987 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery
degree a year and a half later.
“I finished dental school in 18 months
instead of four years,” he said. “I worked
very hard to complete almost twice the
requirements that were needed for
graduation. My studies in Taiwan, at Case,
and obtaining my dental license in Florida
Arriving in Ann
Arbor in 1989 to
begin teaching as an
assistant professor,
Wang said there
were challenges from
the start.
before entering this program helped
me to fulfill many of the requirements I
needed to earn my dental degree here in
the U.S so that I could practice anywhere
in this country, not just Florida,” he said.
At Case, Wang was encouraged by
Bissada to consider a career in academic
dentistry. The encouragement was
something Wang remembered. He
promised himself that one day he too
would mentor others if he had an
opportunity.
“Dr. Bissada told me, ‘You have the
skills. You have the knowledge. Think
about becoming a teacher because you
will make a difference.’ I’m glad I listened,”
Wang said. In 1987, he became a clinical
instructor in periodontics at Case.
“Shocked” Michigan Wanted Him
Eager to advance, Wang applied for
a teaching position at three dental schools,
including Michigan, and at a private
practice in Florida “because I didn’t think
I had a chance at Michigan since its dental
school was so good. I was shocked when
I learned they wanted me,” he said.
Arriving in Ann Arbor in 1989 to
begin teaching as an assistant professor,
Wang said there were challenges from
the start.
“As a junior faculty member who
was only thirty years old, I didn’t have
the benefit of mentoring, so I learned
by trial and error,” he said. “I also spent
a lot of time working to improve my
English, preparing my classroom lectures,
and learning how to use new technology.
Looking back, those struggles transformed
me and made me better,” he said.
Other challenges soon followed.
Wang said when Dr. Martha
Somerman, now the dean of the
University of Washington dental school,
became chair of the Department of
Periodontics, Prevention, and Geriatrics in
early 1991, “she told me, ‘You’re a good
teacher, but if you want your career
to advance, you must do research and
publish.’ I knew what I had to do and
began doing it,” he said. “For that reason,
I published nine peer-reviewed articles in
1993 and 1994.”
He discovered writing helped him
learn and improve his English. “Writing
makes you think about what you want
to say and forces you to organize your
thoughts logically,” he said. “I found that
writing was something I enjoyed doing.
I still do.”
31
 F ACULTY

Wang is a prolific author.

To date, he has written 214 articles that include 170 peer-reviewed and 20
non-peer-reviewed publications, 10 invited reviews and editorial comments, 12
book chapters, 3 textbooks that will be published around 2010, and more than 68
abstracts.
In 1995, Wang became director of the graduate periodontics program at the
age of 34.
In addition to his new administrative duties, Wang was teaching six graduate
periodontal courses, conducting research, writing for peer-reviewed journals, mentoring
students pursuing a master’s degree, and practicing periodontics in the School’s Dental
Faculty Associates clinic. “I was now spending even more time at the School on nights
and weekends. Fortunately, I had a sabbatical in 2000 and 2007 that gave me a chance
to catch my breath,” he said.

GRADUATE PERIODONTICS
SCHOLARSHIPS
“As a student, it was a constant struggle for me to find the
money to pay for my education and other expenses, so
that’s why my wife and I established a scholarship program
for graduate periodontics students here at Michigan,” said
Dr. Hom-Lay Wang.
“I had always hoped for some kind of financial support
but never received it, and I think that was a major reason
for deciding to do it,” he said.
“All the students in our grad perio program have
talent. I see it everyday. But if they want to succeed,
they need the opportunity. I want our scholarship to be
that opportunity for them.”
The annual cost of the graduate periodontics program
at Michigan is about $20,000 for in-state students and
$38,000 for out-of-state students. “That’s double
compared to about ten years ago and costs are continuing
to rise,” Wang said.

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32
 Jerry Mastey

Dentists Explain Dr. Hom-Lay Wang’s Popularity

Pausing at the Hall of Honor outside the School of Dentistry’s Office of Continuing Dental Education are (left to right): Drs. Mitsuaki Kawahara,
Masamichi Itose, and Nobuyuki Yamamichi. Kawahara was translator when editor Jerry Mastey interviewed Yamamichi and Itose for this story.

r. Hom-Lay Wang is very popular among his peers in Japan and across Asia.
“When we hear about a course he will be teaching, it takes only five minutes for his lectures to fill up because he is
so popular and very respected,” said a Japanese dentist when he was in Ann Arbor this spring.
Dr. Masamichi Itose, of Fukuoka City, Japan, and more than 70 other dentists, traveled across 12 time zones this spring
to attend Wang’s continuing dental education course in Ann Arbor, Advanced Periodontal/Implant Surgery, a Practical Training
Course, held from April 28 to May 2.
For Itose, who is president of the International Society of Oral Implantologists study group, and Dr. Nobuyuki Yamamichi,
also from Fukuoka City, this was their second trip to Ann Arbor since 2002 to listen to Wang.
“Both Dr. Itose and I have known Dr. Wang for ten years. We return to Ann Arbor to hear him speak and also go to
hear him speak when he comes to Japan,” Yamamichi said.
“Dr. Wang is one of the most popular and most beloved persons in our study group,” added Yamamichi, who is vice
president of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists in Japan.
“I have read many of Dr. Wang’s articles in international journals. Every time I do that and hear him speak, whether it’s in
Japan or in Ann Arbor, I learn something new,” Yamamichi added.
Both Itose and Yamamichi said Wang is highly regarded by his peers for another reason. “He listens,” Yamamichi said.
“When he’s preparing a course, he asks us ahead of time what we would like to know. When we respond, he then prepares
his presentation so that it fits our requests.”
Itose added that the way Wang presents information “makes it very easy for us to listen and understand. He does present
new information. But he also summarizes it clearly for us so that we can then use it in our offices to help our patients.”

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33
 Jerry Mastey
Read more about this and other research
stories online at www.dent.umich.edu

Researchers Control
Growth Rate of
Replacement Blood
Vessels, Tissues
s any dentist or physician will attest,
sometimes a patient’s body doesn’t
want to cooperate when it’s time
for a wound to heal. Frequently,
a wound doesn’t heal. At other times, a
considerable period of time elapses.
With that in mind, a team of U-M
School of Dentistry researchers began
collaborating to try to answer a logical
follow-up question to such predicaments.
The question – Can anything be done to
“speed things up” to help a patient?
The answer appears to be “yes.”
Several years ago, Drs. William
Giannobile and Peter Ma, along with their
researchers, teamed up to try to discover
an answer to the question.
Recently they publicized their
discoveries which showed that, with
some help, it might be possible for the
body to control how quickly or how
slowly replacement tissues grow allowing
wounds to heal. Their work may also
lead to creating new blood vessels.
Although human applications are
years away, it’s possible the results of their
research may one day be used for dental
procedures, bone grafting, or tissue
replacement to treat injuries. It might
also help diabetics or elderly patients with
wound healing problems.

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34
Combining Expertise
Giannobile, a professor and periodontist, and Ma, a professor
with appointments in dentistry and engineering, combined their
expertise to investigate ways to control the growth rate for
tissues and blood vessel replacement.
“As a clinical periodontist and biologist, I have been intrigued
for a long time about how the body orchestrates a sequence of
events that lead to healing caused by wounds or injuries,” said
Giannobile, who is the director of the Michigan Center for Oral
Health Research. “Both Peter’s background and experiences,
and mine, led to what both of us thought was a natural cross-
fertilization of ideas with a common goal, to help people with
wounds that need healing.”
Similar to adjusting a thermostat, their approach focuses
on dialing up or dialing down how quickly growth factors can
influence tissue growth or repair. This chart shows how cells, scaffolds, signaling
Ma’s research has an engineering bent – developing new molecules, and blood supply can work simultaneously
materials that have potential dental and medical applications. to regenerate a diseased periodontium.
Some materials, such as restorative dental materials, are
developed to directly replace the structure and function of
damaged or diseased tissues and organs.

Mimicking Human Tissue Wound Healing

Some are developed as scaffolding (matrix materials) for
cells to grow on and develop into new tissues. As new tissues
develop, the special materials (scaffolds) degrade and are
absorbed into the body, leading to “natural” tissue replacement
and/or regeneration.
The Ma lab developed scaffolds with a unique nanofibrous
3-D network with designed pore structures from biodegradable
polymers. These nanofibers mimic the structural proteins of
human tissue at the nanometer scale and advantageously
support tissue regeneration or wound healing.
In addition, the Ma lab developed nanosized spheres that This illustration shows how interrelated components
can release biological molecules at individualized rates so that of a cell might be able to work together in
biological events can be orchestrated to tailor tissue and vascular regenerating oral tissues.
regeneration.
“By loading platelet-derived growth factors into these
nanospheres and then attaching them to a lattice-like nanofibrous
scaffold, the growth factor was able to recruit cells that stimulate
the body’s own machinery that is responsible for healing,” Ma
said.

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35
 R ESEARCH

Franceschi Receives IADR’s

Top Research Honor
Dr. Renny Franceschi, a professor of dentistry in the Department of Periodontics
and Oral Medicine, has received the International Association for Dental Research’s
top research award. During the IADR’s annual session in Toronto in July, Franceschi
received the Biological Mineralization Award for his many discoveries related to the
control of bone formation.
The process is mediated by the osteoblast, a highly specialized cell that secretes
and mineralizes the collagen-containing extracellular matrix of mature bone. In healthy
bone, the resulting structure provides strength and resistance to fractures while
defects in osteoblast function lead to osteoporosis and increased risk of fracture.
Among his many research contributions, Franceschi has identified a fundamental
mechanism that is used by the osteoblast to activate its genetic program to produce a
mature mineralized matrix. This activation process occurs in response to extracellular
signals, including weight-bearing exercise, that is known to dramatically stimulate bone
formation and strength. This discovery may lead to developing pharmaceuticals
designed to increase bone formation and strength.
“This award, the most prestigious research award given by IADR, is the biggest
honor I have received during my career,” Franceschi said.

Presence of Certain Antibodies Signals

Healthier Teeth and Gums
Laura Bailey - U-M News Service

Antibodies present in people with good oral health could become the
first tool for dental professionals to assess a patient’s probable response
to periodontal disease treatments, according to U-M School of Dentistry
researchers.


The antibody is a protein called HtpG. The bug that makes the protein
is Porphyromonas gingivalis, an important pathogen in periodontal disease.
The antibody also has potential as a vaccine candidate, according to Charles
Shelburne, assistant research scientist.
Researchers discovered the HtpG antibodies were present in much
lower amounts in people with periodontal disease, and in much higher
concentrations in those with healthier teeth and gums. Typically, antibodies
are elevated in people with disease, because they help fight the disease.

DentalUM Fall 2008

36
 Scheller 1st Place
Hatton Award Winner
Erica Scheller, a student in the School’s dual
degree DDS/Oral Health Sciences PhD
program, recently won a first place Hatton
Award in the Junior Investigator’s category.
She received the award during the annual
meeting of the American Association for
Dental Research for her presentation,
Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Regulates Dental
Pulp Stem Cell Properties.
Joo 3rd Place
Hatton Award Winner
Dr. Nam Joo, a postdoctoral scholar in
the laboratory of Dr. Yvonne Kapila, took
third place in the postdoctoral category
during the AADR’s annual meeting for
his presentation, NG2, Novel Proapoptotic
Receptor, Opposes Integrin α4 to Mediate
Anoikis.
DentalUM Fall 2008
Periodontal Disease May Contribute to
Diabetes Complications
School of Dentistry Researcher Cites Studies Showing Possible Links
There may be a link between periodontal disease and complications from Type
2 diabetes, according to a University of Michigan School of Dentistry researcher.
Dr. George Taylor, associate professor of dentistry, reported on findings from
several studies conducted at U-M and elsewhere during the first ever symposium
presented by dentists to diabetes experts at the American Diabetes Association’s
annual scientific session.
“Several recent studies have shown that having
periodontal disease makes those with Type 2 diabetes
more likely to develop worsened glycemic control,”
he said. “That puts them at much greater risk of
end-stage kidney disease and death.”
According to the association, nearly 21 million
Americans have diabetes, a condition characterized
by high blood glucose levels in individuals whose
bodies are unable to produce and/or use
insulin. Diabetes can lead to heart disease,
blindness, kidney disease, amputation, and
can also be fatal.
Periodontal disease, a major cause
of tooth loss in adults, affects tissues
that surround and support teeth. As
unremoved plaque hardens, gums
gradually pull away from the teeth
forming pockets between teeth and
gums. Because periodontal disease is
usually painless, most dental patients are
unaware they have it.
Taylor, who is also an associate
professor at the School of Public Health,
said a recent analysis of U.S. population
data from 1988-1994 found that persons
with periodontal disease were more than
three times as likely to have insulin resistance
compared to those without the disease.
Per Kjeldsen
37
 Dental Student Chosen for 8-Week
NIDCR Summer Research Program
Second-year dental student Patrick Condit participated in an
eight-week summer research program at the NIH’s National
Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda,
Maryland. NIDCR’s summer research program gives talented
dental students hands-on research experience and exposure to
the latest advances in oral health research and the opportunity to
work with mentors who conduct research in a student’s area of
interest. Condit worked in the laboratory of Dr. Silvio Gutkind,
the chief of the Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer branch.
5 Awarded AADR Student
Research Fellowships
Five dental students received Student Research Fellowships
from the American Association for Dental Research during the
organization’s annual meeting. The fellowships give students
an opportunity to continue their research and travel to AADR
and IADR meetings. The five are:
• William Love, D1; Dr. Jacques Nör, mentor; Role of
Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor in Angiogenesis
Mediated by Oral Tumor Cells in Vitro
• Kathryn MacKool, D2; Dr. William Giannobile, mentor;
Role of LMP1 During Peri-implant Osseointegration
• Remi Nair, D2; Dr. Sunil Kapila, mentor; Determination of
Relaxin Receptors in the Modulation of MMPs in Mouse
Fribrochondrocytes
• Archana Rajan, D4; Dr. Mathilde Peters, mentor; Online
Interactive Calibration Program for Clinical Assessment of
Restorations
• Jane Steiber, D3; Dr. Peter Polverini, mentor; Survival
Protein Expression in Vascular Endothelial Cells is a Predictor
of Tumor Progression
Research Day: February 10, 2009
Alumni and friends are invited to attend the School’s annual
Research Day next Feb. 10. More than 70 poster presentations
by dental, dental hygiene, specialty and PhD students, and
post-doctoral fellows are expected. About 25 exhibitors will
also attend. This is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with
former professors and to see current research by students at
the School of Dentistry.
38
Rural Dentistry an “Eye-Opening
Experience” for Student
Learning about health care issues in general and oral health
care concerns in particular facing those living in rural areas can
be a novel experience for some, especially those who grew up
in urban communities. Just ask Evelyn-Lucas Perry who grew
up near Flint in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
The third-year dental student spent part of her summer
in Iowa with a group of 23 students from across the country
who learned about a range of health issues, including oral health
concerns, that face farmers, migrant workers, and others.
Only Dental Student from Michigan
Lucas-Perry was the only dental student from U-M, and
just one of four dental students nationwide, to participate
in the first Rural Health Scholars program sponsored by the
American Student Medical Association. The program is designed
to educate students about rural health issues and develop
leadership skills for future primary care physicians, dentists, nurse
practitioners, and physician assistants.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” Lucas-Perry said.
Although she didn’t conduct oral health screenings or provide
care, “the program gave me a greater understanding and
appreciation of the health concerns and problems affecting those
in rural America,” she said. For example, because their work is
so physical, farmers and migrant workers said “they didn’t have
time to leave the fields to see a physician or a dentist.”
She also talked to her medical colleagues about the
importance of oral health care. “There were times when I felt
that many who weren’t dental students didn’t fully understand
how important oral health can be to a person’s overall health,”
Lucas-Perry said. “So as those opportunities arose, I explained
how good oral health can make a difference in a person’s life.”
SNDA Board of Trustees Representative
Evelyn-Lucas Perry was recently elected to a one-year
term as a national representative to the Board of Trustees
of the Student National Dental Association. SNDA is the
student auxiliary to the National Dental Association and
was formed to bridge the gap between minority dental
students and the NDA.
DentalUM Fall 2008
F ACULTY N EWS

May New Multicultural Affairs Director

Jerry Mastey Faculty
Dr. Kenneth May, associate professor of dentistry in the
Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, has been
Promotions
named director of the School of Dentistry’s Office of U-M Regents approved promo-
Multicultural Affairs and Recruitment Initiatives. tions of four School of Dentistry
May, who has been serving as interim program director faculty members during their
meeting in May. Promoted were:
for the past year, will work with the Office of Student
Affairs to provide support in recruiting, mentoring activities, • Richard Scott Conley, DMD,
summer program development and implementation. to clinical associate professor
“I received my dental and prosthodontic training here of dentistry from clinical
at Michigan, earning degrees in 1988 and 1990, respectively,” he said. “It’s a privilege assistant professor of dentistry
to play a role in helping so many young people who are pursuing their dream of (Department of Orthodontics
and Pediatric Dentistry).
becoming dentists. The Michigan tradition is grounded in providing opportunities
to all qualified students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or • Kitrina Cordell, DDS, to clinical
religion.” associate professor of dentistry
The Office of Multicultural Affairs recruits students from high school through from clinical assistant professor
graduate school for the dental profession. of dentistry (Department
Dean Peter Polverini said May’s appointment is part of his vision “to deepen our of Periodontics and Oral
Medicine).
School’s commitment to live and thrive in a multicultural community.”
• Marita Rohr Inglehart, DrPH,
to associate professor of
Kanjirath Cited for Outstanding Scholarship dentistry with tenure from
associate professor of dentistry
Dr. Preetha Kanjirath was one of five dental educators from across the nation without tenure (Department
to be recognized for outstanding scholarship during the American Dental Education of Periodontics and Oral
Medicine).
Association’s 85th annual session in Dallas.
An assistant clinical professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral • Philip Richards, DDS, MS, to
Medicine, Kanjirath received the Outstanding Manuscript Award for an article clinical professor of dentistry
published in the September 2007 issue of the Journal of Dental Education published by from clinical associate professor
ADEA. The publication, internationally recognized as a premier journal for academic of dentistry (Department
dentistry, covers a range of scientific and educational research in dental and dental of Periodontics and Oral
Medicine).
education.
The article, “Treating Patients with Herpes Simplex Virus Infections: Dental and In September, Yasuo
Dental Hygiene Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Professional Behavior,” noted Yamakoshi, PhD, was
that as dental and dental hygiene students learned more about herpes simplex promoted to associate
viruses, they had more apprehension about treating those patients. research scientist from assistant
However, Kanjirath noted, the more apprehensive the students were, the more research scientist (Department
of Biologic and Materials
diligent they were in adopting proper treatment protocols for patients with infectious
Sciences). The request for
diseases. promotion was approved by
“Educating future health care providers about treating patients with infectious and the Office of Vice President for
communicable diseases can potentially increase a student’s apprehension or negative Research.
attitudes about providing care,” she said. “But addressing those apprehensions can
give them opportunities to determine ways to provide the best possible care.”

DentalUM Fall 2008

39
 D EPARTMENT U PDATE

Biologic and Materials Sciences

E
Keary Campbell

ven the most stable departments require periods

of transition to maintain a fresh and cutting-edge
perspective. The Department of Biologic and
Materials Sciences and the Division of Prosthodontics
have been undergoing such a transition during the past
two years.
The transition occurs because of the loss of a few
faculty due to relocation coupled with the retirement of
notable, long-standing faculty. While it is always difficult
to lose the experience, hard work, and camaraderie of
department stalwarts like Drs. Ed Billy, Jeff Shotwell and
John Drach, these changes provide an opportunity to
reassess our goals and build for a strong and exciting
future.

New Clinical and Basic Science Faculty

Paul Krebsbach, Chair
On the clinical side of the department, we are pleased
to have recruited Drs. Berna Saglik, Furat George, and
Daler Tarrazzi. All three joined the department with
outstanding clinical training at the University of Michigan.
Each brings a new level of energy that reverberates
through the department. In their first year all three
initiated their research projects, published papers, and
directed courses.
On the basic science side of the department, our
goal was to generate a developmental biology theme to
augment our current strengths.
We built on our already acknowledged strength
in tissue engineering and neuroscience by identifying
and recruiting a team of developmental biologists that
can solve problems of importance to craniofacial and
neurobiology.
In our last two years of recruiting we have positioned
the U-M School of Dentistry to be an unparalleled
leader. Recent recruits include Drs. Vesa Kaartinen from
Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, Yuji Mishina from the
National Institutes of Health, Catherine Krull from the
University of Michigan Medical School, Kenichi Kuroda
from the University of Pennsylvania, and Alex DaSilva
from Harvard University.

DentalUM Fall 2008

40

Catherine E. Krull,
PhD, Associate
Professor of
Dentistry
Dr. Krull is analyzing
how various molecules contribute
to neural crest motility, directed
movement, and settling patterns. During
embryogenesis, many cells navigate
extensively to their final destinations
where they form precise connections
with their neighboring cells. Dr. Krull’s lab
group intends to define the molecules
and mechanisms that guide two cell
types (motor neuron and neural crest)
to their targets. Together, these studies
will yield important insights about the
positive and negative cues that sculpt
precise patterns of cellular architecture
during development.
Vesa M. Kaartinen,
PhD, Associate
Professor of
Dentistry
Dr. Kaartinen is a well-
established developmental geneticist.
For more than 15 years he has made
significant contributions to the mechanisms
of craniofacial development. He has a
history of successfully competing for NIH
funding and is currently funded for studies
of the pathophysiology of cleft palate
and also for studies in cardiovascular
development. He has many common
interests with other investigators in
the dental school and University. His
craniofacial development research
program will add tremendous value to
our school, while also complementing
other developmental biologists at U-M.
DentalUM Fall 2008
N EW F A C U LTY
Yuji Mishina, PhD,
Assistant Professor
of Dentistry
The Mishina lab uses
mouse genetics to
study the function of bone morphogenetic
proteins (BMPs) during development.
Extensive studies in humans have
revealed that mutations in BMP ligands,
receptors and signaling molecules
are involved in the pathogenesis of
chondrodysplasia, hypertension and
tumorigenesis. Members of the Mishina
group are interested in understanding the
roles that BMPs play in three major areas
of embryogenesis: mineralized tissues,
neural and neural crest-derived tissues,
and body plan formation.
Kenichi Kuroda,
PhD, Assistant
Professor of
Dentistry
Dr. Kuroda’s laboratory
is interested in the interface between
polymer science and biological systems.
He is studying the membrane-disrupting
action of antimicrobial polymers and the
translocation of polymers as potential
drug carriers. He will also focus on the
creation of fluorescent oligomer probes
to examine the morphology of lipid
membranes, which may also be useful in
monitoring cellular activity.
Alexandre DaSilva,
DDS, DMSc,
Assistant Professor
of Dentistry
Dr. DaSilva is a clinician
scientist interested in understanding
head and neck pain pathways. His
research uses sophisticated neuroimaging
techniques to investigate subcortical and
cortical neuroplasticity in patients suffering
from chronic pain. He also uses novel
neuroimaging and non-invasive brain
stimulation protocols for chronic TMJD,
migraine and trigeminal neuropathic
pain.
Berna Saglik, DDS,
Assistant Clinical
Professor
Dr. Saglik received her
dental degree from
Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey,
where she also practiced for three years
after graduation. She completed her
graduate prosthodontics training at the
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
in 2007.
Dr. Saglik is a member of the
American College of Prosthodontists,
American Dental Association, and a
fellow of the International College of Oral
Implantologists. Her research interests
are in dental implants and ceramics. She
studies the precision of fit and fracture
resistance of all ceramic fixed partial
dentures. Dr. Saglik currently teaches in
the comprehensive care clinics and directs
the removable partial denture course.
Daler Tarrazzi,
DDS, Assistant
Clinical Professor
Dr. Tarrazzi earned
her DDS degree in
2000 from Universidad Central de
Venezuela, School of Dentistry. In
2005 she completed the graduate
41
 D EPARTMENT U PDATE
prosthodontic program at the University
of Michigan. During her studies at U-M,
Dr. Tarrazzi received the Rackham
Masters Award Scholarship and the
Crown, Bridge and Implant Best Solution
for Your Patients Award at the 2005 Nobel
Biocare World Conference.
Her area of research focuses
on the fracture resistance of single
implant-supported restorations using
ceramic implant abutments. She teaches
prosthodontics in the comprehensive
care clinics, directs the Foundation
Curriculum III Removable Prosthodontics
for the International Dentist Program, and
directs the Introduction to Prosthodontics
course.
Furat M. George,
BDS, Assistant
Clinical Professor
Dr. George received
his dental degree from
the University of Baghdad College of
Dentistry in 1998 and completed his
graduate prosthodontic training at the
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
in 2007.
Dr. George is a member of the
American College of Prosthodontists and
a fellow of the International Congress
of Oral Implantologists. He is currently
involved in research projects in the field
of dental ceramics and is serving as the
co-director of the undergraduate implant
program.
42
RETIREMENTS
Jeffrey L. Shotwell,
DDS, MS, associate
professor of
dentistry, retired
from active faculty
status on October
31, 2008.
Dr. Shotwell received numerous
awards and honors over the course
of his teaching career including the Paul
Gibbons Award in 1977, 1978, 1992, and
1993, and the 2006 Instructor of the
Year Award. Dr. Shotwell was an active
member of the University of Michigan
community. He served as ombudsman
for the dental school from 1993-2002 and
was a representative to the University
Senate Assembly from 1996 to 1999, and
was also a member of many School of
Dentistry committees.
John C. Drach,
PhD, professor
of dentistry in the
School of Dentistry
and professor of
medicinal chemistry
in the College of
Pharmacy, retired from active faculty
status on August 31, 2008.
Dr. Drach’s research focused on
the discovery, mode of action, and
metabolism of antiviral drugs. The overall
objective of his research group’s work
was to identify new compounds that have
the potential to become useful antiviral
drugs and to investigate how promising
compounds act at the cellular, molecular,
and biochemical level. His work as a
researcher has earned him numerous
awards and honors throughout his
career including being named a Fellow
of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science in 2002.
Edward J. Billy,
DMD, clinical
professor of
dentistry and
director of graduate
prosthodontics
program, retired
from active faculty status on July 31,
2006.
Dr. Billy came to U-M in 1992 as a
lecturer and was promoted to clinical
professor in 2001. Prior to joining the
faculty at Michigan, Dr. Billy served as
chair of the Prosthodontic Department
at the Naval Dental School. In 2001,
Professor Billy became the director of the
graduate prosthodontics program within
the School of Dentistry. The program
excelled due to his leadership, expertise
and communication skills. He introduced
new courses, improved the financial
structure, and initiated renovations to
the clinic. He was named Instructor of the
Year several times.
DentalUM Fall 2008
 D ENTAL H YGIENE

Joan
McGowan
Retires after 35 Years at U-M

I
Jerry Mastey

Active in community n high school, she wanted to become a librarian “because I was in love with the
Dewey Decimal System. But when I later learned how much librarians earn, I
outreach, Joan McGowan
said to myself, ‘forget it, Joan’.” She also thought about becoming a pharmacist,
participated in the School “but taking high school chemistry ended my interest in that possibility.”
of Dentistry’s program When asked how she became interested in dental hygiene, Joan McGowan, who
retired in August following a 35-year career at Michigan, responded with a laugh, asking,
with its community
“Got a few minutes? Let me tell you.”
outreach partners. Here So she does, telling about personal experiences and the influence of a friend.
she talks to Dr. Marilyn Describing how a lack of fluoride in the Detroit Public Water System supply led
Stolberg, dental director to cavities and resulted in frequent trips to the dentist as a youngster, McGowan
said, “I hated going to the dentist so much that when my parents gave me bus fare, I
of the Dental Center at
deliberately got on the wrong bus so I would miss my appointment.”
Family Health Care in After considering several career possibilities in high school, it wasn’t until after
Baldwin, Michigan. finishing high school that a family friend suggested McGowan investigate the dental
hygiene program at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. “I did and
I liked it,” she said. “It was perfect for me because I would be working with children
and I wouldn’t be imposing pain.”
After graduating in 1962 with an RDH, McGowan worked for the Macomb County
Health Department conducting a school fluoride program and telling children about

DentalUM Fall 2008

43
 D ENTAL H YGIENE
the importance of oral health. She also
worked at a summer camp for about 200
children from families with tuberculosis in
Gregory, Michigan, a town about 20 miles
northwest of Ann Arbor.
A friend who was also her
supervisor at the Macomb County
Health Department, Albreta Merritt,
suggested they both return to college to
earn bachelor’s degrees. However, after
learning that the University of Kentucky
had a degree completion program,
McGowan moved to Lexington and
earned a bachelor’s degree in dental
hygiene in 1969.
Considering three job offers, she
chose to return to U-D that fall “because
I wanted to teach at my alma mater.”
While teaching, McGowan also worked
for a master’s degree in curriculum and
instruction which she received from U-D
in 1972.
44
Early Years at the U-M School
of Dentistry
In July 1973, McGowan was hired as
an assistant professor of dental hygiene
at the University of Michigan School of
Dentistry.
“Pauline Steele, the second director
of the program, offered me the job,”
McGowan said. “She was firm. She was a
disciplinarian. Her rules were strict – we
had to wear a white uniform and a cap in
the clinic because that was an important
part of being a professional.”
McGowan said the time she was
in the School’s pediatric clinic “was a
wonderful experience. I especially
enjoyed working with pediatric dentists
like Bud Straffon and Arnie Morawa.”
With word spreading of her
involvement in communities, McGowan
received a telephone call in 1975 asking
her to become dental coordinator
Jerry Mastey
of the State of Michigan’s Head Start
program.
“I was now recruiting dental hygienists
and dentists asking them to get involved
in helping youngsters. I was also going to
classrooms across the state, talking about
good oral health care, and demonstrating
the circular brushing technique,” she said.
“It was a ball.”
But McGowan was eager to learn
more and do more.
She wanted to get a master’s degree
in public health. “So I did something that
was unheard of for a faculty member back
then,” she said. “I made an appointment
to talk to Dr. David Striffler, director of
the dental public health program at the
School of Public Health.”
That was novel, she said, “because for
someone from the School of Dentistry
to earn an advanced degree at another
school or college just wasn’t done.”
Read more about this story online
at www.dent.umich.edu
Joan McGowan
points out the
dangers of using
tobacco products
during the Give Kids
a Smile program
at the School of
Dentistry in 2006.
DentalUM Fall 2008
G RADUATION
Per Kjeldsen Per Kjeldsen Per Kjeldsen

25 Receive Bachelor’s Susan Seger Receives

Degree in Dental Hygiene Outstanding Alumnae Award DH Class of ’08 Lauds Kerschbaum

Twenty-five women received a Bachelor “She is best known for building one of the Reflecting on her experiences and those
of Science degree in dental hygiene oldest, largest, and most complete dental of her colleagues, dental hygiene class
at graduation ceremonies May 2 at collections and rare book collections president Michelle Comber said, “we can
Hill Auditorium. Before the degrees in the world,” Katrina Schwarz said of now appreciate how privileged and blessed
were awarded, the Dental Hygienists’ former School of Dentistry librarian we were to attend such a prestigious
Alumnae Association presented the Susan Seger. institution known as the University of
Outstanding Alumnae Award to Susan Schwarz, president of the School’s Michigan. We received superior clinical and
Seger, and graduates presented the Dental Hygienists’ Alumnae Association, academic skills, but that was only a small
Outstanding Faculty Award to Prof. made the remark prior to presenting part of what U of M gave us.”
Wendy Kerschbaum. Seger with the Outstanding Alumnae Award Comber said, “We had instructors
at May commencement ceremonies. that were passionate and truly cared about
Photo above: Seger was head librarian at the us as people, and not just as students. Our
After receiving her Bachelor of dental school for 31 years (1966-1997), instructors were willing to go the extra
Science degree in dental hygiene, helping the School to physically relocate mile to help us succeed.”
Carrie Emmendorfer receives the library from a building that was She said Kerschbaum “made learning
congratulations from Katrina constructed in 1907. fun, challenged us to work hard and never
Schwarz. give up, and was there for us when we
needed her.”
After receiving the Outstanding Faculty
Award, Kerschbaum praised graduates as
a “class that has excelled academically,
Graduation Speakers on the Web clinically, and professionally.”
You can listen to the remarks of all graduation speakers Reminding them of their responsibility
and see more than a dozen different photographs by to patients and to society, Kerschbaum
clicking this link on the School of Dentistry’s Web site: added, “You are now part of a legacy
www.dent.umich.edu/about/aboutschool/news/ of the University, part of a legacy of the
School of Dentistry, and I know you will
grad2008/index.html
carry forth the tradition of excellence in
all you do.”

DentalUM Fall 2008

45
 D ENTAL H YGIENE
N EWS
Layher Receives ADHA’s
Top Honor
Mary Layher, a senior research
lab specialist in the Department of
Periodontics and Oral Medicine, received
the 2008 Johnson & Johnson/ADHA
Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award
during the ADHA’s annual session this
summer in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
To be nominated, recipients must be
ADHA members for at least 10 years,
be active in the association, and must be
nominated by a colleague.
“It’s a huge honor to be recognized
by my peers on a national level,” said
Layher, a 1981 graduate of the U-M dental
hygiene program. “This award would
never have been possible without the
educational opportunities and inspirational
colleagues that surround me here at
Michigan.” She acknowledged Drs.
Hom-Lay Wang; William Giannobile; her
father, C. Mark Gilson; and Prof. Wendy
Kerschbaum “for their inspiration and
professional encouragement.”
Since becoming a staff dental hygienist
in the Dental Faculty Practice at the School
of Dentistry in 1990, Layher has been
active as an educator, researcher, clinician,
and health promoter. She has also served
in leadership roles with local, state, and
national dental hygiene organizations.
46
Essell Receives Hygienist Hero
Recognition
Karen Essell, who received the
Outstanding Dental Hygiene Alumnae
Award during the School’s commencement
program in May 2007, was also honored at
the ADHA’s annual session this summer.
She received the Johnson & Johnson/
ADHA Hygienist Hero Award for her efforts
in raising oral health care awareness. The
award is given to a dental hygienist for
their dedication to promoting oral health
in communities, the overall impact of their
efforts based on the number of people
reached, and the amount of time spent
helping in communities.
Essell has been a clinical dental
hygienist since graduating from the School
of Dentistry in 1969.
Knorr, Sullivan Receive Honorable
Mention for Outstanding Student
Leader Award
For the first time, dental hygiene
students received an award from the
University of Michigan for their academic
achievements and contributions to the
Student American Dental Hygienists’
Association (SADHA).
Rachel Knorr and Lindsey Sullivan
received honorable mention for the U-M’s
Outstanding Student Leader Award.
Both were acknowledged for their
academic achievements and their work
with SADHA that included planning and
hosting events, demonstrating initiative,
and recognizing and developing the
talents of SADHA members.
During her three years with SADHA,
Knorr was involved with community
outreach activities that included Boys &
Girls clubs, health fairs, and chairing the
March of Dimes Health Walk.
Sullivan, also involved for three years
with SADHA, was editor of the group’s
first newsletter and was a member of the
organization’s fundraising committee that
raised more than $800 in two years.
Sigma Phi Alpha Inducts New
Members
The University of Michigan’s Nu
chapter of the national dental hygiene
honor society, Sigma Phi Alpha, inducted
four new members this spring.
Included below are; Rachel Knorr
(left), Carrie Emmendorfer (second from
left), Natasha Feller (second from right),
and DH degree completion student Mary
Clisch (third from left). Also pictured
are Juana Gissendanner (center), faculty
member, and Dr. Laurie McCauley, chair
of the Department of Periodontics and
Oral Medicine (right).
DentalUM Fall 2008
A LUMNI
Please

N EWS
The husband and wife dental team of Jennifer Peitzke
Virmani and Mohit Virmani, who both earned dental
degrees from the U-M
School of Dentistry in
2000, are practicing in
Baltimore, Maryland.
Earlier this year, they
welcomed twin girls into
their family, Marella and
Lauren.
clip
and
mail
What’s New with You?
Your Classmates Want to Know!
Send news about your latest personal or professional achievement, award, or honor,
along with a picture (black and white or color) to: Jerry Mastey, editor DentalUM,
University of Michigan, School of Dentistry, 1011 N. University Avenue, Room
G532, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078.
Name _____________________________________
Address ____________________________________

Jed Jacobson (DDS 1978, MS 1982), City ____________________ State ______ Zip ______
senior vice president and chief science
officer for Delta Dental of Michigan, Telephone ________________ Fax________________
Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana, was
e-mail ____________________________________
recently selected to serve as a member
of the Industry Advisory Board for Can we use your email address in our publications?
The Journal of the American Dental
____Yes ____ No
Association. The Board supports the activities and mission
of the JADA. Before joining Delta Dental in 2001, Jacobson News: _____________________________________
was a member of the School of Dentistry’s faculty for 23
years and was an associate professor, assistant dean of _________________________________________
admissions, director of admissions, and assistant dean for
_________________________________________
community and outreach programs.
_________________________________________
Justin Dunmire (DDS 1942) of Lake Worth, Florida, who
retired in 1979, celebrated his 94th birthday in late July. “I _________________________________________
ride a stationary bicycle and work crossword puzzles every
day,” he wrote. Dunmire also may have set an attendance _________________________________________
record with “sixty years of perfect attendance in the _________________________________________
Rotary Club.”
_________________________________________
Dick Shick (DDS 1954, MS 1960)
of Flint, Michigan, will become the _________________________________________
first University of Michigan School of
Dentistry alumnus to serve as president
_________________________________________
of the International College of Dentists _________________________________________
next year. He has been vice president
of the organization and also was _________________________________________
president of the group’s USA section in 2001.
Get Involved!
Lee Jones (DDS 1961), director of the School of Dentistry’s _____ I would like to help plan my next reunion.
Office of Minority Affairs for 25 years, received the Civil _____ I would like to be considered for the Alumni Society Board of
Rights Award from the National Dental Association during Governors.
its 95th annual convention in Detroit this summer.

DentalUM Fall 2008

47
 A LUMNI
N EWS
Joanne Dawley (DDS 1980) of Southfield, Michigan,
received the Phenomenal Achievement & Leadership
Award from the National Dental Association during its
95th annual convention in Detroit this summer.
Four U-M School of Dentistry graduates were recently
elected to leadership positions in the 5,800 member
Michigan Dental Association. They include:
• Joanne Dawley (DDS 1980), president
• William L. Wright (DDS 1957, MS 1984),
president-elect
• Debra Peters (DDS 1993), Speaker of the House Marcus L. Ward Professor of Dentistry when he retired in 1981.
of Delegates
• Connie Verhagen (DDS 1986, MS 1986), treasurer
In addition, Jeffrey Johnston (DDS 1982, MS 1986), was
named editor of the monthly Journal of the Michigan
Dental Association.
Four members of the Class of ’76 and their wives took a
six-day tour of the canals of France this summer. Seen
here are (left to right): Drs. Jay Roahen, Tim Gietzen, Bill
Freccia, and Jay Werschky. “We’ve traveled with the
same group before, but this was our first time on a barge,”
Werschky said. This photo was taken on the barge La
Nouvelle Etoile while cruising the canals of northeast
France from Strasbourg to Nancy.
48
In Memoriam
Prof. Albert Richards
(1917-2008)
Professor Albert G. Richards, one of the
world’s foremost authorities in dental
radiography, died September 6. He was
91. Born in Chicago in 1917, Richards
was a faculty member with the School
of Dentistry for more than 40 years. He
joined the School as an instructor in July
1940, was named professor of dentistry in 1959, and was the
An advanced amateur photographer who was making his
own color prints in the 1930s when they were a rarity, Richards
focused his interest on X-ray photography and its application to
dentistry, teaching himself dental radiology.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1940
from U-M, after transferring from Northwestern University, and a
master’s degree in physics in 1943, also from U-M.
What many faculty, students, and staff remember most about
Richards were his floral radiographs that adorn a wall on the
first-floor hallway near the main lobby in the School of Dentistry
building. The radiographs show the petals and inner structures of
the lily, calla lily, fuchsia, daffodil, cosmos, and iris.
His accomplishments included inventing the recessed cone
X-ray head, becoming the first dental radiologist to use electron
microscopy to view the internal structure of teeth, and developing
a technique that shows the topography of surfaces.
Richards also developed a radiographic procedure that
enables dentists and physicians to examine living tissue by layer and
a method of determining the relative location of objects hidden
in the oral region. He also developed a liquid mold technique for
showing the topography of surfaces which have diverse applications
elsewhere, such as in determining the fingerprints of burn victims.
During his distinguished career, Richards earned numerous
honors including the Meritorious Award from the Michigan Dental
Association in 1972 and a special award from the Dental Society of
Japan for developing the recessed cone X-ray head, which reduces
stray radiation as dental X-rays are taken.
Richards authored more than 100 publications, belonged to
numerous professional organizations (including serving as president
of the American Academy of Oral Roentgenology), was an
honorary member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Sigma Phi Alpha
honorary societies, a consultant to the Veterans’ Administration
Hospital in Ann Arbor, and editor for several professional journals.
He also held patents on seven inventions. In 2001, he received the
Distinguished Service Award from the School of Dentistry’s Alumni
Society Board of Governors for his service and contributions to
the School and to the dental profession.
DentalUM Fall 2008
 Upcoming
For more information about
these and other continuing
dental education courses
contact:
University of Michigan
School of Dentistry
Office of Continuing Dental Education
1011 N. University Ave.
Room G508
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078
www.dent.umich.edu
Continuing Dental Education Courses You can read more about many of the stories in this issue of
DentalUM by visiting our Web site. Stories from the previous
February 19-23, 2009 (Thursday to Monday) issue are available at this link:
Cruise with CE 2009…aboard the Century in the
Western Caribbean www.dent.umich.edu/alumni/dentalum/springsummer2008/index.php
Join us as we set sail from Miami, Florida, aboard Celebrity Cruises’
newly updated ship, Century. Ports of call include Key West, Florida
and Cozumel, Mexico.
Topics: Everything You Don’t Want to Know about Adhesives,
Using Adhesive Techniques to Restore Posterior Teeth –
Alternatives to Complete Crowns, and Restoring Anterior Teeth
with All Ceramics.
Speaker: Dr. Robert Seghi, associate professor at Ohio State
University, earned his DDS from the U-M School of Dentistry in
1978. Five years later, he earned a master’s degree in the School’s
dual degree program in biomaterials and denture prosthodontics.
His research focuses on dental ceramics, dental polymers and
ceramic composites, and dental adhesion.
For more information and to make cruise reservations, contact
Cruise & Travel Partners, LLC. Toll free telephone number (800)
856-8826. Or register online: www.cruiseandtravelpartners.com.
March 28, 2009 (Saturday)
Ramfjord Symposium – Systemic Implications for
Management of Oral and Periodontal Health
Speakers and Topics:
Steven Offenbacher, DDS, PhD
The Association among Cardiovascular Health, Pregnancy,
Premature Birth, and Periodontal Infection
Brian Mealey, DDS, MS
The Role of Diabetes and Smoking on Periodontal Health
Louis Rose, DDS, MD
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and Associated Complications
Location: Rackham Amphitheatre, University of Michigan
Central Campus