10 Professors Changing Dental Technology

Professor Curran is both a working technician and a professor and Program Director of Dental Technology at the Arizona School of Dentristry & Oral Health at ATSU. One of the areas in which she is pushing the envelope is with her use of technology in the clinical education of her students. She is an advocate of technicians being more involved in dental technology decisions, and was named one of Dental Products Report Magazine's Top 25 Women in Dentistry for 2014.

Dr. Giordano is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at BU. He has combined his knowledge of dentistry with the most cutting edge material sciences to develop a new ceramic dental material which has just become available in Germany. His research paper regarding the subject earned him the Arthur R. Frechette Novice Award in Prosthodontics through the IADR/AADR. In addition, he serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Dental Technology, the Journal of Dentistry, and the Journal of Biomedical Materials.

Professor Budny is Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at New York City College of Technology (City Tech), and one of the most promising rising stars in the field of Dental Technology. She holds the title of Certified Dental Technologist, and in 2013, became a Technical Fellow of the Northeastern Gnathological Society. She was recently recognized by the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) as the 2014 Educator of the Year, specifically due to her knowledge of the latest dental technology. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Foundation for Dental Laboratory Technology as well a Curriculum Consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). In 2011, she was named one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry by Dental Products Report Magazine, and was recently selected to be an FDLT recipient of the 2015 Kois Center Education Grant.

Dr. Ferencz is a clinical professor of prosthodontics at NYU School of Dentistry. He is very active in professional organizations, and served as the Past President of the American College of Prosthodontists in 2003 in addition to receiving their Distinguished Service Award, Distinguished Lecturer Award, and Founders Society Award.. He recently co-edited a new textbook entitled, "High-Strength Ceramics: Interdisciplinary Perspectives", which is quickly becoming the standard for the field. 

Dr. Ferracane is a professor and the Chair of the Restorative Dentistry program at OHSU. He is also the Division Director of Biomaterials and Biomechanics. He is the Past President and one of the Founding Fellows of the Academy of Dental Materials as well as the Associate Editor for the Journal of Dental Research and Odontology. His current NIH/NIDCR-funded research is focused on ways of integrating bioactive glasses in working with resin-based dental materials.

Dr. Romanos is an internationally recognized name when it comes to laser applications for dentistry. He won both the Gold Medal Research Award from the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva (2004) and the Gold Medal Award for Research at the Malaysia Science and Technology Exposition (2002). In 2006, he was named the Honorary President of the Hellenistic Society for Oral Laser Applications and in 2011, he was the Honorary Director of the International Clinical Dental Research Organization (ICDRO) in India.

Dr. Bayne is a distinguished professor and the Chair of the Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics program at UM. He is very active in professional organizations and has been the Past President of the IADR (2006-2007), the AADR (2000-2001), and the Academy of Dental Materials (1989-1990). He is also a nationally recognized teacher, earning the 2005 Outstanding Teaching Award from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Bayne has published over 125 articles, presented over 270 industry lectures, and earned numerous teaching and service awards.

Dr. Perdigão's research focuses on in vitro studies and clinical trials of dentin adhesives, dental whitening, and posterior composites. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles on the subjects and serves on the editorial boards of numerous publications including as the Associate Editor of the Journal of Adhesive Dentistry and as the Section Editor of Operative Dentistry for the Journal of Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry. Perdigão has also served as a consultant to the American Dental Association (ADA) Committee for Scientific Affairs and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dr. Blatz is a celebrated teacher, speaker, and author. He is heavily involved in both US and European dentistry associations, including as the Past President of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Association of Dental Research (2005-2006) and a Diplomat for the German Society of Prosthodontics and Material Sciences (2001).  In 2009, he was awarded the Arthur Frechette Research Co-Authorship Award from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). He founded and was the first President of the International Academy of Adhesive Dentistry (IAAD). 

Dr. Phark has been recognized for his cutting-edge research both in the US and internationally. In 2009, he earned the Arthur Frechette Dental Research Award from the IADR for his research with an alternative, more durable crown material which doesn't require sandblasting by dental technicians. He was also highlighted by National Public Radio in 2010 for developing the Icon technology, a new cavity treatment that doesn't involve drills. He is also very active in the IAAD, and was the program Co-Chair for the First Biennial Meeting on Adhesive Dentistry in 2015.