Topics at a glance: New Leadership in Department of Endodontics: Meet Sam Dorn, D.D.S. … ATTENTION PEDIATRIC DENTISTS: Texas now offering loan reimbursement … Distinguished lecturer visits from Japan … Opportunity at UTHSC-H: Students, faculty spread the word at Houston Hispanic Forum … Three faculty members achieve board certification …Give Kids a Smile Day by the numbers

Samuel O. Dorn, D.D.S.

New Leadership in Department of Endodontics:
Meet Sam Dorn, D.D.S.

As the new chair of the Endodontics Department at The University of Texas Dental Branch, Professor Samuel O. Dorn, D.D.S., likes to remember where he came from — driving a taxi in New York City to fund his dental education. He followed that with a successful endodontic career, spending the last 30 years in Florida.

“I’m traveling back and forth for a while,” he said. “We hope that will end soon and we’ll all be here.” He’s been at UTDB long enough to have a few ideas about the future of the Endodontics Department, including trimming the speciality program down to 26 months, instead of three years. And that’s just the start. FULL STORY

ATTENTION PEDIATRIC DENTISTS:
Texas now offering loan reimbursement

Dentists who treat children on Medicaid may be eligible for reimbursement of student loans through a new state program. Photo by Brian Schnupp.

Dentists, physicians and specialists who care for Texas children on Medicaid can now apply for loan repayment through a state program that seeks to improve availability of care for the youngest Medicaid patients. The program was announced earlier this year and is now accepting applications.

Full details and application guidelines for the Children’s Medicaid Loan Repayment Program are available online. Eligible dentists and doctors can get up to $140,000 in loan repayments over four years by meeting targets for services provided to children on Medicaid.

University of Texas Dental Branch Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S. served on the 17-member advisory committee that reviewed and recommended funding for the loan repayment project and other initiatives. The funding is part of the Legislature’s $1.8 billion plan to increase Medicaid rates and the availability of services in response to the Frew v. Hawkins lawsuit over utilization of preventive services in children’s Medicaid.

Earlier this year, Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins said the program is an innovative way to address the root cause of one of the state’s greatest challenges — the lack of dentists and physicians who accept Medicaid, and an overall lack of pediatric specialists. He predicted the loan repayment program will help Texas recruit health care providers for hard-to-serve areas. The program will enroll up to 300 dentists and physicians a year, and the state may prioritize the applications based on particular specialties or locations. Applications will be accepted year round with new participants selected each June.

Pictured at the lecture are (from left) Houston Biomaterials Research Center Director S. Ray Taylor, Ph.D.; Associate Dean for Research Karen A. Storthz, Ph.D., Nobuo Nakabayashi, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor Cynthia Trajtenberg, D.D.S.; and Rick Bebermeyer, D.D.S., chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials. Photo by Rhonda Moran.

Distinguished lecturer
visits from Japan

Nobuo Nakabayashi, Ph.D., professor emeritus from the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, presented the Dental Branch Distinguished Lecturer Seminar on Tuesday. His topic was “Development of an Impermeable Interpenetrating Polymer Network to Protect Teeth from Acid Demineralization.” While strong dental materials are essential, it is difficult to bond artificial materials to natural dental tissues. Nakabayashi said a polymer network interpenetrated with dental hard tissues solves this problem, so that formal bonding is not required. It is essential that prepared dentin be protected against lactic acid demineralization with an impermeable barrier to prevent caries.

UT Dental Branch students Montsy Rodriguez, J. R. Reyes, and Iven Gonzalez volunteered at the Houston Hispanic Forum’s 23rd annual Career and Education Day in February.

Opportunity at UTHSC-H:
Students, faculty spread the word
at Houston Hispanic Forum

The Houston Hispanic Forum held its 23rd annual Career and Education Day at the George R. Brown Convention Center in February. With more than 17,000 students in attendance, the forum is one of the largest educational events in Texas. Students and parents got information about career options, colleges and financial aid from professional panelists and representatives from educational institutions and companies.

Students of all cultural backgrounds are welcome at this event. Margo Y. Melchor, R.D.H., clinical assistant professor in the School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Texas Dental Branch, again coordinated The UT Health Science Center’s panel, entitled “Health Professions at the UTHSC at Houston.”

The Dental Branch and Medical School shared a booth in the exhibit area to disseminate information about their programs. Members of the UTDB Hispanic Student Dental Association, including dental students Iven and Anthony Gonzalez and dental hygiene students Montsy Rodriguez and J.R. Reyes, were on hand to provide information to anyone interested in dental or dental hygiene careers.

Three faculty members achieve board certification

Congratulations to Clinical Assistant Professors Lisa Tran, D.D.S., and Magret Lan, D.D.S., who have been certified by the American Board of Periodontics; and to Assistant Professor Maria D. Gonzalez, D.D.S., who is now certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Give Kids a Smile Day by the numbers

The final statistics are in for Give Kids a Smile Day, the free day of dental care sponsored by The University of Texas Dental Branch and the Greater Houston Dental Society (GHDS) on Feb. 14. Dr. Peggy O’Neill, associate dean for patient care, said volunteers performed 959 procedures and provided more than $101,000 worth of care (figured at market value fees).

The procedures included exams, X-rays, prophylactic treatments, fluoride varnish, sealants, composite and amalgam fillings, pulp therapy, stainless steel crowns and extractions. Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., surgically removed a mucocele for one patient.

A total of 338 volunteers participated, including dentists, dental hygienists and assistants, students and staff from the Dental Branch, the GHDS and participating dentists’ offices. Give Kids a Smile Day is held annually in connection with National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Seven-year-old Thomas, shown in the photo at right with Dr. Stephen Laman, left Give Kids a Smile Day with a glove chicken, rainbow sunglasses, a goody bag from the Greater Houston Dental Society and reason to expect a visit from the tooth fairy. Photo by Rhonda Moran.