Topics at a glance: Star of the South: UTDB faculty, students, alumni attend GHDS annual event...What to use? How to do it?...Dr. Flaitz serves on ADA, CDC cancer detection panel...UTDB alumni nominated for Health Care Heroes Award...Tunes for a Thirsty Wednesday...

Star of the South:
UTDB faculty, students, alumni attend GHDS annual event

Stephen Chen and Brenden Taylor won a first-place award in the dental student category in the table clinic at the Star of the South Dental Meeting in April. Pictured from left are GHDS President Greg Oelfke, D.D.S.; Chen, Taylor, Chad Johnston of Dentsply and GHDS General Chair Victor Rodriguez. Photo by Dr. Stephen Laman

The Greater Houston Dental Society’s annual Star of the South Dental Meeting in April drew nearly 7,000 visitors, including nearly 1,400 dentists and more than 1,200 dental hygienists. The University of Texas Dental Branch was well represented, with faculty, students and alumni participating in every event. Among the UTDB clinicians who presented continuing education courses were Dr. Charles Streckfus, Dr. Catherine Flaitz, Dr. Chung Kau, Dr. Kenneth Abramovitch and Inga-Lill Leon, CDA, LRT. As a fundraiser and entertainment, the UTDB Alumni Association hosted a Texas Holdem Poker tournament, with $100 donations from each participant.

In the table clinic competition, UTDB projects won 10 awards, including three for first place. Dental students Stephen Chen and Brenden Taylor won for “Nasoalveolar Molding and Columella Elongation: Improving Treatment Outcomes in Cleft Lip and Palate.” Associate Professor Harold Henson won first place in the dental hygiene category for “Ozone: Its Role in Dentistry.” Dental hygiene students Leah Russell, Tina Nadolski, Morgan Harris and Katy Turner won a first-place award for “Angelman Syndrome.” See more photos and a complete list of winners.

What to use? How to do it?
New textbook answers with expert guidance, detailed photos

Douglas A. Terry, D.D.S.

UT Dental Branch alumnus Douglas A. Terry, D.D.S., (’78) is lead author of Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry: Material Selection and Technique, a 770-page first edition featuring extensive detailed color photographs and editorial contributions from dental experts around the world. The book builds on the concept that when it comes to improving aesthetics and longevity of a restoration, which biomaterial used is not as important as how it is used.

Terry said the inspiration for the book came from “questions and suggestions shared in presentations, hands-on courses, letters and e-mails [that] indicated a desire for a medium to provide knowledge and illustration for the ‘wet-handed’ dentist and technician.” Toward that end, the book’s photographs are plentiful and large enough so that every detail is visible, from close examination of tissue to precise instruction on how to hold an instrument. FULL STORY.

Dr. Flaitz serves on ADA, CDC cancer detection panel

Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S.

The ADA News of April 20 includes mention and a photograph of UTDB Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., as a member of a panel of experts assembled by the ADA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop evidence-based clinical recommendations for health care practitioners.

Each year, approximately 34,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Through the evidence-based recommendations, the panel aims to help healthpractitioners in both dentistry and medicine diagnose cases earlier. The article is titled Experts explore evidence on oral cancer detection, diagnosis.

UTDB alumni nominated for Health Care Heroes Award

A father-and-son pair of dentists who are both alumni of The University of Texas Dental Branch have been named as finalists in the Houston Business Journal’s inaugural Health Care Heroes Awards. Zeb F. Poindexter Jr., D.D.S. (’56) and Zeb F. Poindexter III, D.D.S. (’84) of Poindexter Dental, Inc. are among 33 finalists in 12 categories. Winners will be announced at a May 20 awards luncheon at The Wortham Center. The awards will honor health care providers who serve their community, who are innovative in their techniques and who save lives. The Poindexters were nominated by Crystal Brown-Tatum, founder of Crystal Clear Communications. For information on attending the awards luncheon, contact Nicole at the Houston Business Journal, 713-688-8811.

Tunes for a Thirsty Wednesday Live music drifted down the halls of the Dental Branch recently as students gathered to enjoy friendship, pizza and beer at Thirsty Wednesday. First-year dental students Brandon Baud (keyboard) and Evan Cettie (guitar) are pictured with second-year dental student Senaido Garza on drums. Photo by Audrey Moon.