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Zhen Shen

PhD, DMD, MSD
Adjunct Assistant Professor

Biosketch

Dr. Zhen Shen is a board-certified endodontist and a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics. He obtained his PhD at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and his DMD (Magna Cum Laude) at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He completed his residency in Endodontics and obtained his MSD at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. He is currently a clinical assistant professor at UTHealth School of Dentistry and works in private practice in Houston.

Education

MSD | UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry | 2021
DMD | Harvard School of Dental Medicine | 2019
PhD | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 2012

Research

Select Publications

Fang, J., Shen, Z., van der Hoeven, R., Jaramillo, D.E. (2025). Dissolution of bovine palatal tissue with degassed sodium hypochlorite. Dentistry Journal, 13(3):110. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj13030110

Shen, Z., Letra, A., Silva, R.M. (2023). MicroRNAs markedly expressed in apical periodontitis cooperatively regulate cytokines and growth factors promoting an anti-inflammatory response. Journal of Endodontics, 49(3):286-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2022.12.013

Shen, Z., Tsao, H., LaRue, S., Liu, R., Kirkpatrick, T., de Souza, L.C., Letra, A., Silva, R.M. (2021). Vascular endothelial growth factor and/or nerve growth factor treatment induces expression of dentinogenic, neuronal, and healing markers in stem cells of the apical papilla. Journal of Endodontics, 47(6):924-931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2021.02.011

Shen, Z., Wichnieski, C., Carneiro, E., Garlet, G.P., Letra, A., Silva, R.M. (2021). Expression profiling and functional characterization of microRNAs in apical periodontitis. Journal of Endodontics, 47(2):263-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2020.11.016

Shen, Z., Silva, R.M. (2021). MicroRNAs: Emerging players in apical periodontitis. Journal of Applied Oral Science, 29:e20201058. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-7757-2020-1058