Ontiveros named chair of restorative dentistry and prosthodontics
Joe C. Ontiveros, DDS, MS, has been named chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics. Photo by Kyle Rogers.
Professor Joe C. Ontiveros, DDS, MS, has been named chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, effective Oct. 16.
Ontiveros has served as interim chair since September 2025, providing leadership across the department’s educational, clinical, and research missions. His appointment continues a more than 25-year career at the School of Dentistry, where he has served as a faculty member, professor, researcher, and leader in restorative dentistry and oral biomaterials.
Holder of the John M. Powers, PhD, Distinguished Professorship in Oral Biomaterials, Ontiveros has led the Powers Center’s Biomaterials Division, where his laboratory and clinical research focus on developing improved biomaterials for oral health applications.
Ontiveros earned his DDS from UT Health San Antonio and a master’s degree in oral biomaterials from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He taught in the Division of Esthetic Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio and practiced privately in Houston before joining the School of Dentistry faculty in 2000.
His research, publications, and professional service have contributed to the fields of esthetic dentistry, biomaterials, color science, and clinical techniques. He has authored numerous publications and contributed to leading textbooks on esthetic dentistry, color and shade matching in operative dentistry, tooth-whitening techniques, and related topics.
Ontiveros is a fellow of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and the Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry, and a fellow-elect of the American College of Dentists. He has held leadership positions with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the American Association for Dental Research Houston Section, among other professional organizations, and has served on editorial boards and scientific committees.
His contributions to education and scholarship have been recognized with multiple Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards, the 2012 UTSD Student’s Choice Teaching Award, and membership in the Dean’s Academy of Distinguished Scholars in 2020. He also completed the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute in 2022.
Professor Maria A. Loza, DMD, MS, served as chair of the department from 2018 to 2025. During her tenure, the department advanced initiatives in clinical education, patient care, and research. She also played a central role in launching the School of Dentistry’s International Dentist Education Program.