Prosthodontics department reaches new heights

The Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry is filled with leaders in their field completing research in a variety of topics. With support from grants and department resources, faculty aim to increase the scholarship of discovery and the integration of knowledge in the teaching and application of their research.

One notable faculty member is Professor Rade Paravina, DDS, MS, PhD. Paravina recently achieved the honor of garnering a spot in Stanford’s 2023 list of World Top 2% Scientists.

“Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists list is prestigious because it identifies the world’s leading researchers who are top-cited in their fields,” said Paravina when asked about his spot in the list.

The 2023 listing marked Paravina’s third consecutive year on the list, but he only sees it as a beneficial distinction for the school.

“It’s a privilege to represent UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. We’ve already received honors of being amongst some of the top dental schools in the nation, and my placement on the list can only contribute to the upward trajectory of the school as a whole,” he said.

Paravina serves as the director of the John M. Powers, PhD, Center for Biomaterials and Biomimetics, which is a comprehensive research and development center of excellence for biomaterials and biomimetics.

The Powers Center provides leadership and support in the development of new scientific discoveries, professional collaborations, and teaching creativity, based on support from federal agencies, private industry, and other sources.

“The Powers Center has a very broad impact because it covers a lot of different areas in dentistry,” said Maria Loza, DMD, MS, chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics. “It’s a research hub for the faculty that helps them have a structure to complete their investigations. Because of the support, we’re able to spread our findings all across the world.”

The Powers Center is excited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its establishment this coming October.

Funds that are allocated through the center grants more research to the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, as well as other departments. A host of faculty and students that work within the center were published in research presented in the recent meetings of the Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry and the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, held in November 2023 and March 2024, respectively.

The showcased research are as follows:

• Xu J, Chen C, Cevik P, Paravina RD. Staining- and Aging-Dependent Gloss of Cloud-Shade and One-Shade Resin Composites. IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, March 2024, Abstract #0507.
• Nurrohman H, Korkmaz Ceyhan Y, Cevik P, Paravina RD. Staining- and Aging-Dependent Color Changes of Cloud-Shade and One-Shade Resin Composites. IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, March 2024, Abstract #0508.
• Chen C, Xu J, Paravina RD. Translucency of “cloud-shade” and “one-shade” resin composites, Color difference metrics. IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, March 2024, Abstract #0255.
• Korkmaz Ceyhan Y, Cevik P, Nurrohman H, Paravina RD. Staining and Aging-Dependent Translucency of Cloud-Shade and One-Shade Resin Composites. IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, March 2024, Abstract #0256.
• Paravina RD, Ontiveros JC. Visual and Instrumental Color Match of “Cloud-Shade” vs. “one-Shade” Composites. IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, March 2024, Abstract #0506.
• Pereira Sanchez NA, Gonzalez MD, Belles DM, Frey GN, Paravina RD. Staining- and Aging-dependent Changes in Color and Translucency of 3D-printed Resin-modified Ceramics. SCAD, November 2023.
• Tango RN, Volpato CAM, Santos KF, Cesar PF, Paravina RD. Calibration and Harmonization of Color Measurements in Dentistry. SCAD, November 2023.
• Paravina RD, Gonzalez MD. Spectral analysis of translucency parameter of resin composites. Method validation. SCAD, November 2023.