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THE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS A&M COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY
IN A TANGLE To floss or not to floss?
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THE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS A&M COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY
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V O L . 5 6 S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 017
10 Honored at last: Dr. Bernhard Gottlieb Nazi imperialism forced Dr. Bernhard Gottlieb to flee his research institute and professorship at the University of Vienna in 1938, leading him to spend the 1940s at what is now Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Through a new $1 million endowed chair, this brilliant scientist is finally getting his due.
ON THE COVER
Texas A&M Dentistry magazine is published by the Office of Advancement, Communications & Alumni Relations; Texas A&M College of Dentistry; 3302 Gaston Avenue; Dallas, Texas 75246; 214.828.8214. This issue was printed June 2017. Production of the magazine is supported by a grant to the college from the Baylor Oral Health Foundation. Financial support to defray printing and mailing expenses is provided by the Alumni Association. The College of Dentistry serves people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
The cover image by photographer Steven Doll begs the question: Is it a “flossed� art?
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DEPARTMENTS
F E AT U R E S
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Editor’s Corner
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Message From the Dean
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Gaston & Hall
6. Spotlight
Much ado about flossing When the federal government
24.
In Touch With Alumni
removed flossing from its “2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” critics jumped at the opportunity to discredit the ageold practice. Dentists remained
28. Giving
32. Impressions
steadfast in their stance on the merits of the oral hygiene regimen. But is the answer so cut and dried?
30 Editor Carolyn Cox
Contributors LaDawn Brock, Deborah Clark, John Clark, Stephanie Elmquist, Jenny Fuentes, Dr. Bruce Herbert, Melissa Ogden, Rosanna Ratliff, Erica Shaffer, Brigitte Sims, Art Upton Photographers Hannah Breland, Steven Doll, Jenny Fuentes, Christina Horton, Dr. John Wright Executive Director, Advancement, Communications & Alumni Relations Susan Mitchell Jackson
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS The magazine welcomes your feedback and suggestions. Send comments to ccox@tamhsc.edu, phone 214.828.8218, or mail to Carolyn Cox, Editor; Texas A&M College of Dentistry; Office of Advancement, Communications & Alumni Relations; 3302 Gaston Ave.; Dallas, Texas 75246.
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FIND OUR NEWS ON THE WEB dentistryinsider.tamhsc.edu
d e n t i s t r y
A glance at campus highlights
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By the numbers
EDITOR’S CORNER
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E A R I N G N O S TA LG I C S T O R I E S passed between alumni at homecoming. Perusing old yearbooks for vintage photos to use on social media. Delighting in discoveries of 100-year-old documents from our early State Dental College days. My work in the communications and alumni relations office has led to a fascination with the history of Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Working extensively on the centennial history book project 13 years ago cemented my impression of the importance of preserving that history. Th is 1 9 1 6 -1 7 St a te D e n ta l C o u n e a r th e Dr. James Gutmann, emeritus professor and president of the American ll e g e fr a m d d u ri n g w e d cl a s s p a re h o u s e ic tu re w a cl e a n o u t Academy of the History of Dentistry, told me during a recent interview about Dr. s in M a rc h . Bernhard Gottlieb he believes not just in preserving artifacts but in sharing history’s important lessons with students. “When exploring the history of our profession, I have found that we really are reinventing the wheel in many areas; maybe with newer technology, newer scientific basis,” he said. “The lessons of history are truly there – we just haven’t incorporated them and their impact on our profession into the educational process. Students today think everything is a first, and it’s really not.” As to the artifacts, in the absence of dedicated archive and display space, things can get misplaced in the shuffle of office moves, renovations and updates. Take the case of the bronze sculpture of Gottlieb, for example, which was sighted on campus perhaps a decade ago but has eluded rediscovery. And then we have what we affectionately call the “headless hygienists,” the mannequins displaying dental hygiene student uniforms from the early years of the program. The display case that housed them at the college’s centennial time in 2005 had to make way for a newly constructed office, and they now reside in an office corner. While writing the feature in this issue about Gottlieb and Dr. Ralph Boelsche, I was reminded of the importance of recording stories while we have access to the people who can recount them firsthand. I haven’t always been so diligent, but this magazine and our online news site, Dentistry Insider, provide an opportunity to preserve the stories of the people who make up this big, extended family of our dental college. If you have anecdotes to share about your own campus experiences, drop me a line at ccox@tamhsc.edu or use our “Submit News” form at dentistryinsider.tamhsc.edu. You just might have the next pearl to add to the collection. C a roly n C ox , E d it o r Caps, but not heads, adorn these mannequins clothed in vintage hygiene student uniforms.
F R O M the M E M O R Y V A U L T
Ma rch on the de nt a l s cho ol
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R. ROY RINKLE ’63, featured in this issue’s “Impressions,” recently relayed some little-known details about dental student protests that occurred at the college in the early ’70s.
“I was at a meeting in New York when I got a call from board member Don Bowles, who knew I was on the faculty, asking for my help. At least 30 students were out protesting in front of the dental school, obstructing traffic in the street, and TV cameras were there. I cut my meeting short and hurried home to Dallas. When I arrived at the college the next morning, the protest had lost some of its steam but they were still out there, had been all night. I went straight to Dean Randolph’s office. I think he had been there all night, too. He could see them through his office windows but would not go out and listen to them. I told him I was going to talk to the students; the dean was grateful and polite. Once outside, I rounded up some students I recognized.
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I told them we would get them an audience with the chairman of the board, Judge Claude Williams, if they could agree on their demands, which they did unanimously: no ties in the lab, the ability to buy used textbooks, and the opportunity to wear their hair longer than their shirt collars. Three students, representing the group, went to the board chairman’s office by noon. Their requests were granted, and when they returned with the favorable news, the crowd dissipated. It was just such a thing to do, to march and protest in that era. As far as I know it was the only overt protest by any students here at the school.”
NO TIES
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t o us ed t ex t books
LO N G
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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
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am delighted to report that construction of Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s new Clinic and Education Building is just over the horizon. The target date for completion is August 2019. This is the first standalone structure built for the dental school since 1950. The
last large-scale footprint change on our campus was the six-story addition
Dr. Lawrence E. Wolinsky
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completed in 1977, which included the entrance facing Gaston Avenue.
r. Steve Griffin ’85, associate dean for clinical affairs and chair of the Dental Education Facility Task Force, presented a “reveal” of plans for the building to members of the college community on March 1, when the developmental design was 100 percent complete and the contractor had agreed upon a guaranteed construction price. Razing of all the structures located between the college’s existing parking garage and the corner of Fair Park Link and Gaston Avenue is next up in preparation for groundbreaking. The new building will provide five floors of bright, open spaces for patient care and student education. Decorative wood and stone accents will embellish the interior of the structure, which is designed with expansive windows and sloped ceilings to maximize natural light. A first for our college is that patients will have parking available in the garage located on the first three levels of the structure. This project offers naming opportunities for interior spaces, and we are counting on the generosity of alumni, faculty, staff and friends to provide financial support for the finishing touches that will truly make this building extraordinary. What is really exciting to me is how the design will complement a curriculum shift. Care will be provided within groups, each of which will include third-year dental, fourth-year dental and second-year dental hygiene students and three to four faculty members. These “pods” will operate like group practices, with the emphasis on patient care outcomes rather than treatment silos. When needed, specialists will come to the patient, rather than patients having to visit multiple clinics in the building.
This focus on outcomes is a core component of Commission on Dental Accreditation requirements, a particularly relevant aspect as we steadily compile our self-study in preparation for a site visit in October 2018. I want to thank Dr. Charles Berry, who is leading our extensive accreditation preparation efforts as special assistant to the dean. I am thankful for the teamwork of faculty, staff and administrators throughout the college in working toward a successful reaccreditation. My vantage point as a CODA commissioner also allows me to see the enhancements to come from the curriculum changes in our future. I am so proud of the education we provide, and I believe we are destined to make this outstanding education even more remarkable. Your continuing investment of time and resources is important. Thank you for being a part of the college family on this exciting journey.
Dr. Steve Griffin gives faculty and staff a first look at building plans in March.
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National leaders speak to students
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D V I C E F O R F U T U R E practitioners at Texas A&M
College of Dentistry came from the presidents of both the American Dental Association and National Dental Association this spring. Dr. Gary Roberts ’77, ADA president, graduated from the College of Dentistry 40 years ago and returned to deliver this year’s commencement address on May 23. Recalling bittersweet memories from his dental school career, (“…sweet because dental school was the best thing that ever happened to me. And also bitter because, well, dental school was different back then…”) he spoke about resilience and emphasized how the ability to handle change is directly related to success. Technological innovations are one transformation enabling graduates today to do things in their careers he never dreamed of, said Roberts, who recently retired from general dentistry practice in Shreveport, Louisiana. On April 28, Dr. Kim Perry, NDA president and former
Dr. Kim Perry
Dr. Gary Roberts
“ CONSIDER T HE W HOLE PATIENT, and remember that health and lifestyle are part of a larger picture influenced by personal and social circumstances.” — Dr. Kim
Per ry
faculty member at the College of Dentistry, visited campus
lifestyle are part of a larger picture influenced by personal and
at the invitation of the college’s Student National Dental
social circumstances.” Perry took the opportunity to emphasize
Association chapter. Counseling students to remember that a
the importance of organized dentistry, including the NDA.
patient’s mouth is connected to the rest of their body, she said,
Above all, have more than one mentor to advise on different
“Consider the whole patient, and remember that health and
aspects of your professional journey, Perry told students.
C L O S E E NC O U N T E R S OF T HE DE N TA L K IND “Sweet tooth” took on literal meaning this Valentine’s Day, when members of the Hispanic Student Dental Association crafted and sold typodonts made not of plastic or wax but of highly edible chocolate. b Dr. Amanda Phan ’99 of Plano is now a published author, drawing upon her escape from Vietnam at age 10 as inspiration for her book, “White Snow.” b Staff members felt the love in December, when students organized the fifth annual GRACE appreciation luncheon honoring employees, complete with a celebratory video. b Speaking of love, there’s something about June nuptials for students, with three weddings on June 10 alone and several others throughout the month. b Scheduling is a new routine for patients in need of extraction clinic services, which are now provided by appointment instead of first come first served. No more 5 a.m. lines!
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Experts highlight craniofacial medicine
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O F A C E T R A N S P L A N T S fit their
recipients’ personalities? Dr. Sander Gilman, professor of psychiatry and Distinguished Professor of the Liberal Arts and Sciences at Emory University, entertained this and other questions as he led off an afternoon of speakers on Feb. 20 at Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s craniofacial medicine symposium. Exploring the history and psychology behind the “authentic face,” Gilman examined ethical considerations involved in everything from nose jobs to face transplants, leaving the audience to ponder the potential influence of race, age and gender in decisions about candidate selection for face transplants.
Dr. Alex Kane, division director of pediatric and craniofacial surgery at Children’s Medical Center and professor of plastic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, offered his perspective on restoring form and function to individuals with acquired or congenital defects. Contemplating issues surrounding a definition of “normal” facial structure, he discussed the ladder of reconstructive procedure options and emphasized the team approach required in treatment. Dr. David Carlson, Regents Professor in biomedical sciences, and Dr. Thomas Diekwisch, director of the Center for Craniofacial Research and Diagnosis and department head of periodontics, gave presentations addressing the potential for modern research in advancing
Dr. Sander Gilman
treatment, while Suzanne Verma, assistant professor in oral and maxillofacial surgery and certified clinical anaplastologist, presented on prosthetic rehabilitation of craniofacial deformities. The symposium concluded with Dean Lawrence Wolinsky’s announcement of the new $1 million Bernhard Gottlieb Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Research and its first holder, Diekwisch. For more on Gottlieb’s life and the creation of the endowed chair, see page 10.
PAT IE N T S F L O C K T O S T U DE N T- L E D S E R V IC E E V E N T Student organizers of the Feb. 18 Give Kids a Smile free dental care event on campus discovered a delightful success: Turnout was more than double the previous year’s attendance. b When then fourth-year dental student Dr. Theresa Halle ’17, American Student Dental Association senior adviser, tallied the number of check-in cards, she discovered the numbers behind the crowd: approximately 140 patients were seen over nine hours, with sealants placed on 234 teeth and patients receiving exams, cleanings, fluoride varnish, goodie bags and activities. b In addition to the 60 dental and dental hygiene student Dental students Audrey Morrison (left) and Emilee Dudley with a young patient
volunteers providing care, faculty members and pediatric dentistry
residents supported the effort, as did a handful of predental students. b Work began in fall 2016 to secure the event location and register it with the American Dental Association Foundation, which provided materials and supplies. The departments of public health sciences, clinical affairs and pediatric dentistry also donated clinical supplies. b “We couldn't have asked for a better team,” said then second-year dental student Leke Olowokere, vice president for community outreach for the college’s ASDA chapter. “Every single volunteer collectively made the event happen, and we couldn't be more thankful.”
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SPOTLIGHT
Treating patients with spina bifida
F
O R D R . F A I Z A N K A B A N I , who joined the Caruth School
of Dental Hygiene faculty as an assistant professor in June 2016, caring for patients with spina bifida is a special calling. More than five years as a dental hygienist in the outpatient dental clinic at Texas Scottish Rite, a pediatric orthopedic hospital in Dallas, left a very personal impression that he now shares with Caruth students in Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s Special Care Clinic. The experience of treating patients with spina bifida, cerebral palsy and other special needs has allowed Kabani the opportunity to amass an array of strategies for effective care. For spina bifida specifically, there’s a lot to consider: latex-free gloves to offset latex allergies, minimal water usage to mitigate a highly sensitive gag reflex, use of bean bags in the dental chair to take pressure off sensitive vertebrae, assessing for signs of skin breakdown in and around the mouth, special considerations for those with gastrointestinal and tracheotomy tubes, and the list goes on. Kabani shared treatment strategies during the 2016 Texas Oral Health Summit in November, winning second place in the Texas Oral Health Coalition’s poster presentations competition. His article, “Caring for Patients with Spina Bifida,” published in the January 2017 issue of Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, means peers outside Texas can access much of the information outlined in his award-winning poster. “You can have two or three patients with the exact same diagnosis, the exact same medications, and the exact same health
Cartilage cell
Dr. Faizan Kabani
record, but when they present to you, they will manifest very differently,” Kabani says. “No one is alike. That’s why it’s called special needs. It’s not handicapped; it’s genuinely special.” There’s one thing he always tells Caruth students. “One of the very first lessons that I try to instill within my students is to understand these patients are not ‘one size fits all,’” Kabani says. “Most importantly is to approach them with a very gentle heart. These are patients who require more of your heart than your intellectual expertise. When you give them that care, they open up to you.”
CHONDROCY TES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
As first author and corresponding author of
On March 22, Dr. Yan Jing and Dr. Jerry
on chondrocytes in the mandibular condyle,
Feng climbed the steps to the stage at the
they were in San Francisco to accept the
joint annual meeting of the International
William J. Gies Award for Biological Research.
Association for Dental Research and American Association for Dental Research. Bone cell
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This confocal microscope image of transgenic mouse model cells tagged with a red fluorescent reporter gene reveals the transformation of cartilage cells into bone cells.
the 2015 Journal of Dental Research article
It wasn’t the first time for this article to bask in the limelight: It won the 2015 JDR Cover of the Year award. Then in December 2016, momentum accelerated with $1.85 million in National Institutes of Health
NEWSMAKERS
SPOTLIGHT
Adult cleft clinic provides life-changing care
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and implant-supported dentures provide a lifestyle Penny Dalton always hoped would become reality. Due to Apert syndrome, a rare genetic condition that caused bones in Dalton’s skull, hands and face to fuse together prematurely and prompted other medical issues, this 45-year-old has undergone about 90 surgeries over her lifetime. Her experiences make her an advocate for others with similar circumstances. “I want to do what I can for other patients with Apert,” says Dalton, who is helping spread awareness of a new resource: the Adult Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Adult cleft patients with lingering medical needs are the impetus behind the new clinic, explains Dr. Emet Schneiderman, professor in biomedical sciences. Dalton, the clinic’s first patient, now has fully functional oral health for the first time in her
life after three years of rehabilitative oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures and restorative prosthodontic care. “We are worried about patients who ‘fall through the cracks’ after they reach 19 and are no longer eligible for pediatric services,” Schneiderman says. “We are not aware of any cleft clinics focused on adults in the U.S.” The idea is to implement advanced team treatment for adults with clefts who have not yet been fully rehabilitated. Dalton’s vulnerability to infections, including a nearfatal sinus infection in 2003 and a perilous one impacting her eyes a decade later, illustrates the clinic’s importance. “I could have lost my vision if I had not seen Dr. Reddy,” says Dalton, referring to a CT scan ordered in 2013 by Dr. Likith Reddy, College of Dentistry associate professor and director of residency training in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The resulting emergency surgery targeted the infected area and reconstructed her eye socket and forehead. Subsequent surgeries modified her upper jaw, cheekbones and palate to improve function and guard against recurrence.
Penny Dalton
At least 15 faculty members and residents in restorative sciences, oral and maxillofacial surgery, diagnostic sciences and social services assisted in Dalton’s care. The multidisciplinary team available to adult cleft clinic patients also includes an anaplastologist and orthodontic specialists at the dental school, Dallas-area plastic surgeons and, ultimately, a speech therapist and psychologist. “Penny’s dental health was bad, but no one would touch her before we came here,” says her mom, Kathy Hailey. “I love this bunch,” she says of the clinic team.
funding for Feng, biomedical sciences
jaw meet, contradicting previous schools
Jing, now a research assistant professor
professor and assistant dean for research,
of thought that cartilage cells — known as
in orthodontics, played a key role in
and his team of Texas A&M College of
chondrocytes — must experience cell death
generating the majority of the data. Dr.
Dentistry researchers to continue exploring
before bone cells can form. Instead, Feng,
Robert Hinton, Regents Professor emeritus
the process of bone formation in the
Jing and researchers have found that these
in biomedical sciences, edited the article,
temporomandibular joint.
cartilage cells do not die at all. Rather, they
and as a self-proclaimed “defender of the
transform into bone cells.
old dogma” regarding chondrocytes and
What is so fascinating about the study so far? It upends previous dogma on bone
It’s a project 10 years in the making.
bone formation, challenged this new idea
formation in the mandibular condyle, the
Feng designed and supervised the project
prior to submission, which assisted in its
rounded knob where the mandible and upper
from its inception to publication, while
eventual acceptance by reviewers.
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SPOTLIGHT
Oral pathologist tapped for tumor expertise
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F A T U M O R , cyst or lesion is known to exist, the World
Health Organization has a classification for it. In fact, there are entire books on the subject, updated every decade or so. These classifications have become the benchmark for pathologists, oncologists and health care providers in diagnosing and treating patients with various tumors. One such text, the “WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours,” published this January, includes expertise from Texas A&M College of Dentistry faculty member Dr. John Wright, Regents Professor and head of diagnostic sciences. Of the 33 pathologists worldwide who contributed to the 347page text, Wright was one of just six oral pathologists. His efforts toward the project concentrate on odontogenic tumors in addition to cysts and tumors of the oral cavity and tongue. These tumors are one of the few areas of pathology unique to dentistry, Wright says, because they arise from the same tissues that make our teeth. “It is important for dentists to be familiar with the odontogenic lesions because very few physicians are,” Wright says. “The new WHO classification reflects the evolving knowledge of
Dr. John Wright
odontogenic lesions, and I believe dentists have a responsibility to remain cognizant of the changes.” This is the fourth edition of the classification, which was first published in 1971. With each update, pathologists and medical experts pore over evidence-based research in the form of peerreviewed publications and factor in technological advancements that constantly transform the medical landscape. “One of the biggest trends is our current ability to explore the molecular and genetic changes in all of these tumors,” Wright says. “Most of this information was not available in the latest edition in 2005 but is added to the current edition with a discussion of its biologic relevance to diagnosis and patient care. The WHO classification is considered one of the gold standards for the existence of various tumors.”
O F NO T E Zach Pekar, second-year dental student,
Lisa Mallonee, professor and
won not just one, but two, Hatton Awards
graduate program director in the Caruth
at the International Association for Dental
School of Dental Hygiene, is one of
Research/American Association for Dental
three authors named in March to
Research annual session in March. As a
publish the next edition of the
participant in Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s Predoctoral
profession’s premier textbook, “Clinical Practice of the Dental
Student Research Fellowship, he studied dentin formation after
Hygienist.” Active as a registered dietitian, Mallonee participated
birth with faculty mentor Dr. Jerry Feng, biomedical sciences
last November with a broad cross-section of oral health
professor and assistant dean for research. He won first place in
community stakeholders at a national conference in Washington,
the professional school category of IADR’s Hatton Competition
D.C., aimed at reducing childhood obesity by engaging oral health
and second place in the AADR contest.
care providers in solutions.
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NEWSMAKERS SPOTLIGHT
Continued growth in store for dental scientist
T
E X A S A & M College of Dentistry can
claim one of only two dentists in the country to receive this year’s Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grants supporting diversity in medical, nursing and dentistry faculties. Dr. Crystal Stinson ’14, who first connected with the College of Dentistry years ago through participation in the Bridge to Dentistry pipeline programs, has now completed a dental degree, doctorate in biomedical sciences and master’s degree in education for health care professionals here. Through this $420,000 Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program award, she will continue her basic science research at the college for four years while working to develop additional future funding. Stinson also will teach students and work one day a week in private practice.
“All the candidates who complete the program are able to venture into tenuretrack positions,” Stinson says. “That’s the goal of the foundation, to increase the number of minorities in positions where we have the opportunity to mentor others.” Program participants have access to mentor support themselves, as the advisory committee is composed of deans and executive deans. Stinson conducts her research in the lab of Dr. Phillip Kramer, professor in biomedical sciences, investigating the role of hormones in post-herpetic nerve pain, the topic of her doctoral dissertation. A resurgence in the incidence of shingles — caused by varicella zoster, the same virus as chicken pox, and producing a blistering rash — prompted the research focus. Once resolved, shingles can result in postherpetic neuralgia, a severe, debilitating pain that lingers for months to years after the rash has cleared. What’s worse: This specific type of pain is not responsive to
Retirement beckoned Dr. Janice
Dr. Crystal Stinson
traditional anti-inflammatories or opioids. Stinson has assisted Kramer in developing an animal model that presents orofacial symptoms associated with shingles. “There is no other model that has been able to do that,” Stinson says. “It mirrors what happens in the human disease process really closely. It’s a good way to study treatment modalities and different drugs.” Sex differences, mainly estrogen in females, are also scrutinized.
Oral pathologist Dr. Harvey Kessler
DeWald ’95 (MS) last fall, when she
accepted praise from colleagues and former
left as director and head of the
residents for his leadership, humility and
Caruth School of Dental Hygiene after
“humanity” at a Dec. 5 retirement reception
more than 20 years on the faculty.
for the professor and graduate program
DeWald, now professor emerita of dental hygiene, was
director in oral and maxillofacial pathology.
recognized for being a constant advocate for students and
Former residents touted Kessler’s mentoring and wisdom while
colleagues in decisions impacting Caruth. She helped shepherd
highlighting his positive attitude and calm demeanor. This 15-year
the college through two milestone anniversaries, serving on the
member of the college family served his specialty nationally as
centennial steering committee in 2005 and celebrating the
president of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial
dental hygiene profession’s 100-year anniversary in 2013.
Pathology and American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
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Dr. Bernhard Gottlieb (third from right) with fellow department chairs at the dental college in 1948
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DR. BERNHARD GOT TLIEB
AT HONORED LAST En d owe d c h a i r s e cu re s r i g ht f u l l e g a c y fo r b r i l l i a nt s ci e nt i st B
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HERE’S NO TELLING what thoughts drifted through Houston dentist Dr. Frank Boelsche’s mind as the Texas countryside slid past his sedan’s windows each week. The experience of navigating U.S. Highway 75 between Houston and Dallas in the mid1940s was tedious at best. It was a two-lane highway in those days, which meant inching along behind slow vehicles until it was safe to pass and stopping at traffic lights in sleepy towns along the way. Seventy years later, the details of those 12-hour round-trip treks are lost to time, but the reason for Boelsche’s travel to what was then Baylor University College of Dentistry is coming to the forefront at last: Dr. Bernhard Gottlieb, professor of oral pathology and dental research from 1941 until his death in 1950. Today a $1 million endowment at Texas A&M College of
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Dentistry bears his name, due in part to Boelsche’s benevolence. “Dr. Boelsche talked about Dr. Gottlieb all the time,” says Dr. Frank Eggleston ’70, explaining that his mentor assisted Gottlieb with research on dental caries, the topic of a textbook published by Gottlieb in 1947. Early in Eggleston’s career and late in Boelsche’s, the two shared office space. There Boelsche kept a portrait of Gottlieb in a cabinet alongside his books; a visual reminder of this eminent scientist. Boelsche attended Gottlieb’s weekly seminars – which he described as “the most stimulating and informative of his career” – according to a story in the 1985 Baylor Dental Journal. To appreciate Gottlieb’s influence, not only on Boelsche but more broadly on dental science, we must consider his journey.
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Austrian beginnings
G
OT T LI E B was a physician with specialty training in dentistry, having received his medical degree in 1912 from the University of Vienna. In the 1920s and 1930s, he headed the Dental Research Institute in Vienna, home to some of the brightest scientists in the world. “This was a man bigger than life,” says Dr. Thomas Diekwisch, department head of periodontics and director of the Center for Craniofacial Research and Diagnosis at the College of Dentistry. “His vast list of contributions includes all areas of dental research: Endodontics, periodontics and oral pathology all claim him as their ‘father.’ “Gottlieb’s legacy was his role as the father of translational research in dentistry,” Diekwisch continues. “Call it oral pathology, oral biology or translational dental research, Gottlieb combined his knowledge of dental pathology and oral diseases with basic sciences research and clinical dentistry. His greatest contribution to today’s dental research was his mentorship and influence on all the fantastic people who came out of his laboratory in Vienna.” In a cruel fate of history, World War II fractured this group of scientific colleagues. The anti-Semitism that accompanied Nazi expansionism in the late 1930s shook the institute to its core. After Germany annexed Austria in 1938, the University of Vienna ousted all Viennese faculty Histologic specimens, shipping trunks and certificates are among the college’s collection of Dr. Bernhard Gottlieb’s memorabilia.
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members of Jewish descent or ties – an estimated 75 percent of the medical faculty – Gottlieb included. This event ushered many exceptional scientists to the U.S. Several of Gottlieb’s institute colleagues, household names in dental science – Drs. Balint Orban, Peter Weinmann and Harry Sicher – settled in Chicago. They resumed their careers there, thanks to a connection Gottlieb had established between the Vienna research institute and the Chicago dental schools in the mid-1920s. Gottlieb charted a different course, one that would eventually lead him to Dallas. He first traveled east to Palestine in an effort to recreate the research institute at the university at Tel Aviv, but the war’s impact reached there, too, and Gottlieb decided to seek a different option. Immigrating to the U.S., he spent a brief time at Columbia University in New York and as a visiting scientist at the University of Michigan before receiving an offer from the Dallas dental school’s Dean Frederick Hinds to join the faculty. A group of alumni in Dallas reportedly contributed funds to bolster Hinds’ salary offer. The appointment in Dallas created a permanent position for Gottlieb and remedied dental students’ impending shortfall in basic science instruction as a result of Baylor College of Medicine’s move from Dallas to Houston in 1943. The dental and medical students shared such courses, and the medical school’s departure meant the loss of most of the basic science faculty.
Gottlieb in Dallas
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H E A B S E N C E O F M E D I CA L FAC U LT Y mirrored a lack of adequate facilities on the campus. This pre-eminent scientist, who had fostered incredibly productive research among his team in Vienna, arrived to deteriorating buildings that were prone to basement floods and had never been designed for dental education, much less research. The dental college shared medical school space for basic science lectures and technique laboratories, and its clinical building a few blocks away was a hand-me-down as well. To exacerbate the situation, medical school personnel stripped the scientific instruments and supplies from the laboratories, even removing most of the electrical and plumbing fixtures as they left. Somehow Gottlieb created a space to continue his work. If he had lived longer he would have seen marked improvement. The college’s first specially constructed clinical facility opened in 1950, the year of his death at age 64, and a new wing devoted to basic sciences was completed in 1954. Remnants of Gottlieb’s research and materials continue to occupy various nooks and crannies within the building, resurfacing only to be moved again, leaving a crumb trail of information about his tenure at the dental school. The most remarkable evidence of Gottlieb’s presence in Dallas is his collection of histological specimens. Some are tucked alongside his radiographs deep within the Baylor Health Sciences Library, where they are contained in wooden boxes and large black trunks marked with the initials “BG,” which journeyed with him across the Atlantic. The specimens’ remarkable quality has endured for decades. “I made a digital program for the oral histology lab where students didn’t have to do microscopes or slides anymore, and I included quite a few of Dr. Gottlieb’s slides,” says Dr. James McIntosh, professor emeritus in biomedical sciences. “They had tremendous teaching value. Because the slides were too valuable to hand out to students – they were so big and can break easily – they weren’t used until faculty members Drs.Walt Davis and Ruth Jones made microfiche cards of select images in the early 1980s.” These slides from sections of the mandible show Gottlieb’s painstaking technique and meticulous attention to detail.
Then there are the histological dyes from a German company that Gottlieb used, which Diekwisch stumbled across in one of the college’s laboratories in the 1990s. It marked Diekwisch’s first awareness of the presence of a distinguished histologist at the dental school, a clue that led him to uncover the story of Gottlieb’s final years in Dallas. “Chroma makes by far the best histological dyes, so I thought there must have been an expert here,” says Diekwisch, who was born and raised in Germany. “I inquired, and then people started to bring Gottlieb material to me because they knew I spoke German and could read it.” The memorabilia came with stories, and Diekwisch collected an earful from former students – including the late Dr. Robert V. Walker ’47 – as well as others who acquired anecdotes about this brilliant professor secondhand. Walker had worked with Gottlieb for a year as a lab technician while attending dental school. “Dr. Walker said he was impressed with Gottlieb,” Diekwisch says. “Dr. Walker recalled him being very tough on students because he had high expectations, maybe higher than the students were used to.” Over the decades, as faculty members vacated offices, new occupants discovered Gottlieb’s awards and certificates in drawers and closets, evidence of the esteem of this internationally known scientist, who worked in comparative isolation once he arrived in Dallas. Gottlieb holds the dental college’s highest honor: membership in its Hall of Fame. He was one of the first two inductees, entering the ranks posthumously in 1982 alongside W.W. Caruth Jr., benefactor and namesake of the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene. Boelsche followed quickly with his own selection to the Hall of Fame in 1985.
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Gottlieb’s broader influence
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H O U G H G OT TLI E B TR A N S P L A N T E D to Dallas in 1941, his influence on American dentistry predates World War II by more than a decade. Dr. William Logan, dean of Loyola University’s dental school in Chicago, met Gottlieb in Geneva in 1925 at a planning meeting of the Federation Dentaire Internationale, which hosted an International Dental Congress every five years. Designed for the exchange of research discoveries and clinical advances, the 1926 congress was slated for Philadelphia, with Logan as chair. Knowing the international prestige of the research institute in Vienna, he invited Gottlieb and his associates to attend the Philadelphia meeting. The papers they presented reflected their characteristic meticulous attention to detail and foretold the precision they would bring to dental science in America after they immigrated. After the meeting, Gottlieb traveled to Chicago with Logan, who aspired to establish a research program at Loyola. He asked Gottlieb to recommend an individual to lead that effort, to which Gottlieb suggested one of his exceptional institute colleagues: Orban. Dr. James Gutmann, professor emeritus in endodontics and president of the American Academy of the History of Dentistry, studied Gottlieb’s life and work in 2012 for a paper detailing his impact on endodontic practice. Though he knew the scientist’s prestige, the scope of Gottlieb’s efforts was a discovery. “ M AY T H E C O L L E G E CONTINUE TO PROSPER.” — Dr. Ralph Boelsche, 1989
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“I think it’s important to convey the true impact he had on so many things we are working with today: resorption during orthodontic tooth movement, endodontic procedures during root canal therapy, knowledge of periodontal disease,” Gutmann says. “Gottlieb and his colleagues were the ones who changed dentistry from being a technical shop into one that was scientifically based. If we had not gotten these physicians from Vienna, we would not be where we are today.”
The histology collection and its impact
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H E U N I V E R SA L T R U T H about Gottlieb’s work is the precision of his illustrations – those famous glass slides. For McIntosh, the detail was paramount for teaching. “It was very unique for the time because he embedded the sections in plastic and stained them after mounting on the glass,” McIntosh says. “These slides never faded; the color was vivid.” Dr. John Wright, Regents Professor and department head of diagnostic sciences, describes the histologic specimens of teeth, tooth formation and even entire sections of the jaw as “marvelous.” “For its time there was nothing like it. His collection was absolutely meticulous,” Wright says. “No one knew how to make sections like that. It was the preeminent collection in the world.”
Boelsche and the endowed chair
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S G OT T LI E B ’ S S LI D E S have endured, so too will his legacy at the college through the new Bernhard Gottlieb Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Research. Boelsche’s desire to honor this eminent scientist has come to fruition at last. “Dr. Boelsche would be pleased to no end to know this chair now exists, and that it will let Gottlieb’s name live on at our college,” Eggleston says. “And this wasn’t even Dr. Boelsche’s school!”
Dr. Ralph Boelsche (inset) appears in this photo and list of freshmen in Texas A&M University’s 1923 “Longhorn” yearbook.
Boelsche graduated at the top of his class from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston in 1927 after attending Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Aggie Band and Corps of Cadets. He later served as president of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, American Academy of Gold Foil Operators and Houston District Dental Society. “Dr. Boelsche was an incredible dentist,” says Eggleston. “I became his patient when I was 12 and had broken my two front teeth while playing football. When he saved them, that made me want to become a dentist.” Boelsche and his wife, Ida, had no children, and Eggleston became what was akin to their adopted son. “I started practicing with him in 1972 in the Niels Esperson Building in downtown Houston,” Eggleston recalls. As one of that building’s first occupants in the late 1920s, Boelsche would walk up to his office on the 10th floor because the building had no elevators. “I guess you could say I’m the ‘grandson’ of Dr. Gottlieb in dentistry,” Eggleston quips. “I’ve benefited so much from these two men.” In 1979, after more than 50 years of practice, Boelsche and Ida created a charitable remainder trust with nearly half a million dollars in assets that would provide them with lifetime income and eventually support research activities in Gottlieb’s name at the Dallas dental school.
Boelsche died in September 1993, and his wife passed away the following spring. Quarterly disbursements from the trust continued until the entire balance was eventually distributed to the college, providing the foundation for the Gottlieb endowment. The funding for the chair was completed with a gift from Baylor Oral Health Foundation and matching funds from the Texas A&M University provost’s office. Diekwisch was announced as the first holder of the endowed chair at a Feb. 20 campus ceremony. “The Bernhard Gottlieb Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Research represents an important milestone for the college as we look toward building a stronger research enterprise and securing our position as a leader in dental education,” says Dr. Lawrence Wolinsky, dean. “It is fitting that the first holder is an internationally renowned researcher and the director of our Center for Craniofacial Research and Diagnosis who also happens to have spent significant time studying Dr. Gottlieb’s life’s work.” Diekwisch, who has used some of Gottlieb’s slides in publishing his own research findings on the origin of cementum, is inspired to emulate the chair’s namesake. “I intend to honor this scientist’s memory by creating an environment that bridges the domains of basic science and clinical research to engage interdisciplinary researchers in answering questions that then lead to more questions – in the tradition of Gottlieb,” he says.
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BEYOND
the
If you build it, they will come
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O R D R . TH O M A S D I E K W I S C H , first holder of the Bernhard Gottlieb Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Research, “follow the science” is a fundamental precept. It’s true of his career path: The biological basis the Viennese scientists brought to American dentistry beckoned Diekwisch to the U.S. in 1990 for a postdoctoral fellowship in craniofacial biology at the University of Southern California. By that time he already held doctoral degrees in dentistry and anatomy from the Philipps-University of Marburg in Germany. “In Europe, we knew crowns and bridges but didn’t focus on the ‘why,’ that biologic basis like America had, which came from these Viennese scientists,” he says. In 1994, Diekwisch arrived from USC to Texas A&M College of Dentistry to begin his first term with the Department of Biomedical Sciences faculty. He approached basic scientific research with a clinical periodontics mindset, publishing on the origin of cementum and on the role of specific tissues in periodontal development.
Dr. Thomas Diekwisch
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At the same time, he found an opportunity to spark a similar curiosity in the minds of Dallas-area science teachers and their students through a community outreach program he created and dubbed “Habitat for Science.” Opportunities to expand his interests in bridging clinical and basic sciences led him to Chicago from 2002 to 2014. As oral biology department head and director of the Brodie Laboratory for Craniofacial Genetics at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, he continued to advance molecular studies on periodontal therapies. Meanwhile, he deepened his connection to Gottlieb through interactions with surviving students of the Viennese scientists who settled at universities there. “In Chicago, that department’s emphasis on form and function was something Gottlieb emphasized in Vienna,” Diekwisch says. “It was an immediate match in teaching philosophy.” Diekwisch, who returned to the College of Dentistry in 2014 as director of the Center for Craniofacial Research and Diagnosis and head of periodontics, continues his own passion for mentoring. While his research contributions – including discovery of the CP27 gene that affects tooth development – are significant, his influence extends well beyond the lab. Just ask Dr. Gerald Davis, interim assistant dean of academic affairs at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee. “A lot of doors that are open to me today are because of that man,” says Davis, who grew up in Dallas and, as an 8th grader, was the youngest Habitat for Science participant in the mid-1990s.
“You were supposed to be high school age for the program. He took a chance on me when I was barely 13, and now I’m a dentist. That was my introduction. Had he not pushed me back then, I wouldn’t be where I am,” Davis says. He still remembers his hardest assignment: reading a book on tooth development. “I sat on the floor in my bedroom crying because I couldn’t understand one word in the book,” he says. “My mom saw me and talked me through it. I went in to see Dr. Diekwisch, and one of his research students, Sophie, helped me understand it.” Davis recalls the impact of his research laboratory exposure on campus and the intellectual curiosity it prompted. He also remembers the exact topic he presented at the conclusion of the program. “I was trying to explain the differences between mammalian cementum and reptilian cementum, and I worked hard practicing so I’d be ready,” he says. Habitat was a spark that kept Davis coming back to campus. “It impacted my career choice, because I kept doing programs at the dental school,” he says, mentioning the SAT
Dr. Gerald Davis visits Dr. Thomas Diekwisch in Dallas in 2016.
prep program, Summer Pre-dental Enrichment Program and Post-Baccalaureate Program, which he left when he received acceptance to Meharry dental school. Now with multiple degrees under his belt and a second master’s he expects to complete by 2019, Davis is both student and mentor. “I like to learn and help other people learn,” he says. Davis’ success is a point of pride for Diekwisch, who plans to tap resources from the Gottlieb endowment for developing future academicians and scientists and fostering interactions between clinicians and basic science researchers. “Gottlieb lives on in America through his scholarship and his students,” Diekwisch says. “Before now, I’ve felt this college was not aware of the legacy of this famous, prestigious and influential scholar. This is a priceless place especially because of that history. It should
Dr. Gerald Davis, then a middle-schooler (center, in horizontal striped shir t), with other Habitat for Science students and mentors
be celebrated.”
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FLOSSING MUCH ADO ABOUT
by Jennifer E. Fuentes
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To floss or not to floss — or is it that simple?
h ere's s o m e thin g missin g from the federal government’s “2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” You have to look closely, otherwise you might not notice that in the customary corner of the “Use Sugars only in Moderation” or “Healthy Eating Patterns” sections, there is no longer any reference to flossing. This omission launched a scourge of media dialogue in late summer 2016. Among the voices in the chatter: “Hooray! We didn’t want to floss anyway!” “We knew we were always right!” In the midst of it all, a constant, steady voice of reason: Oral health professionals urging patients to continue the age-old practice, leaving multitudes to scratch their heads in bewilderment. To floss, or not to floss? It ’s co mm o n s ens e. Brushing alone doesn’t remove plaque that forms below the gum line and in contact areas between teeth. “You need to get something in there to mechanically remove the plaque,” says Dr. Joe Simmons ’98, ’99, clinical assistant professor in general dentistry. “That is the only way that you can get teeth clean in certain spots, where it is too narrow to get even the finest brush bristle in, and there’s no other way to clean that except with floss.” Composed of more than 500 species of bacteria, plaque produces a telltale sign, one of the first things that students in Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s Caruth School of Dental Hygiene are trained to spot during their patient interactions. The easiest way to tell if a patient has not been flossing correctly — or at all — says dental hygienist Ariana Mendoza ’17, is if the gums bleed when inserting an instrument or floss in the interproximal areas. But perhaps the guidelines’ omission of flossing from advice on what it takes to be a healthy American begs the question: Is it all or nothing? Are there just two options: floss or leave teeth exposed to the ravages of food debris, bacteria and enameleroding acid? “No, floss is not the only answer, but people have taken it for granted for so long,” says Dr. William Wathen, adjunct professor in general dentistry at the College of Dentistry. “It doesn’t mean that you can ignore oral hygiene; it just means that floss is not the only tool in the kit.” Simply open the lid to that kit, and there are many tools from which to choose that are not of the traditional nylon string persuasion: handheld flossers, water flossers, interdental picks and brushes, and, while not as widely used on our continent, there’s miswak, or chewing sticks. For those with wire braces or lingual retainers, special options include floss threaders and prepackaged orthodontic flossers. “Technically, you don’t need dental floss to keep a healthy mouth, but you do need something to get in there between the teeth,” Wathen says. “It’s the concept of using nothing that leads to potential disaster.”
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D
r. Lev i Par ml y, a New Orleans dentist, was on to something with his 1819 book, “A Practical Guide to the Management of the Teeth.” In it, he urges readers to use the “waxed silken thread, which, though simple, is the most important. It is to be passed through the interstices of the teeth, between their necks and the arches of the gums, to dislodge that irritating matter which no brush can remove, and which is the real source of disease.” Another early flossing advocate, Dr. Charles Bass, echoed that sentiment. While known as one of the fathers of preventive dentistry, Bass was actually not a dentist at all but a physician and scientist. With more than 30 years of research stretching from the 1940s to 1970s revealing a link between bacterial infections, cavities and gum disease, he felt compelled to advocate removing such bacteria through brushing and flossing, even going so far as to design a toothbrush and unwaxed nylon floss, though he declined to profit from these inventions. But as the decades passed, the voices of these “flossing fathers” seemed to grow faint in the face of little definitive research on the merits of the regimen. The findings that have gained traction in recent years seem to muddy the waters as far as flossing is concerned. Take for instance, a 2015 study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, “Efficacy of Inter-Dental Mechanical Plaque Control in Managing Gingivitis — a Meta-Review,” in which nearly 400 papers were screened to evaluate the effectiveness of dental floss, interdental brushes, wood sticks and water flossers. The conclusion: The majority of existing studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is effective in plaque removal. On a positive note, all devices investigated seem to help with mitigating gingivitis, which could point to a mechanical issue when it comes to flossing more than anything else. Others, like a 2013 article in The Journal of Clinical Dentistry, make the case for specific interdental cleaning devices — just not floss. In “Evaluation of the Plaque Removal Efficacy of a Water Flosser Compared to String
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Floss in Adults after a Single Use,” 70 adults were assigned to one of two groups: using a water flosser and manual toothbrush, or using waxed string floss and a manual toothbrush. The results: The water flosser group’s whole mouth plaque reduction came in at about 74 percent, while the string flossing group trailed at approximately 57 percent. One caveat, as Dr. Linda Cheng, clinical assistant professor in general dentistry, points out, “It's hard to ensure everyone in a research study actually flossed properly or used the proper technique.” Even the American Dental Association acknowledges the challenges to gathering high-quality data to back the merits of flossing or use of any interdental cleaning device, for that matter, in part for the very reason Cheng describes. Then, of course, there’s the age-old challenge of motivating patients to change oral health routines, coupled with 2015 findings from the American Academy of Periodontology that patients are not always truthful with their dentists about their flossing habits.
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n an Au g . 2, 2016 , s t atem ent released amid the noise of the “flossing” media frenzy, the ADA sums up the dilemma: “What approach should clinicians take on a topic, such as flossing, when there isn’t strong evidence? The first is to recognize that even in the absence of strong evidence, patients often look to the professional for guidance. In this case, while the average benefit is small, and the quality of the evidence is very low (meaning the true average benefit could be higher or lower), given that periodontal disease is estimated to affect half of all Americans, even a small benefit may be helpful.”
“
It’s the concept
of using NOTHING that leads to potential disaster.” —Dr. W illiam Wathen
W
hile th e ev iden ce sup p o r tin g f lossin g may be challenged, researchwise, a few science basics can help explain the rationale behind its use. “Whether flossing is redundant is somewhat immaterial,” Wathen says. “What’s not redundant is the bacterial population of the mouth, and what happens if it produces problems. The issue is, how do you keep the biofilm under control so that the biomechanical results of that biofilm won’t affect people negatively?” In its broadest sense, these culprits can be split into two categories: aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen to live, and anaerobic bacteria, which can survive without it. Lisa Mallonee, professor and graduate program director in the college’s Caruth School of Dental Hygiene, explains what happens when aerobic bacteria are coupled with simple carbs (think sweets like table sugar and sodas). “Aerobic bacteria produce lactic acid, which causes the minerals in the teeth to dissolve more readily, leading to demineralization of enamel,” Mallonee says. “Weakened enamel makes your teeth more susceptible to dental caries.” So how does flossing fit into the mix? It helps disrupt the biofilm lurking between teeth and at the gum line, serving to reduce the level of aerobic bacteria, and with it, enameleroding acid. Then there’s anaerobic bacteria. They’re the major pathogens that cause periodontal disease, and for good reason. “As plaque ages, it becomes more insulated and less oxygenated. And then the anaerobes reach the point where they can cause disease,” says Dr. Terry Rees ’68 (Perio), director of the Stomatology Center at the dental school. You can find these in the film atop your tongue, if you neglect to brush it, but most commonly, anaerobes skulk in the tiny triangle shape at the gum line where two teeth meet, usually called the interproximal area. When plaque
“
This is an age where patients
are very much into esthetics and fresh breath.” —Dr. L inda Cheng
in this area accumulates unabated, gingivitis — swelling of the gums — results. As inflammation causes the height of the crevice in the gum tissue to increase, the anaerobes settle in, causing even more destruction. With time, bone loss is inevitable for most, but not all, individuals. Luckily, flossing advocates recommend an easy preventive fix. “When you floss, if you do it carefully, and you make a ‘C’ shape around the tooth, you can actually go under the gum 2 to 3 millimeters, and that’s where you can partially disrupt the anaerobes,” Rees explains.
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I
f f l ossin g is s o m e thin g we have t aken fo r gr ante d, as Wathen says, and patients likely aren’t interested in a science lesson during their appointments, what approach can dentists take other than a figurative “take our word for it?” A reminder of flossing’s ancillary benefits is one possible tactic. “Patients have already heard time and time again about how flossing can prevent gum disease and cavities, but it might be good to help patients see flossing as an adjunct way to also help prevent or minimize stains between teeth, bad breath or bleeding gums,” Cheng says. “This is an age where patients are very much into esthetics and fresh breath.” Perhaps dental professionals can make more of a lasting impact when they take the time to work through flossing with patients, instead of just putting them on the spot as to whether they adhere to the regimen. It’s also an opportunity to share new information, such as encouraging them to maximize flossing’s benefit by practicing the routine before brushing, and especially at night. Mendoza starts by asking patients to demonstrate their flossing techniques. After getting a good look at form, her next step is to ask them if they are willing to try something new in regard to their oral hygiene. It’s an interactive way to fine-tune ineffective technique. “Always allow the patient to engage and be excited about learning something new; never try to force anything,” Mendoza cautions. She’ll then demonstrate flossing while stating each step aloud, giving the patient the chance to show off the new skill afterward. It’s something Cheng teaches her dental students in clinic, as well. “Whether it is flossing, using a floss pick or a floss holder, we have to spend time showing patients the correct technique in using that adjunct,” Cheng says. “In dentistry, it is important to spend as much time demonstrating to our patients how to floss as we do asking them if they flossed at all.”
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WAT ER F LO S S ER S These appliances use a pressurized stream of water to clear food debris, plaque and bacteria from between teeth and can be especially helpful for those with dexterity issues, orthodontic appliances, dental implants or who find flossing just plain difficult. The downsides: Replacement tips — usually in the ballpark of $9 for a two-pack — have to be replaced every three to six months; plus, you may get a bit wet from the spray until you get the hang of it. Stomatology Center Director Dr. Terry Rees’ take: “Water flossing is messy, and many patients try it for a while then give up and set it aside. I would like to see a study on how many water irrigation devices are still in use after one year of purchase.”
MISWAK (CHE WING S TICKS) People throughout much of the world use chewing sticks as an adjunctive device to promote better dental health, and interestingly enough, research from Texas A&M College of Dentistry’s dean illustrated that chemicals in the chewing sticks used by Nigerian populations amp up their plaque-fighting potential. “The nature of the sticks is that they are fibrous, so they act more like a toothbrush,” Dean Lawrence Wolinsky explains. “People use these chewing sticks almost like worry beads; they may chew on them for 20 to 30 minutes, so the exposure time of using a mechanical device to help you clean the plaque is good.”
A PRIMER ON
FIBERS
FLOSS A LT ERN AT I V ES TO
F LO S S ER S
When dexterity is a concern (especially for kiddos and the elderly), this “floss on a handle” is a viable alternative. It eases the process of reaching into the back of the mouth. One downside: its taut shape doesn’t allow for easy access around teeth at the gum line.
I N T ER D EN TA L PICKS Tiny, rubbery and soft — and nothing like wooden toothpicks (ouch!) — these devices often have lots of little bristles attached to a handle, allowing users to guide them between teeth with ease for a gentle cleaning.
D
e v o u t f l o s s e r s tend to gravitate toward certain types of floss depending
Then there’s dental tape — this, too, is made of nylon, just wider and flatter — and finally,
on thickness, texture and taste. There haven’t always been so many options.
monofilament, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) floss, which you may know by the brand
In its earliest form dating back to the 1800s, floss was made from silk.
name Teflon. It’s less prone to shredding than nylon, and it should be. Stretched Teflon is
Nowadays, most floss is made of nylon and comes in waxed and unwaxed varieties, also known as multifilament floss, because the nylon is
the same material used in Gore-Tex fabrics, known for their waterproof, windproof and breathable qualities.
woven together.
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I N T O U C H with A L U M N I
Alumni Association takes strategic look ahead
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H E C H A N C E F O R a fresh start
prompted Texas A&M College of Dentistry Alumni Association board members to redefine the organization’s vision, goals and core values this spring, identifying relevance to constituents as an overarching priority. “We are energized to help our association achieve its full potential in serving both alumni and students,” says Laurie Inglis, RDH ’02, Alumni Association immediate past president. “We believe the collective advocacy of this group is more vital than ever in the college’s continued success.”
Dr. Joe Simmons and Laurie Inglis with then second-year student Nicole Smith at the Feb. 3 White Coat Ceremony
CELEBR ATING 20 YEARS Members of the dental hygiene Class of 1996 celebrated a 20th reunion in September 2016 during the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene luncheon honoring Dr. Janice DeWald, professor emerita (third from left).
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Fostering contact and communication among alumni, enriching the lives of students and supporting the college and its programs are core components of the association’s vision for its future. The purpose-driven approach singles out increased service and support to both students and alumni as two primary goals. Expect enhanced communication channels, updated branding, relevant programming and increased visibility to result from the board’s planning efforts. The core values of Texas A&M along with those of the College of Dentistry, which include diversity and inclusiveness, excellence and quality, integrity, leadership, professionalism, and wellness, will guide the association’s activities. “Quite frankly, the removal of ‘Baylor’ from the college’s name had the association reeling for a few months,” says Susan Mitchell Jackson, executive director of advancement, communications and alumni relations at the college. “Then our fantastic board – with its amazing leadership – collected itself, made the gut-wrenching decision to align the association’s nomenclature with that of the college and forged ahead with
plans to increase the positive impact the association can have on the college and the lives of current and future alumni.” After extensive research, the board discovered that legally it could not use the Baylor name and the Texas A&M name together going forward, explains Jackson. “As a mere observer of the process that brought the alumni board to the namechange decision, I have nothing but admiration for their due diligence and determination to protect their legacy,” she says. “We know it’s important for the association to evolve along with our campus, curriculum, state and student body if we are to fulfill our purpose,” Inglis says. “We want to provide communication and programs that resonate with individual constituents. “I want to recognize our newly elected president, Dr. Joe Simmons, for suggesting this planning process. His enthusiasm will be motivational for all of us as he leads the implementation as president.” Coming soon, two new services: the convenience of online giving to the association through the Baylor Oral Health Foundation website and an online password-protected alumni directory.
I N T O U C H with A L U M N I
Aggies recognize dental alumna
R
E C E I V I N G T W O A W A R D S from Texas A&M University
less than 15 years after earning a bachelor’s degree there in 2002 suggests Dr. Hollie Shirey is doing something of impact in her little corner of the world. A 2006 graduate of Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Shirey opened her own dental practice in northeast Dallas in 2011 after serving part time on the dental school’s restorative sciences faculty while practicing part time for five years. Her private practice, Infinity Dental Care, was recognized in November 2016 as an Aggie 100 business, a designation for the 100 fastest growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world. In 2016 Shirey also received the Twelve Under Twelve Award from Texas A&M Young Alumni, recognizing her embodiment of the university’s core values: excellence, integrity, selfless service, leadership, loyalty and respect. “If you hold fast to those, a business will produce an organic growth with a loyal patient base that far supersedes profit-driven growth,” Shirey says. “We are in the business of caring for people,” she adds. “Our patients should always be our No. 1 priority. In an ever-changing
healthcare landscape, it’s incredibly important that we maintain a strong sense of ethics – honesty, candor and integrity above all else.” While involved locally and internationally in mission work, Shirey’s longest running volunteer Hollie Shirey and award presenter commitment is to the Terry Dr. Richard Lester of Texas A&M’s Mays Business School Foundation in Houston, which provides financial stipends for incoming freshmen and transfer students to Texas universities. She has served 16 years on the foundation’s advisory board, as a mentor to Terry Scholar students, as an interview-panel chair and an officer in the DFW Alumni group. She also hosts dental students and Terry Scholars in her office for shadowing and observation. “I think it’s very important that we train the next generation to care for patients as best as they possibly can,” says Shirey, naming multiple dental faculty members who did just that for her. “Between my time as a professor and my time as a student, I owe an immense amount of gratitude to professors, staff and administration who helped mold and shape me.”
NEW ADVENTURES FOR SEALE
Alumni Association that same year. In 2001 she was named
Dr. N. Sue " Suzi" Seale's first day of dental school was in 1966.
Pediatric Dentist of the Year by the American Academy of
That day — like many to follow — she crossed Hall Street to
Pediatric Dentistry Foundation. Seale was inducted to the
make her way into the building, then just four stories. ❖ “I’m
dental school’s Hall of Fame in 2010. ❖ Dr. Alton McWhorter
still walking across that same street 51 years later,” Seale said
’85 (Pedo), current pediatric dentistry department head,
to an audience of colleagues, students, family and friends during
presented Seale with a contribution of $8,500 from colleagues
a March 29 reception recognizing her retirement from Texas A&M
and students
College of Dentistry. “It’s hard to leave when you enjoy what you
toward the N.
do, but it’s time. I was so lucky I got to stay right here for my
Sue Seale
career.” ❖ Seale ’70, ’72 (Pedo) joined the college faculty in
Endowed
1974 and became chair of pediatric dentistry in 1986, a post she
Professorship,
retained until 2009, in addition to her 17-year role as the
for which
department’s graduate program director. ❖ Named a Regents
fundraising
Professor by the Texas A&M University System in 1997, she
began in 2012.
received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the college’s Dr. N. Sue Seale and Dr. Alton McWhorter
Spring/Summer 2017 |
T E X A S A & M D E N T I S T R Y | 25
I N T O U C H with A L U M N I
Coming together to serve
T
E X A S A & M C O L L E G E O F D E N T I S T R Y alumni – and
future alumni – were among the volunteers who joined efforts with Tyler Junior College students and faculty for Operation East Texas on April 8. Seven College of Dentistry faculty members accompanied 46 dental students in porting supplies, equipment and instruments to Tyler, where they served together with 30 TJC dental hygiene students and 16 dental assisting students. The TJC dental hygiene clinic served as home base for the event, as it does several times annually – three to four Saturdays in spring and fall and a weeklong event in the summer.
Faculty, students and friends serve together at Operation East Texas.
and Dr. Wendy Vu Steger ’17 (pictured at left) with a Dr. Dan Jones ’89, public health sciences department
whimsical toy dental kit in thanks for their volunteer
head, surprised graduating students Dr. Keith Mahipala ’17
service on every Operation East Texas trip since 2015.
WANNA GE T AWAY?
variety of pre-planned trips to Texas A&M University graduates — including College of Dentistry alumni, family members, friends and anyone else who enjoys educational travel. ❖ Approximately 70 offerings per year include everything from three-week tours of Australia and New Zealand to Antarctic expeditions to long weekends in New York City. Pricing is the same for everyone, and there is no membership requirement or dues to participate. ❖ "We go incredible
Alumni receptions, class reunions and … polar bears? Who would
places, but one of my favorite parts is the people who go," says
link fun-filled travel adventures with their dental school alma mater?
Dr. Jennifer Bohac, the organization’s travel director. "There's just
Texas A&M College of Dentistry alumni should, according to the
something that happens on a trip. You build relationships. And
Traveling Aggies. ❖ A service of The Association of Former Students,
some of the most frequent travelers aren't Aggie graduates.” ❖ Trip
the Traveling Aggies partners with top travel providers to offer a wide
information is available online at AggieNetwork.com/TravelingAggies.
26 | T E X A S A & M D E N T I S T R Y |
Spring/Summer 2017
IN TOUCH WITH ALUMNI 2 0 1 7-1 8 A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Dr. Joe J. Simmons III ’98, ’99 PRESIDENT-ELECT Dr. Danette McNew ’88 SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Chad J. Capps ’08 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Ms. Laurie Inglis ’02 BOARD MEMBERS Ms. Tiffany Bergstrom ’14 Ms. Shelley Bixler ’12 Ms. Lana Crawford ’68
I N T O U C H with A L U M N I
Dr. Danielle Geshay ’13 Ms. Morgan Hardison ’18 Dr. Jonathan Hawley ’17 Dr. Eduardo R. Lorenzana ’96 Dr. Jordan Luna ’14 Dr. Anthony Mendez ’04 Dr. Sancerie 0’Rourke-Allen ’98 Dr. Rafael Perez ’97 Dr. William R. Phillips ’97 Mr. John Ratliff ’19 Dr. Dena Robinson ’99 Dr. Julie Stelly ’87 Dr. Brian Summers ’87 Dr. Drew Vanderbrook ’12
A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N D O L L A R S at W O R K for S T U D E N T S From white coats for student clinicians to furniture and sports equipment for the dental and dental hygiene student lounges, Texas A&M College of Dentistry Alumni Association funds are enhancing the campus experience for the next generation of dental professionals. The association also provides students with a digital job board, networking events, welcome gifts, study-break snacks, graduation awards and more.
S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 1 7 | T E X A S A & M D E N T I S T R Y | 27
G I V I N G
Your name here: Support the college in a ‘lasting and meaningful way’
T
H E C O N S T R U C T I O N of Texas A&M
College of Dentistry’s new Clinic and Education Building offers naming opportunities at different levels for multiple interior spaces. The 160,000-square-foot facility will be dedicated to innovative clinical education and enhanced comprehensive patient care. The nine-story structure will include a three-level
Architectural rendering of the new building’s Gaston Avenue exterior
parking garage, allowing the college to offer much-needed onsite patient parking. Infused with advanced technology, the building will
Melissa Ogden, the college’s director of development. “Naming
accommodate college growth and feature approximately 300
spaces like classrooms, operatories and reception areas in
new dental operatories, specialized clinics, classrooms and
our new clinical building is a lasting and meaningful way to
study spaces, and comfortable patient reception areas.
celebrate family and honor loved ones.”
“There are so many wonderful opportunities for our alumni and friends to share in our mission through their giving,” says
For more details on naming opportunities contact Ogden at mogden@txamfoundation.com or 214.828.8449.
T H E GIF T of TIME
2017 volunteer faculty members and guest lecturers
Week in and week out, volunteer faculty members donate time
Hoda Abdellatif Raed Ajlouni C. Moody Alexander Ebtissam Al-Madi Tariq Alsmadi Maria Anderson Pranesh Aswath Justin Aurbach Murat Ayik Suman Bathina Antonio Berto Bonnie Bloom Cathy Blunk Jimmy Boley
and expertise to benefit students at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Whether it’s clinical supervision onsite or off campus, preceptorships or other instructional capacities, these dedicated individuals who serve without compensation comprise a group more than 150 strong. “It is so important to recognize the contributions of these faculty who volunteer their time to our school and students,” says Dr. Lawrence Wolinsky, dean. “This is an exceedingly valuable gift. We couldn’t do what we do without them.” Collectively the donated time produces a budgetary impact worth at least a half million dollars to the college.
28 | T E X A S A & M D E N T I S T R Y |
Spring/Summer 2017
Campbell Bourland Chad Capps Lauren Carney Thomas Choate Lindsey Cummings Barry Currey Beth Davis Herman Dumbrigue Rick Finnell Pedro Franco Robert Gatchel David Genecov Grant Gilliland Marshall Goldberg
Cynthia Green Tracy Hallman Stacy Harper Jianing He Brittany Henderson Larry Herwig Frank Higginbottom Aarnoud Hoekema Leah Holderbaum Kelly Hughey Laurie Inglis Haroon Ismaili Tamara Jones Jae Ha Jung
G I V I N G
Graduate’s bequest to endow scholarships
O
N E D E N T A L- S C H O O L inspired custom stayed with pediatric dentist Dr. Ron Winder ’73 throughout his practice years, something more tangible than dental knowledge – a necktie. Winder wore one to work every day of his career in Tulsa, Oklahoma, just as he did in dental school when the habit was mandatory. “I remember as a freshman the emphasis that was placed on professionalism,” he says. “We were taught during the first week how to dress, how to cut our hair and how to behave. I think we all needed a lot of help in that area. Fortunately it stuck!” Through the Ronald L. and Barbara R. Winder Endowed Scholarships at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, which Winder and his wife are establishing through a bequest in their will, future students will get a career boost of a different sort.
Nobuhiro Kamiya Alex Kane Habib Khalilkhani Harry Kim Collin Kraus Vernon Krueger John Lee Deborah Loth Randi Martin-Peters David Martinez Tom McKinney Chris Miller Robert Morgan Nitia Morris Preeti Naik Phillip Newton
Michael Oppedisano Ashley Orynich Ketan Parekh Yong Jong Park Yogesh Patel Robert Peak Stacy Pettit-Redden William Phillips Carolyn Primus Larry Radney Hedley Rakusin Michael Ray Michael Reed Melissa Reese Kelly Romans Kenneth Salyer
“We are very concerned about the current level of debt that burdens dental students,” Winder says. “We would most like to help students who may be struggling financially. I love our profession and would like to help others get their start, too.” Winder recalls his own dental school experiences that led him toward his future specialty, particularly a case that won a student competition of the American Society of Dentistry for Children. “Dr. Ray Hamby suggested I submit the case to the competition, and I had no idea when I said yes just how much work would be involved in preparing a long paper, photographs and a case model,” he says. “I was inspired by several faculty members, but Dr. Paul Taylor and Dr. Hamby stand out. They motivated me to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry.” Winder continues to do licensure examinations around the country several times per year as a chief examiner for the Western Regional Examining Board and also
Mikhail Samchukov Randy Sanovich Jenny Scott Meredith Scott Harold Simpson Vladimir Spolsky Robert Steckler Annette Stevenson Aaron Swapp
Esther Tam Ryan Walsh William Walstad Fen Wang William Wathen Debbie Wilkerson Carl Wirth Annette Wolf Larry Wolford
Dr. Ron and Barbara Winder
teaches part time at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. He sold his practice in 2014 but is still handling four to five operating-room cases per month for the husband-and-wife Oklahoma dental graduates who now own it.
Public health clinic volunteer dentists
Private practice preceptors
Robert L. Allen Charles Arcoria Elizabeth Berry Jason Berry Eric Braunlin Dallas Dill Mike Fisher Bill Gray Jay Leftwich Russell Owens James Shadle Mark Smith John Sunnucks James Theken
Jiro Akpobome J. Moody Alexander Chris Barnes Todd Baumann F.R. Boyles Marco Caballeros Jose Cazares Parvatham Chandrashekar Patrick Chen Jon Clemetson Kathleen Cordova Ashly Cothern continued on page 30
S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 1 7 | T E X A S A & M D E N T I S T R Y | 29
T E X A S
GIFT OF TIME continued from page 29
Joey de Graffenried Valerie Drake Dwayne Evans Thamen Evans Sean Fitzgerald Jan Gonzalez Karen Gott Avish Haria Tommy Harrison Jay Herrington Larry Herwig Joe Johnson Greg Kerbel Reena Kuba Laura Spencer LaCroix Jeff Ludlow G. Robert Marye Kiamesha McClellan Donna Miller Kimberly Neiman Junior Osinde Amanda Phan Sam Preece Anil Reddy Candalaria Rodriguez Joan Santiago Ray Scott James Shadle Howard Shayne Mary Lynn Shayne Eugene Silvertooth Carmen Smith Audrey Stansbury Thad Taylor Sheena Thomas Cathy Tran Kimberly Travers David Trevino Diep Truong Drew Vanderbrook Saskia Vaughan Tammy Weyandt Jon Williamson Anna Willison
A & M
C O L L E G E
By the
O F
D E N T I S T R Y
NUMBERS A P P L I C A N T S and F I R S T - Y E A R C L A S S E S 2 0 1 6
Entering Class Age Range
1,612 applicants (854 were Texans)
Dental: 20-39
105 enrolled (Avg. GPA: 3.66)
D E N TA L
D E N TA L HYGIENE 158 applicants (146 were Texans) Entering Class Age Range 30 enrolled
Dental Hygiene: 20-35
(Avg. GPA: 3.47)
S T U D E N T S N A P S H O T 2 0 16 -2 0 17
421 Dental Students
Please notify the editor of any omissions or corrections: ccox@tamhsc.edu
.
211 210 MALE (36% URM*)
FEMALE
114 Graduate Students
60
Dental Hygiene Students
56 4 MALE
FEMALE
(27% URM*)
53 Female 61 Male
*Underrepresented minorit y (Af rican American , Hispanic and Native American) 30 | T E X A S A & M D E N T I S T R Y |
Spring/Summer 2017
PEOPLE S TA FF
FA C U LT Y
ALUMNI
6,359
133 full time 123 part time
267
alumni with known mailing addresses
359
Alumni Association supporters
DOLLARS University indirect support
14.9
Tuition and fees
19.4%
%
Sponsored research, training, indirect cost recovery
5.8%
Other, including continuing education
7.7%
2016 REVENUE BY SO URCE
Foundations, gifts
2.6 % Patient care services
State government
30.8%
18.8%
Expenditures for Grant-Sponsored Programs: $4,282,517 Research: $3,044,817 Public Health: $989,764 Center of Excellence: $247,936 Giving: 810 gifts totaling $2,212,418* *Contributions to Baylor Oral Health Foundation, Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Texas A&M College of Dentistry Alumni Association and Texas A&M Foundation
[ [
Patient care*
SERVICE
Total patient visits: 104,215 Total patients: 21,373
*2016 Fiscal Year
The college’s 8 specialized patient-care clinics/centers/services: 17,151 patient visits
[ [
Community-based service*
Treatment:
18,599 patients Screenings/health and career education: 34,074 people S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 1 7 | T E X A S A & M D E N T I S T R Y | 31
This “Impressions� page captures a moment in time in the rich history of our Dallas dental school. The people of Texas A&M College of Dentistry have called the school by various names: State Dental College from 1905 to 1918, Baylor University College of Dentistry from 1918 to 1971 and Baylor College of Dentistry from 1971 to 1996, when the name became longer to reflect the affiliation with the Texas A&M University System and, later, its health science center. In 2013, a new name reflected an alliance with Texas A&M University. Through the ebb and flow of history, the dental school has been nurtured by people who reaped its benefits and perpetuated its legacy. Enjoy this glimpse into the mirror of time. 32 || TBEAXY AL SO RA &D ME NDTEA NL T JI SO TURRYN A |L 2 S0 p0r 8i n- g2 /0S0u 9m m e r 2 0 1 7 32
A Rinkle in time
I M P RI M EP R ESS SSI O IN SO N S
M
axillofacial prosthodontist Dr. Roy Rinkle ’63 scans the faces encircling the 20-seat conference room table, taking in a who’s who of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, health care administrators and other specialists. The year is 1971. The occasion: an advisory council meeting of the new North Texas Maxillofacial Prosthetics Rehabilitation Center. Rinkle is more than a casual observer. An organizer of this gathering, chaired by Dean Kenneth Randolph of Baylor College of Dentistry, Rinkle is fresh back from advanced education at the University of Pennsylvania’s renowned Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic. A prosthodontics faculty member since 1965, he is founding director of the center located at the dental school and adjacent Baylor University Medical Center. This facility, a cooperative one at Parkland Memorial Hospital and a prosthetics center in Houston, received cancer-designated funds from the Texas Regional Medical Program, part of what was then the federal Health, Education and Welfare Department. In the mid-1960s, then-dean Dr. Harry McCarthy had visited prosthodontics department chair Dr. Joe Lambert about the opportunity. “The dean knew we had access to the grant if we would just apply for it,” Rinkle explains. For Rinkle, who was teaching the dental materials course and handling denture disasters and related emergencies for Baylor Medical Center patients, the chance to work as part of a medical team to care for cancer patients was a no-brainer. “Dr. Lambert told me if I went away for a year’s training in intraoral devices in Pennsylvania I could come back and head up the center,” says Rinkle, who completed the specialized curriculum in 1969. “To make it work I figured we needed multiple disciplines represented, and we got the most important folks from the medical and dental communities.” The advisory council meeting is a case in point. For starters, there’s Dr. Robert Walker ’47, chief of oral surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Parkland hospital; Dr. Joe Drane of the University of Texas Dental Branch and M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute; and Dr. Lamar Byrd, chair of oral surgery at Dallas’ dental school. Dr. Billy Aronoff – “daring” head and neck surgeon at Baylor hospital – is present; so are Lambert; Dr. Joseph Amphil, Parkland’s maxillofacial prosthodontist; and Dr. Charles McCall, the regional medical program director. The group convened before Rinkle was impressive, as was the dramatic case that had launched the center a year or so earlier. Rinkle's first patient had a “huge” defect in his palate following tumor removal by Aronoff, who was noted for treating challenging cancer cases. Rinkle had inserted a temporary acrylic stint immediately after surgery. Without it, the patient couldn’t talk or drink. Soon after, Rinkle presented the case for grand rounds at BUMC. When he and the prosthetics technician successfully fitted the patient on the spot with a permanent “bubble insert” of pliable silicone, the reaction was immediate. “The whole medical staff stood up and clapped,” Rinkle recounts. “After that, the hospital gave us space for a laboratory, operatory, office for myself and a social worker, and a reception area.” The space featured a north-facing window, providing the light by which he and the technician sculpted and colored the prostheses. The center’s care was ahead of its time, save for M.D. Anderson in Houston and Sloan Kettering Institute in New York, Rinkle says, and referrals brought patients. Communications outreach at medical and dental meetings enhanced awareness. Rinkle left Dallas for the Northeast in 1974, completed additional prosthodontics training and entered private practice in the Boston area, concentrating on esthetics and implants. He probably also lectured on cleft palate and esthetics to Dean Lawrence Wolinsky, who was a student during a few of Rinkle’s 20 years as a part-time faculty member at Tufts dental school.
Editor’s Note: Dr Roy Rinkle reconnected with the college in 2014 as an adjunct clinical faculty member.
Dr. Roy Rinkle (left) and Dr. Kenneth Randolph (right) at the maxillofacial prosthetic center's exhibit during the Dallas Mid-Winter Clinic in 1971. Dr. Mack Charles Hughes (center), then a senior dental student, listens to one of the exhibit's tape recordings. 8 -m2e 0r 02 90 1 7B A Y| L OT RE X DA ES N AT &A LM JDOEUNRT NI SA TL R |Y 33 S p r i n g2/0S 0u m | 33
TEXAS A&M COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY 3302 Gaston Avenue Dallas, Texas 75246-2013
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Photo op! Celebrating new beginnings with the Class of 2017