MILITARY DENTISTS DENTAL DETECTIVE CRACKING THE CASE WITH FORENSIC DENTISTRY CEREBRAL DOWNLOAD ARE WISDOM TEETH THE NEW DENTAL RESTORATION?
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Dear Trojan Dental Family,
Welcome to the Summer 2015 issue of TroDent. In this issue’s cover story, we focus on the brave women and men who serve in the U.S. armed forces as military dentists after graduating from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. You can read all about their stories on pages 19-25. You’ll also find an interesting Q&A on pages 10–11 about the Secret Life of Ruby Hinds, who by day works as the director of healthcare compliance here at Ostrow. By night, though ... well you’ll have to read on to find out. On page 27, you can read about Dr. Mark Urata’s vision for the future of the division of oral and maxillofacial surgery, which just started in 2013. Finally, on page 29, you can learn about some of Dr. Pascal Magne’s exciting work on natural CAD/CAM dentistry. If you have kids, keep their wisdom teeth. They might just come in handy. I hope you enjoy reading TroDent as much as I do, and please send us any questions, thoughts or comments. I’ll look forward to seeing most of you on Nov. 6 and 7 at Ostrow’s homecoming events, which, as always, include class reunions and casino night on Friday night and a picnic on Saturday before we head to the Coliseum to take on the Arizona Wildcats.
Have a great summer, and Fight on!
Stay connected! Avishai Sadan DMD, MBA Dean G. Donald and Marian James Montgomery facebook.com/deansadan Professor of Dentistry Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC twitter.com/Dean_Sadan
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 2 3 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 HATS OFF TO YOU On May 15, Ostrow celebrated the class of 2015 as they completed their studies and faced the world for the first time as official Trojan dental professionals. The graduating class consisted of 174 DDS, 37 dental hygiene, 42 advanced specialty, 3 PhD and 22 master’s students, which included graduates from the first ever master of dental hygiene and online master of orofacial pain and oral medicine programs. Congratulations to the newest members of the Trojan dental alumni family! PHOTO BY LINDSEY NAM YIP DDS ’16
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 4 COVER STORY THE MILITARY DENTISTS 19-25 BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14, YASMINE PEZESHKPOUR MCM ’17 & JAMIE WETHERBE MA ’04
Every year brave women and men leave Ostrow behind after graduation to serve their nation as military dentists. The Health Professions Scholarship Program pays these students’ tuition in exchange for their expertise in treating our uniformed women and men all around the world.
DEPARTMENTS
News: For Children with Autism, Trips to the Dentist Just Got Easier 8 ART.COM i 2 i News Briefs 9 Mouthpiece 10-15 Memorials and Tributes 32 Inspired 33
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY GARY ALPHONSO/ GARY BY ILLUSTRATION COVER ostrow.usc.edu THE OFFICIAL ALUMNI PUBLICATION OF THE HERMAN OSTROW SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY OF USC | SUMMER 2015
TRODENT CONTACT US WITH DEAN CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT HERMAN OSTROW SCHOOL STORY IDEAS AND AVISHAI SADAN DMD, MBA ’14 JOHN HOBBS MA ’14 ALEX DE LA HIDALGA OF DENTISTRY OF USC PHOTOS AT: PASCAL MAGNE 925 W. 34TH STREET, DEN 202 [email protected] EDITOR CARMEN MOLINA ILLUSTRATIONS LOS ANGELES, CA 90089-0641 JOHN HOBBS MA ’14 CALEN OUELLETTE GARY ALPHONSO YASMINE PEZESHKPOUR MCM ’17 i2iART.COM (213) 740-0428 DESIGN/PRODUCTION JAMIE WETHERBE MA ’04 GARETT YOSHIDA PRINTED BY PHOTOGRAPHY GREENS PRINTING JOHN HOBBS GREENSPRINTING.COM NATE JENSEN GLENN MARZANO LAURA BRAVO MERTZ LINDSEY NAM YIP 5 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Online Masters Program in Geriatric Dentistry Online Certificate Program in Geriatric Dentistry About Our Program » Unique, innovative hybrid online and face-to-face programs in geriatric dentistry. » A 37-month (30.5 unit) masters of science in geriatric dentistry is available. » A 12-month (12.5 unit) certificate in geriatric dentistry programs is available. » The programs are designed for full-time practicing dentists from across the world who wish to greatly improve their skills in addressing the unique dental needs of older adult patients within the context of their medical, psychosocial and physical conditions. » Heavy emphasis placed on learning medical conditions affecting older patients and their influence in the assessment and treatment modifications needed for oral health care using evidence based medical model. » These programs may fullfill professional development requirements. Meet Our Faculty
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Reyes Enciso MS, PhD Phuu Han DDS, PhD Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry Course Director Division of Dental Public Health and Pediatric Capstone Research Project for Online Programs Dentistry Division of Dental Public Health and American Board of Orofacial Pain Diplomate Pediatric Dentistry
ApplicationsApplications for the for 2015 the 2016 intake intake are now are nowaccepted accepted until until January Jan. 31.31, 2015 SpaceSpace is is limited.limited. The programsprograms begin begin May May 2016. 2015. To apply or for more information: Web: geriden.usc.edu Phone: (213) 821-5831 Email: [email protected] FEATURES
BETTER TOGETHER 27 BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14 With Ostrow’s new division of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Mark Urata has united two distinct disciplines— oral and maxillofacial surgery and plastic surgery—that work together symbiotically to train practitioners better than ever before.
CEREBRAL DOWNLOAD 29 BY PASCAL MAGNE Dr. Pascal Magne shares his scientific discovery on natural restorations—an approach that could not only shift paradigms in the restorative world 16 but also might have you saving your children’s wisdom teeth. DENTAL DETECTIVE BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14 Part-time faculty member and alumnus Dr. C. Michael Bowers took his degrees in dentistry and law to become a forensic odontologist. He takes us behind police lines for an exclusive look at what it’s like to be an expert investigator of crimes and accidents.
CONTRIBUTORS
NATE JENSEN PASCAL MAGNE CARMEN MOLINA LINDSEY NAM YIP DDS ’16 For more than a decade, Nate has Dr. Pascal Magne is the Don and Carmen came to the United States Lindsey is currently a fourth-year meticulously crafted and refined Sybil Harrington Professor of after fleeing war in her native El doctor of dental surgery student a dynamic, unique style etched Esthetic Dentistry in Ostrow’s Salvador. In 2002, while working at the Herman Ostrow School of with detailed attention. He says division of restorative sciences. as a housekeeper, she met Dean Dentistry. Before starting dental his passion for photography He’s an award-winning author of Emeritus Harold Slavkin ’61, DDS school, she studied fine arts at renders him limitless potential and numerous articles on esthetics ’65 and his wife Lois, both of whom Pomona College and interned profound impact as one of today’s and adhesive dentistry and is an Carmen credits for turning her life with a wedding photographer in creative voices. His personal and internationally known lecturer. around. “They were my angels fallen Los Angeles. In her free time, she collaborative work have inter- Through his research and his book from heaven,” she says. “Now it is enjoys photography and painting, national visibility, with his work Bonded Porcelain Restorations my turn to pay it forward.” Since samples of which can be found spanning ads for fashion labels in the Anterior Dentition (trans- 2005, she’s been doing just that, at lindseynam.com/blog. She and luxury hotels to portraits of lated into 12 languages), Magne working as a promotora for Ostrow’s currently resides in downtown Los Hollywood’s A-listers. His work has pioneered the “biomimetic Community Oral Health Programs. Angeles with her loving husband has appeared in a variety of publi- approach” in restorative dentistry In her free time, Carmen has earned and her mischievous puppy, d’Art- cations, including GQ, People and through the structured use of her high school diploma and was agnan. Yip shot this issue’s photo Vanity Fair. Check out Nate’s work composite resin, ceramic mate- granted American citizenship in essay on p. 3. at INN8creative.com. rials and dental adhesives. Read 2013. Read what keeps Carmen his research on using living donor inspired on p. 33. teeth for restorations on p. 29.
7 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 NEWS
FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, TRIPS TO THE DENTIST JUST GOT EASIER
Adjusting the environment to be more soothing could eliminate the need for general anesthesia to cope with routine cleanings.
PHOTO BY JOHN HOBBS
BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14 autism, 22 typically developing children— The study—which represents a unique underwent two professional dental cleanings. collaboration between pediatric dentists and Going to the dentist might have just gotten One cleaning took place in a regular dental occupational therapists—could help improve a little less scary for the estimated one in 68 environment, the other in a sensory adapted oral health care for children with autism, U.S. children with autism spectrum disorder, dental environment. During each session, a group reported to have poor oral health, thanks to new interdisciplinary research from the child’s physiological anxiety, behavioral research shows. the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC distress and pain intensity were measured. The findings could also represent a cost and the USC Chan Division of Occupational “I’ve talked to several parents who have savings to the health care system, with fewer Science and Occupational Therapy. said, ‘We really put off taking our child to the insurance reimbursements paid to dental In an article published by the Journal dentist because we know how hard it is and offices for the additional staff members and of Autism and Developmental Disorders, we know he’s going to scream and cry,’” said general anesthesia often necessary for chil- researchers examined the feasibility of Sharon Cermak, the study’s lead author, who dren with autism. adapting dental environments to be more is a USC Chan professor as well as professor In early May, Cermak earned an additional calming for children with autism spectrum of pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine $3.1 million from the National Institutes of disorder. of USC. Health to continue the study. “The regular dental environment can be To help combat that reaction, researchers The next phase will be for researchers to quite frightening for children with autism adapted the dental environments by turning increase their sample size—they’ll be using who, not knowing how to react, tend to be off overhead office lights and headlamps, 220 children total; 110 in each group—to completely averse to whatever we’re trying projecting slow-moving visual effects onto the determine which factors (e.g. age, anxiety, to do,” said one of the study’s authors, José ceiling and playing soothing music. sensory over-responsitivity) best predict which Polido PEDO ’98, MS ’01, who is an assistant Instead of using traditional means to children respond well to the intervention. professor at Ostrow and head of dentistry at secure the child in the dental chair, prac- “One of our long-term goals with this study Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). titioners used a seat cover that looked like is to help dentists develop protocols for their Children with autism spectrum disor- a gigantic butterfly whose wings wrapped own dental clinics to see how sensory compo- ders—as well as some typically developing around the child and provided a comforting, nents are contributing to behavioral issues,” children—often show heightened responses deep-pressure hug. Cermak said. “I think these protocols can then to sensory input and find these sensations The research team found that both chil- be translated across the globe.” uncomfortable. As such, the dental office, dren who are typically developing as well as with its bright lights, loud sounds and touch those with autism spectrum disorders exhib- Experience the sensory adapted dental envi- in and around the mouth, present particular ited decreased psychological anxiety and ronment for yourself at tinyurl.com/USCsade challenges for such children. reported lower pain and sensory discomfort In the study, 44 CHLA patients—22 with in the sensory-adapted dental environment.
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 8 NEWS CHAI PUBLISHED IN OSTROW NATURE CELL BIOLOGY RESEARCHERS EARN BRIEFS AND DEVELOPMENTAL IADR INNOVATION IN CELL ORAL CARE AWARDS This spring, Associate Dean of Research Dr. Janet Moradian-Oldak and Alireza Yang Chai PhD ’91, DDS ’96 and his team Moshaverinia PhD ’12, PROS ’12 earned two SIMAIE TO REPRESENT had two high-impact journal articles of the three IADR Innovation in Oral Care OSTROW ON USC ALUMNI published. In Nature Cell Biology, Chai Awards given in 2015. The awards, worth ASSOCIATION BOARD OF shared findings that could improve up to $75,000, are geared toward helping treatment options for children with investigators pursue innovative research GOVERNORS craniosynostosis, a condition in which in oral care. Oldak’s grant will help her Joseph R. Simaie DDS ’96 has been selected a baby’s soft spots close prematurely. continue the development of a patent- as the Ostrow representative on the USC Traditional thinking was that the birth pending hydrogel that has the potential Alumni Association’s 2015-2016 Board of defect—which can cause developmental to rebuild tooth enamel. Moshaverinia’s Governors. In this role, Simaie and more delays, hearing loss and blindness—was award will help the junior faculty member than 60 other representatives from across the result of bone overgrowth. Chai’s develop a hydrogel to treat peri-implan- campus will provide critical advice and research suggests it’s actually caused titis, a common inflammatory compli- support to the USC Alumni Association. by a lack of stem cells. In Developmental cation following dental implant. This The alumni association’s mission is to Cell, Chai and lead author Jingyuan Li research also earned Moshaverinia a support USC by engaging Trojan alumni shared their investigations on the stem 2015 Zumberge Individual Award, worth for life. The group provides benefits and cell pathways underlying the constant $30,000. services to more than 366,000 members growth of rodent incisors, research that around the world and distributes nearly could eventually lead to natural tooth $4 million in scholarships to USC students restorations in human beings. BACH LE, LIFETIME each year. Simaie was officially installed at HONORARY MEMBER OF the alumni association’s annual meeting in THE AMERICAN COLLEGE May 2015. USC DENTAL HYGIENE TAKES GLOBAL STAGE OF PROSTHODONTISTS Ostrow clinical associate professor On June 6, Diane Melrose MA ’11, director SLAVKIN AWARDED Bach Le DDS ’94 has been named a life- of dental hygiene, gave a presenta- time honorary member of the American HONORARY DEGREE tion to the Nippon Dental University in College of Prosthodontists (ACP). “Dr. FROM MCGILL Tokyo. During the presentation, titled Le’s yearly presentations and hands-on “Trends in Dental Hygiene Practice in UNIVERSITY courses about implant placement and the United States,” Melrose discussed bone grafting during ACP Annual Scientific Ostrow Dean Emeritus Harold Slavkin dental hygiene education and new trends, Sessions have been sold out and repeat- ’61, DDS ’65 was awarded a prestigious including teledentistry, which uses a edly received highest praise from our honorary degree from McGill University digital workflow to put dental hygienists members,” said ACP President Dr. John in Montreal, Canada, at its spring convo- in a new role in the fight against caries. R. Agar in a congratulatory letter. Le has cation on May 29. The award recognized Melrose’s visit came just weeks after Linda been an Ostrow faculty member since Slavkin’s leadership in research and his Brookman ’79, associate professor of clin- 2000. He has lectured internationally (on advocacy for increased access to health ical dentistry in dental hygiene, gave a six continents) and has had numerous care for underserved populations. The presentation at the Maurice and Gabriela research articles published on hard and honorary degree was awarded to 16 recip- Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine at soft tissue regeneration for improving ients, two of whom were Nobel Peace Tel Aviv University in Israel. Her presenta- esthetic outcomes. The ACP is the official Prize winners. Slavkin served as dean from tion, titled “Interprofessional Education & sponsoring organization for prosthodon- 2000 to 2008 and retired from Ostrow in Collaborative Practice: Working Together tics and has more than 3,700 members June 2014. to Improve Outcomes,” examined the ways worldwide. in which the health sciences could work in teams to improve patient health after treatment.
9 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 SECRET LIVES Ruby Hinds
BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14
From 9 to 5, most might recognize Ruby Hinds as Ostrow’s no-nonsense director of healthcare compliance. But after hours, this classically trained opera singer, actress and producer—who’s performed all over Europe and America, including at such L.A. venues as the Hollywood Bowl and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion—leaves behind all concerns about rules and regulations to pursue right-brain endeavors with a fervent passion. Turn the page to learn more about Ruby Hinds. PHOTO BY NATE JENSEN »
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 10 SECRET LIVES MILESTONES Ruby Hinds continued
When did you discover this powerful voice of yours? I have two other opera singers in my family [sisters Esther and Grace, who perform with Ruby as part of the Hinds Trio], so classical music had been around us all our lives. I just naturally fell into being part of the chorus and that then evolved into singing solos.
What training have you had in operatic singing? I was part of the All-City High School Chorus in New York. I enjoyed it but wasn’t thinking about it in terms of a career until college. Then I was accepted at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, where I began my operatic studies. After that, I auditioned and was accepted at the L-R Dean Avishai Sadan, David Good Juilliard School for the American Opera PEDO ’77 and Leon Unterman DDS ’63 Center. PHOTO BY GLENN MARZANO You’ve been performing since At this year’s Part-Time Faculty Appreciation Awards and Dinner, David Good PEDO ’77 was 1978. What are some of the honored for 45 years of service as clinical professor of pediatric dentistry at Ostrow. Here’s what highlights of your career? the good doctor had to say about his decades-long career as a Trojan instructor: One was having the opportunity to do the world premier of Philip Glass’ the ON THE DIFFERENCES IN CURRICULUM: CIVIL warS. The second one was having “In 1970, the practice of pediatric dentistry was primarily surgical removal of decay and filling the the opportunity to do Bellini’s Norma tooth with various materials. Today the curriculum is oriented toward preventing surgical removal of with my two sisters. That was the first tooth structure.” time that three siblings had been in an opera together. I also created a ON THE REWARDS OF HIS CAREER: piece called See There in the Distance, “Over the years, my interaction with the residents in our program and the stimulation they give me to which is my one-woman show about be on the cutting edge of our profession is what has made my experience as an educator so rewarding the life and accomplishments of Marian and fulfilling.” Anderson, who was the first African- American singer at the Metropolitan ON WHAT HAS KEPT HIM TEACHING: Opera. “I’ve wanted to continue to give back to the profession that I have benefited from and love.” How did a consummate performer fall into the role of Ostrow’s director of compliance? I’ve always loved rules and regulations, which is why I considered a career in law. Compliance satisfies that part of DIGITAL me because there are so many rules and laws associated with compliance, yet there’s also a creative aspect in building a compliance program. I love YEARBOOKS Thumb through more than 100 years of memories with a few clicks of a mouse. what I do here. Looking to catch up with your old buddy from that Was it Tom or Todd? class during your first year in dental school but can’t quite WATCH HINDS PERFORM: Morphology and Esthetics tinyurl.com/hinds1 remember his name? Now you can look him up! Thanks to a partnership between the tinyurl.com/hinds2 Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and USC Libraries, copies of the dental school yearbooks have been digitized and electronically archived. The yearbooks, dating back to the class of 1904, are now available online. tinyurl.com/dentistryyearbooks Check them out at
11 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 MOUTHPIECE COMMUNITY FOCUS FESTIVAL OF BOOKS BY THE NUMBERS On April 18 and 19, USC hosted the 20th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. During the event, Ostrow volunteers set up a mini clinic at the Health and Wellness Pavilion, offering dental screen- ings to the 150,000 festival-goers. Here are a few more numbers from the Festival of Books: 411 TOTAL SCREENED OVER THE TWO-DAY FESTIVAL 100 200 300 400 411 BOOKS The Orthodontic Pioneer children, age 0-5, Dr. Annie Chin Siu published her memoir, Roads Into and Out of 83 screened Chinatown, earlier this year. In the book, illustrated with Siu’s watercolors, the one-time Ostrow assistant clinical professor (of more than 25 years) describes her upbringing as part of an 1 immigrant family in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1930s. 67 Tooth Siu’s memoir reflects on her family’s commitment to hard work VOLUNTEERS and education, which landed her admission to dental school in Fairy 1950, making her the first Chinese woman in UC San Francisco’s dental school. Purchase the book at tinyurl.com/anniesiu.
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 12 MOUTHPIECE 1
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Welcome to digital dentistry—a place where conventional impressions are gone, a dental restoration can be created with a few mouse clicksWhat and a procedure is that a once took a week can be done in a single visit. Ostrow dental students are required to learn digital dentistry beginningDIGITAL in Trimester III, giving them an advantage in a world increasingly going digital. WORKFLOWSo what will a digital dental appointment look like? Here are the five steps of a typical digital in adhesiveworkflow indentistry? the dentist chair: 3 5 BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14 ART.COM i 2 i
4 ILLUSTRATIONS BY GARY ALPHONSO/
WELCOME TO DIGITAL DENTISTRY—a place where conventional impressions are gone, a dental restoration can be created with a few mouse clicks and a procedure that once took a week can be done in a single visit. Ostrow dental students are required to learn digital dentistry beginning in Trimester III, giving them an advantage in a world increasingly going digital. So what will a digital dental appointment look like? Here are the five steps of a typical digital workflow in the dentist chair:
1| PREP 3| DESIGN 5| PLACE As with any dental appointment—tradi- Sitting chairside, the dental profes- Finally, the dental practitioner bonds the tional or digital—the dental professional’s sional uses the digital images to design restoration to the affected tooth, bringing first step is to prepare the area, usually a dental restoration onscreen while the the procedure to a close. By the end of by removing all caries infections so only patient watches. The design process can Trimester III, a typical DDS class will have healthy tissue remains. take anywhere from two to 10 minutes, collectively placed 300 inlays and onlays. depending on the case’s complexity. In Trimester V, students move on to more 2| SCAN complex cases involving full-coverage The practitioner then scans the tooth 4| MILL restorations (crowns) using a similar digital and its surroundings with an intraoral The dentist sends the data to a milling workflow and 3-D digital treatment plan- scanner—a camera that takes extremely machine—Ostrow currently has nine such ning of implant placement using digital precise 3-D images. The intraoral scanners machines—to mill the restoration. The technology. are just one component of the CAD/CAM milling machines can make restorations system. Ostrow currently houses 40 CAD/ from composite material, ceramics, CAM systems. Our students get hands-on hybrid ceramics or acrylic. Milling a resto- experience with CAD/CAM dentistry begin- ration can take anywhere from seven ning in Trimester III. to 20 minutes, depending on the case’s complexity.
13 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 BE SEEN BY MORE THAN 10,000 USC DENTISTS
TRODENT, THE OFFICIAL ALUMNI PUBLICATION OF THE HERMAN OSTROW SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY OF USC NOW OFFERS ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES.
Find out how to get the attention of some of the profession’s best at dentistry.usc.edu/alumni/newsletter MOUTHPIECE
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2 3 PHOTOS BY NATE JENSEN Redesigning Norris FOOTBALLWIN TIX Dental Science Center It could be the hall where you met DENTAL your love—or the lab where you pulled legendary pranks. Tell us Renovations to the aging Norris Dental Science Center continued this spring, with the second-floor about your favorite building-based wet lab (Room 263) being gutted to make room for stainless steel water fixtures and modernized memories for a chance to win two equipment. See picture 1 above. The east-end lobby lost its trophy case and art deco partitions to tickets to USC vs. Arizona. give the space a more contemporary, communal feel. See picture 2. And nearly 800 signs were placed SEND TO ostrow.communications throughout the building to better guide patients through clinical areas, including a new alphabetical @usc.edu system for each department. See picture 3. Next up will be a project to refurbish the dental hygiene lab—soon to be called the Baldwin and Doreen Marchack Learning Lab—modernizing instructional areas and making room for case-based learning sessions.
15 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14
DENTALDETECTIVE Ostrow clinical associate professor C. Michael Bowers spends his evenings and weekends consulting as a forensic odontologist. Bowers took us behind police lines for a look into the world of investigating accidents and crimes using only dental expertise. »
PHOTO BY NATE JENSEN
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 16 HIS LINE OF WORK IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH ... If C. Michael Bowers ’71, DDS ’75 gets a call Through the years, he’s published News in 2002 about the Alaska Airlines from the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s several books, book chapters and peer-re- crash (See sidebar). Office, chances are he’s going to be taking viewed journal articles. Recently, his But as emotionally difficult as it can be part in an autopsy with a human body that’s book Forensic Testimony, Science, Law to investigate such scenes of catastrophe, in some of the worst possible conditions. and Forensic Evidence, won an honorable Bowers concedes there is some satisfac- Decomposition, burns and dismember- mention in the 2015 PROSE Awards, an tion in it. ment can often prevent a coroner’s office annual competition for professional and “Satisfaction is knowing that families from making a positive identification. scholarly writing. have the chance to know that their loved It’s under these circumstances that a ones have been taken care of,” he says. “It forensic odontologist would be called into MASS FATALITIES takes some of the grief and stress out of the the morgue to help identify the deceased In 1986, Bowers’ mettle was first death process for the bereaved families.” by comparing their teeth with existing tested with a mass fatality case when he dental records of missing persons or other briefly assisted medical examiners who INDIVIDUAL individuals. were combing through the wreckage of IDENTIFICATIONS Bowers, an Ostrow part-time faculty Aeroméxico Flight 498 after it collided with Of course, not all of Bowers’ cases member and Ventura, Calif., dentist, is one a smaller private aircraft over a Cerritos, involve such mass chaos. Sometimes, he’s of 27 forensic odontologists practicing in Calif., neighborhood, killing 67 onboard and simply called to investigate a dumped body. California—one of the highest concentra- another 15 on the ground. “Forensic odontologists are always on tions in the nation. The following year, Bowers was called call,” Bowers says. “Typically you’re working While forensic odontologists’ case by Duane Spencer DDS ’65 to the Santa Lucia in your practice and the police or coroner loads often require them to identify human Mountains to help identify the 43 individ- investigator gives you a call, saying there’s remains—either individually (in accidents uals killed after Pacific Southwest Airlines a case active and when can you show up?” and homicides) or in mass fatality events Flight 1771 was hijacked and crashed into This was the case when the remains of (in plane crashes and natural disasters)— the California countryside (See sidebar). Nichole Lee Hendrix were discovered scat- they are also involved in bitemark analyses The remains of 27 of those individuals were tered throughout a ravine in the Ventura in cases of abuse and assault and often never identified. countryside in 1999. find themselves in court offering expert By 2000, Bowers had worked his way On Oct. 15, 1998, Hendrix, 17, went out testimony. up to chief forensic dentist when Alaska with her friends for the night. Late in the “Like most dentists, I found it fasci- Airlines Flight 261 bound for Seattle crashed evening, she called home from a motel to nating how dentistry can interface with law into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 88 indi- tell her mother she’d be back soon. Sadly, enforcement and the legal system,” explains viduals onboard. Bowers and his team, she never returned. Bowers whose boyhood passion for Sherlock including fellow alum Kent Hollenback DDS Bowers helped identify Hendrix’s body Holmes mysteries was rekindled during a ’82 and Dr. Raymond Johansen, scoured by matching a dental restoration to one she 1971 lecture by forensic dentistry expert through hundreds of body fragments to had had done seven years earlier. and one-time Ostrow interim dean Gerald match partial jaws or single teeth with the To make such identifications, forensic Vale MDS ’54. dental records of those onboard. Bowers odontologists often compare X-rays, dental After graduation, Bowers moved to says it took the team nearly three months impressions, tooth shape and dental resto- Ventura, where he opened a private prac- to finish all the dental identifications. rations to the records of known missing tice and began volunteering at nearby “Mass disasters always have much persons or individuals believed to be the medical examiners’ offices. “I got carte more emotions attached to them than any deceased until they make a match. blanche to get the experience and training other case concerning just a single indi- “DNA is certainly the gold standard necessary to start getting involved with vidual,” Bowers says. when it comes to making such identifica- actual case work,” Bowers says. He’s been “The difficulty was seeing people tions,” Bowers says. “But dentistry certainly working as a forensic odontologist for more semi-intact who just before had been seems to have a very good history if there than 30 years. happily vacationing,” Bowers told USC are sufficient dental records to compare
17 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 DENTALDETECTIVE with an unidentified person.” the bite marks left on a body to those made by Investigators eventually discovered that defendants from dental casts. The problem, Hendrix had been kidnapped, robbed and Bowers says, is that the technique is entirely stabbed to death in a motel room by gang subjective and lacks empirical basis. In fact, members, according to the Los Angeles Times. there have even been discrepancies between CASE FILES OF Thanks to Hendrix’s mother, artifacts from experts about whether bites were made by a C.M. BOWERS her case are now on display as part of the human or an animal. University of Maryland’s National Museum of “The ability of the skin to register sufficient As a consultant for the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, C.M. Bowers Dentistry, which has a traveling exhibit called detail of a biter’s teeth is highly variable and investigates up to 20-30 cases a year. “Your Spitting Image” about forensic dentistry. commonly achieves contradictory results,” We dug into some of the case files of the Bowers also uses the case to teach would-be Bowers argued in a 2011 article, “Recognition, forensic odontologist who’s been at it forensic odontologists the ins and outs of Documentation, Evidence Collection, and for nearly 30 years. his trade in GPR 622: Introduction to Forensic Interpretation of Bitemark Evidence.” PACIFIC SOUTHWEST Odontology, a course through the general prac- Since 2000, at least 24 men have been exon- AIRLINES FLIGHT 1771 tice residency specialty certificate program at erated after being arrested and convicted, based On Dec. 7, 1987, a flight from Los Angeles Ostrow. on bite mark analysis, according to the Innocence to San Francisco was hijacked before He says this type of class is generally the only Project. crashing into a rocky hillside near Paso introduction an American dentist can expect to Bowers has successfully fought two convic- Robles. The plane was estimated to have get to this line of work, which is not a specialty tions in Mississippi that hinged on faulty bite been traveling at around 770 miles per recognized by the American Dental Association. mark analyses. hour upon impact, causing the plane to virtually disintegrate. Forty-three were There are no master’s programs in forensic Sixty-two-year-old Eddie Lee Howard Jr. is killed. Bowers was called to the scene to dentistry offered in the United States, either— currently on death row, convicted of the 1992 assist in the identification of the victims. unlike in other countries such as Australia and rape and stabbing death of an 84-year-old Scotland. woman. Testing indicated the presence of ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT 261 Typically, an American dentist falls into another man’s DNA at the crime scene and On Jan. 31, 2000, an international flight forensic odontology by virtue of being a skilled excluded Howard. But the bite mark analyst— from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Seattle dentist and a vetted consultant. who has since recanted his testimony—was so crashed into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 88 onboard. Very few bodies were “No one sets out to become a forensic convincing with his analysis that Howard was recovered intact, which left authorities odontologist,” Bowers explains. “My advice to convicted and has been behind bars for more with fingerprints, dental records and anyone interested would be to develop a good than two decades. His case is currently being other personal items for identification. practice and then expect that it will take quite reviewed by the Mississippi Supreme Court. (See Bowers served as the crash’s chief awhile to actually get affiliated with the medi- sidebar.) forensic dentist. cal-legal profession to start doing actual cases.” Another faulty bite mark analysis has left an NICHOLE LEE HENDRIX Bowers says he does 20 to 30 forensic cases indelible mark on Leigh Stubbs’ life. Seventeen-year-old Hendrix phoned her a year. The Mississippi woman was recently freed on parents on Oct. 15, 1998, to say she’d “Probably about 80 percent of my cases bail after serving 11 years of a 44-year sentence be home soon. But she never returned; involve investigating skin injuries and patterns for assault and drug charges, a conviction based the Ventura teen was kidnapped, that occur in assaults, homicides and abuse largely on a problematic bite mark analysis. She’s robbed and stabbed to death. Her body work,” he says. currently awaiting word on whether she’ll be was found six months later in a ditch, requiring Bowers to identify the remains retried in the case, despite the faulty evidence. based on dentition. APPELLATE CASES “It cuts to the core of what is accurate and Perhaps one of the more unexpected areas reliable and what can be said in terms of science EDDIE LEE HOWARD JR. of focus for Bowers is his involvement with the regarding bite mark injuries versus what’s said In 1992, Howard was convicted of raping forensic science reform movement. He has been at trial,” he explains of his work to reform the and stabbing an 84-year-old woman active in fighting convictions his own forensic criminal justice system to use a more skeptical based on bite mark analysis, which was odontological colleagues have helped achieve eye when making convictions based on bite mark contradicted by DNA evidence. This summer, Bowers and the Innocence against individuals based on bite mark analysis. analyses. Project are asking the Mississippi Bowers, who has a legal degree from the With the completion of our interview—a Supreme Court to throw out the bite Ventura College of Law and is a member of brief respite for Bowers whose work by nature mark evidence and grant Howard a new the California Bar, has become active with the will never truly be done—it’s off to the morgue trial. Bowers was successful on a recent Innocence Project—a nonprofit legal and public for the next task. Authorities believe they have wrongful conviction involving another policy organization that seeks to exonerate a 61-year-old Academy Award-winning movie Mississippian, Leigh Stubbs, who may face another trial herself. According to a through DNA testing those wrongfully convicted composer, who had been flying his S-312 Tucano 2013 Associated Press analysis, at least of crimes. MK1 over the Los Padres National Forest when he two dozen of the convicts who have been Bowers aims to curb the use of bitemark lost control and crashed. convicted of rape and murder using bite analysis in court cases, citing its lack of scien- They need a forensic odontologist to weigh mark evidence have been exonerated tific validity. in on his identity. since 2000. Bite mark analysis work includes comparing COVER STORY
The Military
DENTISTSTheir reasons for entering the U.S. Armed Forces after graduating from dental school are many. Some find inspiration in calamitous news events (Sept. 11 attacks, the Great Recession, Hurricane Sandy); others because their parents fought in previous wars. Some hope to beef up their dental skills by working on a military base, others need relief from dental school debt. Whatever their reasons, this issue’s cover story celebrates the women and men who—even past 1973 when the military draft was canceled—have voluntarily chosen to enlist in the armed forces to protect the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Here are some of their stories.
PHOTO BY NATE JENSEN
19 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 DEANNE MARTINEZ NATIVIDAD DDS ’18 U.S. Army–Bound
BY JOHN HOBBS MA ’14
hen it comes to paying for college, Deanne or counseling psychology program. Martinez Natividad is on her own. The student’s duty is to serve in the armed forces Her father Dean, a 56-year-old postal worker, as a military dentist one year for each year they use the and mother Edna, a 63-year-old retired accountant, scholarship. have a policy for their children about higher education: In Natividad’s case, it will mean a four-year WYou need to pay for it yourself. commitment after she completes her degree in 2018. The policy left Natividad no other choice than to “I was concerned about deployment and whether take out loans to fund her bachelor’s degree from the or not I’d have to go to training during school,” Natividad University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in biological sciences. says. As she began applying to dental schools, she was Recruiters helped clear up her concerns, she says, dispirited to find out her dream career would mean explaining that her obligations wouldn’t begin until after taking on a considerable amount of additional debt. commencement and that, if she were deployed, chances The remedy came during a formal presentation are she wouldn’t serve in a combat role. Natividad attended as a member of the premedical After a few months’ consideration and talking to honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta. Natividad would those who’ve already done it, Natividad enlisted. apply for the F. Edward Hébert Armed Forces Health “My parents were very happy,” she says. “They hold Professions Scholarship Program. a lot of respect for people who are in the military.” “We had presentations every month at Alpha Natividad’s proud too. “I love America. I was born Epsilon Delta, so usually the Navy or the Air Force would and raised here,” she says. “I feel that anyone who has come to talk to us,” Natividad explains. “I usually never served in the military has given a part of their life to listened, but, as I was beginning to apply to dental the country and for our freedom, and I respect that schools, I really considered it and realized it would a lot.” make a difference in my life. That’s when I contacted Armed with the military scholarship, Natividad was the recruiter.” able to be more selective when choosing dental school. The scholarship—commonly referred to as the “I probably wouldn’t have been able to go to USC Health Professions Scholarship Program—offers without this scholarship,” she says. But the financial students pursuing an advanced health care degree some freedom gave her the chance to choose USC—a school incredible benefits in exchange for their eventual enlist- she said was not only prestigious but also had a repu- ment in and service to the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, tation for having happy students. U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Navy. The U.S. Marine Corps Now in her second year of dental school, Natividad does not offer a health professions scholarship program has been able to focus exclusively on her studies, thanks because it receives medical services from the U.S. Navy. to the military scholarship. Benefits include a $20,000 sign-on bonus, a $2,000 “My classmates talk about loans all the time, but monthly stipend throughout school and a full-tuition I don’t have to worry about that,” she says. “It means a scholarship to any accredited medical, dental, optom- lot to me that I can start my career on the right foot and etry, veterinary, psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinical not think about debt.”
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 20 COVER STORY
LAWRENCE FUNG ’07, DDS ’11, MBV ’15 U.S. Navy
BY JAMIE WETHERBE MA ’04
awrence Fung joined the U.S. Navy for opment school, which he describes as a USC had taught me and extending that to two reasons. “To build upon the clin- 10-week boot camp for medical personnel the next level,” he says. “I was allowed to ical skills I gained from the school … and was soon off to Okinawa, Japan. practice according to my limits, able to step and to give back,” he says. Fung says the Navy offered a few state- out of my comfort zone on various cases Fung received a full-ride scholarship side options, but he opted to be stationed … as long as it was in conjunction with a Lto USC, thanks to the Health Professions in a far-off location. specialist who oversaw the entire procedure Scholarship Program. “It was a chance to live abroad, and I from literally over my shoulder.” “The military paid for my entire dental didn’t know when I would have that chance After two years in Japan, Fung school education,” he says. “When I was again,” he says. returned to California to finish his service at commissioned, they were offering three- or For Fung, leaving friends and family 29 Palms, a military base near Joshua Tree. four-year scholarships—serve a year, and was difficult, especially “when my move The clinic where Fung landed came they paid for that year in dental school with was not based on my own terms.” But once well-equipped with an oral surgeon, peri- a minimum three-year commitment.” acclimated, he says, “being overseas was odontist, prosthodontist and endodontist. As the first in his family to serve in one of the best experiences of my life.” “Each clinic—whether overseas or the military, Fung says he was “definitely Fung spent two years in Japan treating stateside—have different staffing require- apprehensive” about joining the Navy. “I service members from all branches—not ments, so my arrangement may not have had only known a handful of individuals in just the Navy—as well as their families. been as typical as other clinics,” he explains. my life that had military service, and their Cases ranged from general dentistry to In addition to honing his skills, Fung’s experience due to their occupations— CAD/CAM to restoring implants, under the learning extended into a new admiration for infantry, supply officer, marine—was very guidance of a prosthodontist. those who serve. different from mine,” he says. “They are the “If they needed an implant, they got “The experience was extremely true heroes.” an implant; if they needed braces, they got rewarding and humbling,” he says. “I gained Fung’s four-year tenure started soon braces,” he says of the clinic’s comprehen- a new appreciation for the military and the after he graduated from USC in 2011. sive care. sacrifices service members and family go A month after earning his DDS degree, Fung calls his experience in the clinic through … and for what it takes to preserve he reported to the Navy’s officer devel- “invaluable” in taking the “high clinical skills our way of life.”
21 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 SARA HALE DDS ’05 U.S. Air Force
BY YASMINE PEZESHKPOUR MCM ’17
or as long as Sara Hale can general dentistry residency program remember, the U.S. Air Force has in Washington, D.C. been a part of her life. Following the program, Hale Her hometown of Minot, N.D., is also and her family moved to El Segundo, home to the Minot Air Force Base, which Calif., where Hale began her service, Femploys more than 6,500 people. practicing dentistry at the L.A. Air Many of her classmates had mothers, Force Base. fathers, aunts and uncles that reported to “What was interesting was the military base every day. that we would see patients from Hale herself didn’t have any rela- all branches of the military,” Hale tives in the military—other than her says. husband—but with a background so Alongside four other general steeped in armed service, it wasn’t an dentists, Hale and her team saw unexpected leap for Hale to consider a thousands of patients during her career in the military. three years of service. It was during her first year as a dental “We would treat military from student that Hale, who was pregnant with all branches, including veterans,” her first child at the time, applied for the she explains. “Of course there were Health Professions Scholarship Program. times we had to refer people out “It was 2001; I was married, pregnant for specialty care, but mostly we and starting my first semester of dental would be the primary dentists of school when I realized the implications many military personnel.” and costs of getting a dental degree,” After completion of her four Hale says. years in the U.S. Air Force, Hale decided “I had heard about the Health to take a break from practicing to care for Professions Scholarship Program through her fourth son, Townsend, who had been my husband, who was in the Air Force, born with a heart condition and had to and also from the recruiters who came undergo two open-heart surgeries before to the dental school,” she explains. “So I his first birthday. decided to look into it and apply.” “It was a hard time for my family, but A few months later, Hale learned she the military was extremely supportive.” was about to get a whole new title added Hale says. “When I imagine going through to her name, Lieutenant. She was set to what I went through while working or become a scholarship recipient beginning owning a private practice, I’m not sure I her second year in dental school. would have been able to make it work.” “The scholarship covered my tuition Now with six kids, Hale still manages for the remaining three years of dental to help out at friends’ practices and even school, where I was considered an inac- hopes to return to Ostrow one day as an tive member of the Air Force,” Hale says. educator. By the time she received her DDS in “My education at USC was extremely 2005, Hale was pregnant with her third valuable and something I’m not sure I child, Evelyn. Still determined to continue would have been able to manage without learning, she enrolled in an advanced the help of the Air Force,” Hale says.
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 22 COVER STORY
PHOTO BY LAURA BRAVO MERTZ MATTHEW CHESLER DDS ’04 U.S. Navy
BY JAMIE WETHERBE MA ’04
atthew Chesler entered the Navy as a commis- generals, as well as visiting foreign dignitaries. sioned dental officer during the international “It can be intimidating when [people] come in turmoil of 2004. with all the ribbons, and you know they’re a big deal,” “It was in the middle of Operation Iraqi Freedom he says. “But they were really great patients.” … so it was guaranteed at that time that you were Chesler also treated many soldiers needing a going to deploy,” he says. “And the only reason wide range of treatments, which helped him further MI didn’t go to Iraq was because I got selected for hone his skills. residency.” “You have a big patient population to pull from,” Chesler started his 11-year tenure with a resi- he explains. “You also have a lot of senior [clinicians] dency in general dentistry at Camp Pendleton in there to keep an eye on you, but they’re all about San Diego. He was later stationed at Pearl Harbor letting you get a lot of good clinical experience.” in Hawaii and outside Washington, D.C., where he With everyone working in close quarters, completed a two-year endodontics residency at the Chesler says he got to know his “patient base better, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, before more so than you would in private practice,” which again serving in San Diego. came with “really cool” perks. “I know my experience is very atypical, and “I got to tour the SEAL team headquarters I’ve caught some really big breaks,” he says. “I was in Hawaii,” he says. “And I’ve been on a bunch of fortunate to go to these places and get that training.” different aircraft carriers, ships and subs.” Chesler received a full ride to USC through the Despite his “11 good years,” Chesler’s decided Health Professions Scholarship Program. to leave the Navy so his family could put down roots “They take care of everything: tuition, books, in Southern California. supplies, and you get a little stipend while you’re in Chesler started “shopping for practices” by school,” he says. But as a student, “you really have moonlighting at different offices around San Diego, little to no affiliation with the Navy. You have to check eventually connecting with a ready-to-retire dentist in once a year, but you don’t actively drill, wear a who served 15 years in the Navy Dental Corps. uniform or anything like that.” On June 5—the same day he came off active- Still, Chesler didn’t have any misgivings joining duty—Chesler closed on his practice, San Diego the military. North Endodontics. “It’s different when you come in as a commis- Chesler says his time in the Navy helped him sioned officer,” he explains. “You go through an become a better and faster clinician, without the interview process with other dental officers in the pressure of opening an office right out of school. military, so you’ve got a pretty good idea of what “You’re not trying to start a business without you’re getting into right away.” totally having your skill set ready to go, and it’s a While on duty, Chesler treated some of the great way to give back,” he says. “It was an honor to military’s finest, including Navy SEALs, admirals and treat those guys.”
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 24 COVER STORY
JOSH COHEN ’99, RDH ’02, DDS ’06 U.S. Navy
BY YASMINE PEZESHKPOUR MCM ’17
dental career at sea may be considered unconventional by “After about a year on the USS Denver, we had a haul swap where most occupational standards. we took the ship to Japan then took the USS Juno to return it to San For Josh Cohen, it was more than a career choice; it was his Diego.” desire to serve his country as a dental officer in the U.S. Navy. In San Diego, Cohen was served new orders, supporting the Marine When Cohen was notified that he would be a recipient of the Corp Air Station in Miramar at the First Dental Battalion. During his two Health Professions Scholarship during his time at USC, he realized years of service there, Cohen decided he wanted to get further training Ahis career would take a slightly different path than his peers and in operative dentistry. Upon completion of his service in Miramar, classmates. Cohen was accepted into a two-year program at the University of Iowa “A big reason to apply for the scholarship was obviously to offset that offers students a master’s degree in oral surgery and a certificate the cost of dental school tuition,” Cohen says. “But there was a sense in operative dentistry. of honor that came along with being able to serve my country in the Cohen returned to San Diego in 2013 and ran the branch clinic armed forces. It was 2002, just one year after 9/11 attacks.” at the First Dental Battalion before going on a humanitarian mission, While many branches of the military offer the Health Professions serving on a medical executive committee in Vietnam and the Scholarship, Cohen decided to apply through the U.S. Navy to follow in Philippines last summer. the footsteps of his grandfather who was a Naval veteran. Cohen now serves as the advanced education in general dentistry “I gravitated towards the Navy because of my grandfather’s affil- director at the First Dental Battalion and is general dentistry depart- iation and all the proud stories my dad would tell me about him and ment head for 13 Area Dental Clinic. his experiences,” Cohen says. “I am so grateful for the assistance the military has provided for Upon completion of his DDS degree in 2006, Cohen went on to an my education and career. It has been such an adventure; you work with advanced general dentistry residency through the Navy for one year really phenomenal people from all different walks of life,” Cohen says. in San Diego. Just days after completion of his advanced GPR training, “You get to treat some really amazing and brave people, service Cohen flew to Dubai for his first set of military appointed orders. members, sailors and marines. I love what I do and the camaraderie “When I arrived in Dubai, I boarded the USS Denver to serve as the that comes along with it.” ship’s dentist for the remainder of its tour,” Cohen says.
25 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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Glenn Clark DDS, MS Tomoko Wada DDS Director of Distance Education Programs in Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry Dentistry, Professor and Director of the Section of Diagnostic Sciences Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Program Division of Periodontology Chair of the Section of Diagnostic Sciences Dental Hygiene & Diagnostic Sciences Fellow of the American Board of Oral Medicine American Board of Orofacial Pain Diplomate
Saravanan Ram DDS, MS Parish Sedghizadeh DDS, MS Director of the Oral Medicine Clinic and Assistant Professor of Dentistry Tenure Track Residency Program Director of the USC Center for Biofilms Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry Division of Periodontology Division of Periodontology Dental Hygiene & Diagnostic Sciences Diplomate Dental Hygiene and Diagnostic Sciences American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology American Board of Orofacial Pain Diplomate American Board of Oral Medicine Diplomate
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BY JOHN HOBBS Better MA ’14 TOGETHER Dr. Mark Urata discusses the unique alliance that will define the future for both oral and maxillofacial surgery and plastic surgery at USC.
PHOTO BY NATE JENSEN
27 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 t the end of 2013, Dean Avishai Sadan program, but, as an example, I [recently] heard two announced the creation of a new divi- residents speaking—an oral surgery and plastic sion of oral and maxillofacial surgery surgery resident. They were talking about a patient at Ostrow. that they had taken care of together in which they A The division was to be headed by were moving the jaws. The actual orthognathic Mark Urata ’85, DDS ’89, OMFS ’93, MD ’96, General surgery was much more in the realm of the oral CLOSER LOOK: Surgery ’99, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ’02, surgeons. And in that situation, the oral surgery Craniofacial Surgery ’03—an impressive choice not residents were teaching the plastic surgery residents ORAL AND just for his record-breaking continuous education at how to do that. At the same time, the plastic surgery MAXILLOFACIAL USC (21 years!) but also because Urata was already residents were teaching the oral surgery residents chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive how they could achieve a better aesthetic result in SURGERY Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine. the soft tissue closures. WHAT IT IS: Urata’s appointment positioned the new divi- Oral and maxillofacial surgery sion of oral and maxillofacial surgery uniquely to be IN WHAT OTHER WAYS HAVE THE TWO (OMFS) is used to treat able to merge the best aspects of the two distinct DISCIPLINES WORKED TOGETHER TO GET diseases, injuries and defects in the face, head, jaws, mouth disciplines of plastic and oral and maxillofacial BETTER RESULTS? and neck. surgeries. Both plastic surgeons and oral surgeons take care of Today, an entering student can choose between facial fractures. The plastic surgery residency didn’t OMFS EXAMPLES: a four-year program leading to a specialty certifi- really have as strong of a trauma training as I wanted Impacted teeth removal, cleft cate in oral and maxillofacial surgery or a six-year them to have. On the other hand, the oral surgeons lip and palate treatment, implanting bone-anchored program, which leads to both the specialty certifi- didn’t have the educational background of managing dental restorations, head cate and a medical degree. soft tissues like the plastic surgeons. So we began and neck cosmetic surgery We sat down with the director to discuss how offering a combined craniofacial trauma conference and temporomandibular joint the collaboration is making for better oral and maxil- every month, where the residents of both plastic disorder treatment lofacial surgeons. surgery and oral surgery can present really chal- NUMBER OF U.S. lenging cases, and we can learn both how to better BOARD-CERTIFIED ORAL AND WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL VISION manage the bony issues of fractures and reconstruc- MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEONS: BEHIND THE DIVISION OF ORAL AND tion as well as the soft tissues. In this particular situ- 5,349 (American Board of Oral MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY? ation, 1 plus 1 doesn’t equal 2. It equals 5. and Maxillofacial Surgery) We started with the premise [made famous by USC ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: President Emeritus Steven B. Sample] that we were WHAT TYPE OF STUDENTS DO YOU Ostrow offers two: a 48-month not going to copy our way into success. I wasn’t LOOK FOR? course leading to a certificate interested in looking at what some might have We’re looking for leaders, people who are going in oral and maxillofacial surgery or a 72-month medical considered to have been at the forefront of oral and to fit into our vision of wanting to define the next degree/certificate program. maxillofacial surgery and replicating that. Our oral millennium of what oral and maxillofacial surgery is and maxillofacial surgery division was already a clin- going to look like. So we’re looking for people who are NUMBER IN EACH COHORT: ically outstanding program. I was more interested unique and who want to change and lead. 3 (one on four-year track to in thinking about what is it that we could possibly specialty certificate, two on six-year track to combined create that hadn’t been created yet that could best WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE medical degree, specialty prepare our trainees for the future. DIVISION IN 10, 15 YEARS? certificate) I expect that our division will be thought of as the IN WHAT WAYS IS THE DIVISION best division in oral and maxillofacial surgery and DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PROGRAMS? the best training program for both residents and The collaboration with the Division of Plastic and dental students in the country. I also expect that Reconstructive Surgery [at Keck] allows our oral and I likely will never know when that is achieved and maxillofacial surgery residents unparalleled access that will further give us the sense that we need to to a variety of resources, surgeries and patients that continually evolve and be dynamic in the program they otherwise wouldn’t have. It’s not uncommon to that we’re developing. find our oral surgery residents side by side with our plastic surgery residents, [removing] tumors from WHAT FUELS YOUR FIRE TO PROPEL THE the jaw and then reconstructing that [by] taking bone DIVISION FORWARD? and soft tissue from one part of the body, discon- A large part of it has to do with the pride I have in necting the blood vessels, transferring them to the USC. It’s interesting how strong of a driver that can jaw and plugging those blood vessels back in. be—and that’s certainly true with me. I want this place to be number one. I expect it to be number HOW MUCH OF A ROLE DOES PLASTIC one in the country. I expect us to lead the nation SURGERY PLAY IN THE EDUCATION OF AN in the training of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. ORAL SURGEON? And I do it in part because of my pride in this Plastic surgery is a completely different training university.
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 28 1 2
3 4
1 Extracted third molar donated by patient’s daughter 2 Second stone cast trimmed, including some extent of neighboring teeth to allow seating of extracted tooth 3 Milling of the restoration 4 Natural restoration after milling; note the fine original morphological details
29 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 CEREBRAL DOWNLOAD
By DR. PASCAL MAGNE Don & Sybil Harrington Professor of Esthetic Dentistry
Editor’s note: This article was written with the participation could be generated from a wisdom tooth.4 1. Magne P., Belser of Luis Henrique Schlichting (clinical assistant professor at It tells the compelling story of a mother who had one U. Bonded porcelain restorations in the the School of Dental Medicine of East Carolina University of her severely damaged molars restored thanks to the anterior dentition: a in Greenville, N.C.). “donation” of her daughter’s third molars. biomimetic approach. The 41-year-old woman presented in 2010 and Quintessence, 2002. mentioned that her daughter’s wisdom teeth had recently 2. Bazos P, Magne My main mission during my 25 years of experience as been removed. P. Bio-Emulation: an educator, mentor, researcher and international speaker A classic restorative approach taught in our school biomimetically has been to promote the utmost respect for the structure, would have been to fabricate a CAD/CAM restoration and emulating nature utilizing a histoanatomic function and beauty of natural teeth. have a synthetic block of ceramic or composite resin milled approach; visual Through an approach called biomimetics1 or by the machine to fit into the prepared tooth. However, the synthesis. Int J Esthet Bio-Emulation2, it is possible to meticulously select the patient agreed to have one of her daughter’s tooth used Dent. 2014;9:330-52. most appropriate materials, techniques and equipment to as a “donated organ.” Bazos P, Magne mimic the natural tooth. Those materials able to simulate Therefore, we developed a very precise and custom- P. Bio-emulation: the respective role of enamel and dentin are traditionally ized workflow and used an existing CAD/CAM device, biomimetically emulating nature ceramic- and resin-based synthetic products that are called the Cerec system, to carefully position the donated utilizing a histo- available to most dentists. Even though dental ceramics tooth inside the milling unit. The uniqueness of the work- anatomic approach; and composite resins have been optimized and used flow lies in the fact that only the fitting surface of the tooth structural analysis. Eur J Esthet Dent. “biomimetically” in synergy to function very similarly to was milled, allowing the perfect fitting on the mother’s 2011:;6:8-19. natural teeth through the use of strong dentinoenamel tooth while leaving totally intact the functional surface of adhesives (direct and indirect bonded restorations), the the daughter’s donated tooth part (see images on oppo- 3. Slavkin H. dream of clinicians and researchers has always been to site page). The so-called “natural restoration” was then Biomimetics: replacing body parts is no produce replacement parts with the exact same charac- delivered to the mother’s tooth using well-known adhesive longer science fiction. teristics of the original hard tissues. principles of bonding to enamel and dentin. Am J Dent Assoc This prompted the use of stem cells, with the hope of Unlike synthetic materials, the donated natural tissues 1996;127:1254–1257 being able to generate a “tooth in a Petri dish” that could are expected to exhibit the exact biomechanical and wear 4. Schlichting LH, be used as a replacement part.3 Ironically, such replace- behavior of antagonistic intact teeth. The restoration has Schlichting KK, Stanley ment parts are readily available and have been existing for been serving successfully for more than four years. This K, Magne M, Magne P. An approach to a long time for almost every patient, at least as a substi- report opens a wide range of questions and opportunities biomimetics: the tute for molar teeth. They are called wisdom teeth or third for the use of extracted teeth (from the same patient, from natural CAD/CAM molars. Interestingly, a synonym of the word wisdom is the a family member or a friend)—including not only wisdom restoration: a clinical report. J Prosthet word providence. Could it be, then, that God’s providence teeth but also premolars when removed for orthodontic Dent. 2014;111:107- was manifested through those third molars to be used as reasons. It also shows that the restorative dentist is 15. doi: 10.1016/j. a replacement part for our patients? potentially ready to receive and use the biomimetic teeth prosdent.2013.08.006. Recently, our group, led by Dr. Luis Henrique produced in vitro, when available. Meanwhile, wisdom Epub 2013 Schlichting (then a Brazilian visiting researcher at Ostrow, teeth constitute a free manna, God’s providence, in fact. now an assistant clinical professor at East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.) published a proof of concept Read more about Dr. Magne’s work at that a natural restoration made of real enamel and dentin tinyurl.com/magnecerebraldownload homecoming NOV SAVE THE DATE 6&7
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Stay for the ^ Class Reunions weekend! For class years ending in ’-5 and ’-0 Make reservations and Casino Night for all alumni for your room at the Sheraton now The newly remodeled Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel
tinyurl.com/uscdentistryalumni SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7^ FOR MORE INFORMATION Dental School Homecoming Picnic dentistry.usc.edu/alumni before the USC vs. Arizona football game (213) 740-0428 USC Campus Invites in the mail in August!
31 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 The following are gifts given in MEMORIALS & TRIBUTES honor of or tribute to individuals who have made a lasting impact IN HONOR OF IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF DR. AND MRS. NADINE COHEN DR. CHARLIE GOLDSTEIN DR. NEILL KOHLHASE on the community HOWARD AND LYNNE Dr. and Mrs. Richard and Dr. and Mrs. Oscar and Farmers National Company of the Herman LANDESMAN’S GOLDEN Judy Kahn Patrice Valenzuela WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Dr. and Mrs. Sanford and Ostrow School IN MEMORY OF Dr. and Mrs. Roy and Regina Estelle Katz of Dentistry IN MEMORY OF DR. GREGORY MOOSER Yanase of USC: GLORIA GREEN Dr. John U. Choi IN MEMORY OF Dr. and Mrs. Leon Unterman IN HONOR OF DR. HARVEY COLMAN IN MEMORY OF DR. MICHAEL MELNICK Dr. Dean Miller IN MEMORY OF DR. WILLIAM G. MOTLEY Dr. John U. Choi SUSANNAH MERRY AND MRS. WILMA E. IN MEMORY OF HANSON MOTLEY IN HONOR OF DR. DONALD CURNUTTE Mrs. Deborah Friend Wong Ms. Carol E. Martin DR. GEORGE MURRELL’S Dr. M. Marlene Godoy 90TH BIRTHDAY IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF THE DDS Dr. and Mrs. Roy and Regina IN MEMORY OF DR. WILLIAM E. HENDRIX DR. JOHN NASEDKIN CLASS OF 1964 Yanase Dr. Ronald Jay Cooper MICHAEL CUTLER Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Dr. and Mrs. Carl and Dr. Richard N. Gubler Mrs. Stephanie Block Virginia Huntington Charlene Rieder IN HONOR OF THE Ms. Beth Kageyama NEWPORT HARBOR IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF ACADEMY OF DENTISTRY IN MEMORY OF DR. GEORGE J. HIGUÉ DR. LEO POXON DR. DAVID EGGLESTON’S Dr. Stephen Chou DR. CLIFTON O. DUMMETT Ms. Michelle H. Brenner Dr. and Mrs. Ralph and HIKING SCHOLARSHIP Dr. Cynthia Cox Dr. M. Marlene Godoy Sigrid Allman Dr. and Mrs. Scott and Lee Dr. Frank Curry Adishian Dr. Donald Dornan IN MEMORY OF Dr. and Mrs. Robert Dr. James Kenney IN MEMORY OF DR. WILLIAM HOLVE IN MEMORY OF Cavalieri Dr. Stephen M. Parel DR. SONIA EVEREST Dr. David F. Levine DR. DEAN RANKIN Dr. and Mrs. Gary and Dr. Stephen Shepherd Dr. Namrata Singh Mrs. Jean C. Parrille Dr. Dean Miller Susan Harmatz The Dick Schmidt Family Dr. and Mrs. Howard and Lynne Landesman IN HONOR OF IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF Dr. Roger H. Tubbesing DR. AND MRS. DERICK MR. HAROLD EXLER IN MEMORY OF DR. HARRY RUSSELL Drs. Richard and Laura AND YOKO TAGAWA Dr. Maurice Cutler KING HUGHES Dr. Dean Miller Wittenauer Dr. June Kaneoka Dr. and Mrs. Leon Unterman Dr. and Mrs. Wayne Bemis IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF DR. JACK SIBLEY DR. JOHN I. INGLE ALAN ALLMON ELLA FITZGERALD DR. REX INGRAHAM Dr. Dean Miller Ms. Ellie M. Glick Mrs. Patricia M. Okada The Ella Fitzgerald Colonel Charles F. De Freest Mrs. Pearl Glick Charitable Foundation Dr. Fred Hansing IN MEMORY OF Mr. Walter J. Unger Ms. Fran Morris Rosman Dr. Ross M. Peters IN MEMORY OF DR. ROBERT W. Dr. Melvyn Schwarz DR. ROBERT K. AVAKIAN THOMPSON Dr. John Stea Mrs. Barbara M. Taplin IN MEMORY OF WALTER Dr. and Mrs. Wayne Bemis IN HONOR OF Ms. Pamela Strother DR. RICHARD KAHN- “BUZZ” FORWARD HALF CENTURY TROJANS Mrs. Barbara M. Taplin IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF HALL OF FAME IN MEMORY OF DR. ALFRED BAUM DR. HIDEO YAMANE Dr. Roy Chinn DR. RONALD M. Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Allman IN MEMORY OF Dr. Dean Miller Dr. Kenneth C. Ho KAMINISHI Dr. Bradley Baum CLAYTON L. AND Dr. and Mrs. Sanford and Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Dr. Mark Collons JEAN E. FRAKER Estelle Katz Virginia Huntington Dr. Maurice Cutler Dr. Steven D. Fraker Dr. Peter Stone Dr. Abdi Sameni Ms. Judith Flax and Family Mr. Thomas Schumann Dr. and Mrs. Richard and Dr. Andrew A. Vorono Judy Kahn Dr. Lane Ochi
This list reflects gifts given October 2014 through May 2015. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these tributes, an error or omission may occur. Please contact the Office of External Relations at (213) 740-0428 or [email protected] if such an error has occurred.
TRODENT SUMMER 2015 32 INSPIRED BY CARMEN MOLINA
I am an advocate of dental health and dental education for a healthier life.
PHOTO BY NATE JENSEN
Editor’s note: hen I was asked what inspired me to Diabetics are more prone to gum disease. If it’s Carmen Molina become a part of Ostrow, my imme- left untreated, it can lead to bone loss, severe pain and works for Ostrow’s diate answer was “my community.” infection and even premature birth in pregnant women. Community Oral My long-time goal has been to My job is to reinforce oral hygiene and healthy habits Health Programs, make a difference in my community, to our patients, as well as people inside and outside of where she serves and I knew that becoming a part of Ostrow. as a promotora. In that role, Ostrow would help me reach that goal, Proper oral health includes brushing your teeth at Molina functions as both a community member as well as an advocate of least twice a day for at least two minutes, flossing twice a as a liaison Whealth education. day, limiting sugar and adding more fruit and vegetables between dental I serve as a promotora, a professional in the commu- to your diets. I also encourage those in the community to professionals and nity trained to provide basic health education—especially schedule medical and dental visits at least twice a year, the community, about health issues affecting the population. not just when you’re ill or have pain. helping to educate Seeing the lack of education about oral health and One of the most effective choices communities can community dental hygiene—especially for children—inspired me to make is to provide free health education and promote members about educate as many people as possible. dental awareness. I know that I’m able to help save some- the importance of Many children and families in local communities one’s teeth or break someone’s bad habit. Knowing that I oral health. We asked her how her don’t have access to basic dental care. When you have a can save someone’s smile reminds me about the important job inspires her. family that is struggling to pay their rent, they probably role I have in my community as a health promotora. aren’t thinking about their oral health. That is where I I am passionate about helping the community, step in. serving with respect, love and care. Working at Ostrow has helped me provide education I feel the community’s need because I am a part of and information on healthy habits. Through workshops, it. I have always wanted to help transform underserved fliers, distributing toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss, I communities, and the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry am finally able to provide resources and information that has given me that opportunity. people need. They have given me the education, unconditional I see each day as an opportunity to save some- support and, most importantly, the resources needed to one’s smile, which leads to overall health. For instance, transform and help others. a common health condition in local communities is What feeds my soul is knowing that I’m able to impact diabetes. people’s lives and promote healthy habits.
33 TRODENT SUMMER 2015 The best gifts last forever. Do something great for the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC by making a gift through your assets. You can make education more affordable for students, improve facilities or support research that impacts the health and well-being of people in the community. The best part: It costs you nothing during your lifetime.
To learn more, contact the Office of External Relations at (213) 740-0428 to receive an informational gift planning guide. University of Southern California 925 W. 34th Street DEN 202 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Los Angeles, CA 90089 ostrow.usc.edu PAID University of Southern California
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