ISC 2023 – The 26th International Symposium on Ceramics

Wael Att, DDS, Dr med dent, PhD, is professor and chair of the Department of Prosthodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and a professor of prosthodontics at the University of Freiburg School of Dentistry in Germany. He serves as president of the International Academy for Digital Dental Medicine, past president of the Prosthodontics Group of the International Association for Dental Research as well as president of the Arabian Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. Dr Att is a board-certified prosthodontist from the German Society of Prosthodontics and Biomaterials and an active member of multiple professional organizations, including the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.

Private practitioner in Buenos Aires, Argentina dedicated to Oral Rehabilitation and Periodontics. ITI Speaker & Fellow and Study Club Director in Buenos Aires. Study Club Coordinator of Argentina & Uruguay. ITI Section International Speaker in the field of implant dentistry and oral rehabilitation

Markus B. Blatz, DMD, PhD, Dr med dent habil, is a professor of restorative dentistry, the chairman of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, and the Assistant Dean for Digital Innovation and Professional Development at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia, where he founded the Penn Dental Medicine CAD/CAM Ceramic Center. He is an associate editor of Quintessence International and a coauthor of the international bestseller Evolution: Contemporary Protocols for Anterior Single-Tooth Implants (Quintessence Publishing, 2014). Dr Blatz is the recipient of multiple awards and has lectured extensively on dental esthetics, restorative materials, and implant dentistry.

Domenico Cascione obtained his primary education in Bari (Italy), where he was also certified as a Dental Technologist (CDT) in 1985. From 1991 to 2004 he carried out metallurgy research becoming a specialist in dental metallurgy. From 1986 to 2004 he was the owner and director of Dental Laboratory in Bari (Italy). He is a Master Ceramist and also is specialized in metallurgy, implant work and complex esthetic rehabilitation. In 2005 he  holds a Bachelor of Science of the Dental Technology degree from the University of Southerh Illinois. From 2005 to 2008 he was Research Associate and Program Director, Advanced Training for Dental Technology at the Center for Dental Technology, the University Of Southern California Herman Ostrow School Of Dentistry. From 2009  to 2016 was a Clinical Assistant Professor and Course Director for the Advanced Dental Morphology for the Operative Dentistry Program at the University Of Southern California Ostrow School Of Dentistry. He Is a Lead Faculty Department of Restorative Dentistry – Dental Laboratory Technology Program-Division of Health Sciences at Pasadena City College. He is a Faculty/Lecturer UCLA School of Dentistry Division of Advanced Prosthodontics. He is a winner of award 2007 Judson C. Hichey in the research category in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. He is an Editor in Chief of the Spectrum Dialogue magazine. He is the President of OPERART LLC dental laboratory in Santa Monica California. He is author and co-author of several articles in the literature. He is the author of the Book Symbiosis: Art & Technique.

Dr. Gerard Chiche is the Director of the Center for Esthetic and Implant Dentistry at Georgia Regents University, College of Dental Medicine in Augusta, Georgia. In 2009 he became the first recipient of the Thomas P. Hinman Endowed Chair in Restorative Dentistry at his university, sponsored by the Hinman Dental Society. He is a Past President of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. He has authored two textbooks entitled Esthetics of Anterior Fixed Restorations and Smile Design – A guide for Clinicians, Ceramists and Patients.

Stephen J. Chu, DMD, MSD, CDT, MDT, is an adjunct clinical professor at the New York University College of Dentistry in the Departments of Periodontology, Implant Dentistry, and Prosthodontics. He has contributed to over 80 publications, including six textbooks, and has given lectures nationally and internationally on the subjects of esthetic, restorative, and implant dentistry. Dr Chu maintains a private practice limited to fixed prosthodontics, esthetic dentistry, and implant dentistry in New York City.

Dr Clavijo holds a degree in Dentistry from Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil (2002) and obtained the title of Specialist, Master and Doctor in Restorative Dentistry, from UNESP Araraquara (2003–2011). Despite his academic background, his focus is on clinical care. He has followed in the footsteps of his father, who has been a clinician for over 50 years in the city of Indaiatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. He has more than 60 articles published in national and international journals and has authored and co-authored books in the dental field. His work is based on clinical and scientific evidence. Currently, he divides his time between appointments at his clinic, classes, and courses in Brazil and abroad. In addition, he contributes to research in dentistry; he conducts research annually at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, as a visiting professor.

Dr. Florin Cofar co-founded Smilecloud, a smile-design and centralized collaboration platform. He specializes in complex esthetic rehabilitation and minimally invasive procedures. He received his education from Victor Babes University in Timisoara with specialization at NYU University of Dentistry and Harvard Business School.

Lee Culp, CDT, is the CEO of Sculpture Studios, a dental laboratory and research and product development center for new and innovative diagnostic and restorative and digital applied applications to surgical and restorative dentistry. He is a leading resource/inventor for many of the materials, products, and techniques used in dentistry today, holds numerous patents for his ideas and products, and is the recipient of numerous awards. His writing, photography, and teaching have brought him international recognition in the specialties of digital dentistry, dental ceramics, and functional esthetics.

Vincent Fehmer, MDT, received his dental technical education and degree in Stuttgart, Germany, before completing fellowships in Great Britain and the United States in Oral Design–certified dental technical laboratories. After working several years in such a laboratory in Berlin, he received his MDT degree and became the chief dental technician at the Clinic for Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics in Zurich, Switzerland. Since 2015, he has been a dental technician at the Clinic for Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials in Geneva, Switzerland. He also runs his own laboratory in Lausanne. Mr Fehmer is a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology, an active member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED), and a member of the Oral Design group as well as the European Association of Dental Technology (EADT) and the German Society of Esthetic Dentistry (DGÄZ). He is a sought-after international speaker and has received many honors for his work, including the Kenneth Rudd Award from the American Prosthodontic Society. He has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals within the field of fixed prosthodontics and digital dental technology, contributed to many books, and recently coauthored the book Fixed Restorations: A Clinical Guide to the Selection of Materials and Fabrication Technology with Irena Sailer and Bjarni Pjetursson. Mr Fehmer also serves as editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry,  editor-in-chief of Quintessence of Dental Technology, and Section Editor for the International Journal of Prosthodontics.

Mirela Feraru, D.M.D. graduated in 2005 from the Dental Faculty of the Timisoara University, Romania. She was an integral part of the Bichacho Clinic team from 2009 till 2022, focusing on interdisciplinary modalities, she gained in-depth knowledge and experience in all fields of perio-prosthetic esthetic dentistry, concentrating on restorative and perioplastic surgery treatments. As well as publishing internationally, she pursues her passion for sharing her experience and skills with others by lecturing, teaching and mentoring world-wide on complex esthetic restorative treatments and interdisciplinary perio-prosthetic concepts and treatment. She has also authored the bestseller book Dental Visualization, published by Quintessence Publishing in 2018

Dr. German Gallucci received his Doctorate in Dental Medicine (Dr. Med. Dent.) from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He attended a postdoctoral training at the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Occlusion, School of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva where he later became a full-time faculty at the same department. Dr Gallucci also received a Ph.D. from the Free University of Amsterdam.  In 2007, he established a new Postgraduate Education Program in Oral Implantology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He is currently department chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, and also oversees the Harvard Dental Center as its executive director. Dr. Gallucci participates in lectures, seminars, practical courses and table clinics at national and international meetings and symposia. He has authored scientific publications in the field of Fixed Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry and his work has been mostly published in international peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Gallucci serves as an editorial board member for Journal of Dental Research (JDR), Clinical Oral Implants Research (COIR), and International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants (IJOMI). He is a fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI), Switzerland, an active member of the Academy of Osseointegration and the European Academy of Osseointegration.

Dr. Gierthmühlen, graduated and received her DDS from Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany in 2001. She was an Assistant Professor (2001-2006) at the Department of Prosthodontics (Chair Prof. Dr Dr. h.c. J.R. Strub), University, Freiburg, Germany and is a Board certified Prosthodontist (2005) of the German Society of Prosthodontics and Dental Materials (DGPro). From 2006-2009 she was a Visiting Scientist at the Department of Biomaterials & Biomimetics (Chair Prof. Dr. V.P. Thompson), NYU, New York, USA. In 2009 Dr. Guess was appointed Associate Professor at the Department of Prosthodontics, University, Freiburg, where she accomplished the Habilitation in 2011. Since 2016 she is Professor and Chair of the Department of Prosthodontics at the Heinrich-Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Dr Giordani has specialized in maxillofacial and periodontal surgery, and implantology. After graduating from the Universidade Paulista (UNIP), São Paulo, Brazil, he took a fellowship in Belgium, on “Implants and Periodontal Plastic Surgery” with Dr Eric Van Dooren, collaborating with him to the present day. Dr Giordani is treating cases in an interdisciplinary fashion, working with specialists all over the world. He lectures internationally on soft tissue management, periodontology, and implantology in prosthetic treatments. His main focus is treatment for gummy smile, esthetic crown lengthening, root coverage, gingival grafts, and immediate implants. He works closely with the Dentcof team and Ateliê Oral, one of the most successful dental clinics in São Paolo.

Dr. David Guichet is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and a graduate of the Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Implant Dentistry Residency at UCLA School of Dentistry. He completed a Graduate Prosthodontics Residency at the Veterans Administration West Los Angeles and a General Practice Residency at the Veterans Administration Long Beach and received a DDS degree from UCLA School of Dentistry. He is a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists, a Member of the Academy of Osseointegration and a member of the Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontists. Dr. Guichet maintains a private practice limited to prosthodontics, implant dentistry and esthetic rehabilitative dentistry in the city of Orange, California. He previously conducted research and was a faculty member in the Department of Prosthodontics at UCLA School of Dentistry. He frequently lectures on the subject of implant dentistry and esthetic rehabilitative dentistry.

Galip Gürel, DDS, MSc, is the founder and honorary president of the Turkish Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry, a past president of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, and a visiting professor at the New York University, Marseille Dental University, and Istanbul Yeditepe University. He received the 2014 Smigel Prize, which is granted biennially by New York University College of Dentistry to honor the best esthetic dentists in the world. Dr Gürel is the author of The Science and Art of Porcelain Laminate Veneers (Quintessence Publishing, 2003), which has been translated into 12 different languages. He is the editor-in-chief of Quintessence Magazine in Turkey and serves on the editorial boards for several journals.

Dr. Effie Habsha received her Bachelor of Science degree and earned her DDS degree from the University of Toronto. Upon graduation, she completed a one year General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, ON. Dr. Habsha received her Diploma in Prosthodontics and Master of Science degree, both from the University of Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC) and is an examiner and Section Head for the Oral Examination in Prosthodontics for the RCDC. Dr. Habsha is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She has served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and currently instructs both at the undergraduate and graduate level in Prosthodontics at U of T. Dr. Habsha is a Professor at George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology and is the On-staff Prosthodontist at MedCan clinic in Toronto. She holds an appointment as Staff Prosthodontist at Mount Sinai Hospital where she instructs the dental residents and is involved in various clinical research projects. Dr. Habsha is an Associate Fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics and Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics and a Fellow of The Pierre Fauchard Academy and holds memberships in numerous Prosthodontic organizations and societies. She lectures both nationally and internationally on various Prosthodontic topics and maintains a private practice limited to Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry in Toronto.

Hilal is a dental technician who practices in Bodrum/ Turkey. He qualified from Istanbul University in 1999, and gives presentations and courses both nationally and internationally on dental ceramics, implant supported restorations and smile design. You can reach him at “@detailmacro” on Instagram, Hilal Kuday on Facebook and Hilal Kuday YouTube channel.

Kenneth A. Malament, DDS, MScD, is a clinical professor at Tufts University and a course director in the Postgraduate Department of Prosthodontics. He is president of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, a fellow of the American and International College of Prosthodontists, and a member of the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics and the Academy of Osseointegration. Dr Malament is the recipient of several awards in prosthodontics, including the American College of Prosthodontists’ Clinician/Researcher Award, the Daniel F. Gordon Award for Lifetime Achievement and Distinguished Lecturer, and the first Frank V. Celenza Memorial Award from the Northeastern Gnathological Society. He maintains a full-time private practice limited to prosthodontics in Boston, Massachusetts, that includes a dental laboratory with master dental technologists.

Adam J. Mieleszko, CDT graduated in 1997 from New York City Technical College with a degree in Dental Laboratory Technology. In 2000, he received certification in dental ceramics. Since then he has worked in close collaboration with a leading prosthodontists in the field. Interacting with patients on daily bases mastered his skills in dental aesthetic challenges. Adam coauthored books “Fundamentals of Color, Shade Matching and Communication in Esthetic Dentistry” (Quintessence Publishing, 2004, 2011’2nd edition), “Color in Dentistry, Clinical Guide to Predictable Esthetics” (Quintessence Publishing 2017) and contributed to numerous clinical and technical articles in industry journals.

Dr. Ricardo Mitrani, received his DDS degree from the Unitec University of México City; a certificate in Prosthodontics as well as a Master of Science in Dentistry from the University of Washington, where he served as the Graduate Prosthodontics program’s assistant director during the year of 2001.  He currently holds academic affiliations at the University of Washington, and is a resident faculty at SPEAR Education in Scottsdale Arizona. He is a member of several organizations including the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry. He is part of the editorial board of the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry (JERD), The Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry (JCD) and Compendium, as well as the Executive director of Spear Digest. Dr Mitrani has authored numerous scientific publications and chapters in textbooks in the fields of Implant Prosthodontics and Aesthetic dentistry and has given over 600 lectures around the globe, maintaining a private practice limited to Prosthodontics, Implants and Aesthetic dentistry in Mexico City.  

Jacinthe M. Paquette, DDS, is a diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, a fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists, and past president of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and the Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontics. She has authored numerous research and clinical articles and coauthored several textbook chapters. Dr Paquette is co-executive director of the Newport Coast Oral Facial Institute, a nonprofit international teaching facility for dentists and dental technicians located in Newport Beach, California.

Joshua Polansky earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Rutgers University in 2004. While working part- time at a dental laboratory, he took advantage of an opportunity to apprentice with distinguished master technician, Olivier Tric of Oral Design Chicago. Mr. Tric opened Joshua’s eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. He made the decision to become a master dental technician following the path that Tric had forged. He continued to acquire technical skills by studying in Europe with other mentors and experts in the field such as Klaus Muterthies. Joshua earned his Masters degree in dental ceramics at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry under Dr. Edward Mclaren. Joshua Continued his training under Jungo Endo and Hiroaki Okabe at UCLA’s advanced prosthodontics and maxillofacial program working on faculty and residents cases. Joshua currently resides in Cherry Hill, NJ where he is the owner and operator of Niche Dental Studio. Joshua is a key opinion leader for major dental manufacturers such as GC America. Joshua sits on the advisory/editorial board for Inside Dental Technology (IDT), and Inside Dentistry. Joshua has been published throughout the years in many publications such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s JCD, Quintessence’s QDT, and The Journal Of Prosthetic Dentistry (JPD). Joshua holds a steady lecture schedule throughout the United States and abroad teaching others the skills he has acquired from the mentors he has been so fortunate to have had.

Dr. Marta Revilla is Faculty and Director of Research and Digital Dentistry at the Kois Center. Dr. Revilla-León obtained her PhD in Prosthodontics and Digital Dentistry at The Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde (ACTA) University in Amsterdam. She obtained her MSD in prosthodontics at the University of Washington in Seattle and a MS in Esthetic Dentistry at the Complutense University of Madrid. Dr. Revilla-León is specialist in digital dentistry with more than 140 publications in peer-reviewed dental journals in the last 4 years related with facial and intraoral scanning methods, virtual patient integration, digital implant scans with photogrammetry systems, polymer, metal, and ceramic additive manufacturing technologies, development of dental devices with Exocad, 3Shape dental systems, blender and artificial intelligence for dental applications. Prior to this position, Dr. Revilla-León has been the assistant program director in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the Texas A&M University in Dallas. Currently, Dr. Revilla is also Affiliate Faculty in the Graduate in Prosthodontic Program at the University of Washington in Seattle and in the Graduate in Prosthodontic Program at Tufts University in Boston.

Giuseppe Romeo, MDT-CDT, is a distinguished Dental Technician who operates his own practice in Torino, Italy. His educational journey in the field began with earning a degree in the 5th year of Dental Technician training, followed by two years of university study, culminating in a Master's Degree in Dental Technologist Esthetic Prosthodontics. Romeo has expanded his expertise through continuing education, both in Italy and internationally, with work experiences in the United States and Switzerland.

As a speaker both domestically and abroad, he continues to participate in update courses to enhance his skills and knowledge. Romeo has contributed to the dental community as the author of 40 articles published in prestigious Italian and international dentistry magazines. He collaborated with Doctor Domenico Massironi and Mister Romeo Pascetta on the book “Esthetics and Precision. Clinical and technical procedures.”, which was published by Quintessence and translated into eight languages. Additionally, he is a coauthor of “Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry”, a work created alongside Dr. Douglas Terry and Mr. Willi Geller and published by Quintessence. Currently, he is working on two new books set to be published in the near future.

Romeo is an active member of Willi Geller’s Oral Design group, a Fellow Member of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED), a Member of the American Microscope Enhanced Dentistry (AMED), and an Affiliate Member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED). His commitment to academia is evident in his role as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Restorative Science at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Irena Sailer, Prof Dr med dent, is chair of the Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials at the University of Geneva and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. In 2019, she received an Honorary Skou Professorship of digital dental technologies, fixed and implant prosthodontics, and biomaterials at Aarhus University, Denmark. Dr Sailer is editor-in-chief of The International Journal of Prosthodontics and coauthor of over 150 peer-reviewed publications as well as the books Fixed Restorations: A Clinical Guide to the Selection of Materials and Fabrication Technology (Quintessence, 2021) and Color in Dentistry (2017). She holds several patents on esthetic coatings of dental/medical devices and a digital dental splint.

Dr. Sorensen is Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Director of Research for the Graduate Prosthodontics Program at the University of Washington. Previously he was founder and director of Pacific Dental Institute in Portland, Oregon, conducting clinical trials on all-ceramic fixed prosthodontic systems as well as dental materials testing, and CE programs. He had a full-time private prosthodontic practice for 7 years and managing doctor of an implant specialty practice for 3 years. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics.  Prior to that he was The ODA Centennial Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Director, Dental Clinical Research Center at Oregon Health & Sciences University. Dr. Sorensen has published over 80 research articles and chapters as well as over 130 research abstracts. He has given over 150 invited lectures in 31 countries and over 300 lectures courses, hands-on programs and patient-treatment classes.

Dr. Stefanini is a researcher in the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences at Bologna University, Italy and also a dental surgeon in private practice. She graduated from the University of Bologna with a degree in dentistry in 2005. She was awarded a PhD in Medical Sciences in 2016 from the same institution. Dr. Stefanini is an ITI Fellow, has sat on of the Editorial and the Scientific Committees of the Italian Society of Periodontology and continues to be an active member. She was a Visiting Professor at San Raffaele University Milan in 2015-2016 and taught a postgraduate program at the Dental School San Raffaele, University Milan and for the II level International Master at Bologna University in 2017. Dr. Stefanini is an expert in periodontology and has authored several publications in Pubmed, as well as speaking at national and international conferences on periodontology.

Dr. Sulaiman is a clinician and researcher who is passionate about bridging the gap between dental research and clinical application. His research focuses on dental ceramics, adhesion, cements, color and appearance in dentistry, and biomimetics. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, and book chapters. Dr. Sulaiman is a tenured Associate Professor and the Director of the Advanced Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials Research at the Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his clinical certificate in Operative Dentistry. He earned his Ph.D. in dental materials from the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomaterial Sciences from the University of Turku in Finland in collaboration with the Department of Operative Dentistry at UNC.

Douglas A. Terry, DDS, holds positions as an adjunct professor in the department of restorative sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and professor emeritus in the department of conservative dentistry and endodontics at the V.S. Dental College & Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Bangalore, India. He has authored several hundred scientific articles and textbooks, including Restoring with Flowables (Quintessence, 2016), Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry: Material Selection and Technique, Third Edition (2018), and Restoring the Intraradicular Space: Esthetic Post Systems (2021). He has lectured nationally and internationally on various subjects in restorative and esthetic dentistry and is a dental materials clinical research consultant for industry manufacturers. Dr Terry is founder and CEO of the Institute of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry and a member of Oral Design International. He maintains a private practice in Houston, Texas.

Professor Thompson works in the department of Tissue Engineering and Biophotonics at King's College London Dental Institute. Known for his work on adhesion and bonded bridges at the University of Maryland and later for work on ceramic fatigue at New York University, he has published many articles and made numerous presentations on dental biomaterials in the U.S. and internationally. His current research areas include diagnosing dentine caries activity, all-ceramic crown fatigue and fracture, engineering tissue response via scaffold architecture and practice based research (PEARL Network).

Dr. George Tysowsky serves as Head of Global Training & Education, and Senior Vice President of Technology and Professional Relations for Ivoclar, Inc. where he is responsible for Research & Development and Education activities for North American operations. He is as an adjunct faculty member at the SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and Eastman Dental Center at the University of Rochester. He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentistry and the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, which awarded him its Achievement Award. He is also an Honorary Member of the American College of Prosthodontics. He has served as a board member of the Academy of General Dentistry Foundation, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American College of Prosthodontics Foundation, and has also served as the Chairman of the Board for the Oral Health America Foundation. Dr. Tysowsky presently serves on the Deans Councils of Harvard University, AT School of Dentistry, University of Illinois, Chicago and previously at the Univ of Buffalo School of Dentistry and Univ of West Virginia.  He earned a DDS degree from the University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry, and a MPH degree from Minnesota’s School of Public Health.

Dr Van Dooren attended the Katholieke University in Leuven, Belgium, where he received his degree in dentistry in 1982. After graduation, he opened a private practice in periodontics, fixed prosthodontics, and implants in Antwerp, Belgium. He is an active member of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. Dr Van Dooren lectures nationally and internationally mainly on esthetics, implants, and esthetic periodontal surgery.

Dr. Zhang is a Professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences at Penn Dental Medicine. He received his B.S. in Physics from Shanghai Normal University in 1986 and his M.S. in Physics from La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia in 1997. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Monash University, Victoria, Australia in 2002. Dr. Zhang completed his first Research Fellowship in Materials Science and Engineering at Monash University in 2002. For his second research fellowship, which was completed in 2005, Dr. Zhang worked on a joint project among New York University College of Dentistry, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the American Dental Association Foundation. Prior to joining Penn Dental Medicine, Dr. Zhang was on the faculty at New York University College of Dentistry in the Department of Biomaterials and Biomimetics. During his time at NYU, he was recognized for his commitment to excellence in research and teaching, receiving The Kathleen C. Kinnally Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in 2018 and the Outstanding Teaching Award, given by the Faculty Council, in 2015. Dr. Zhang’s main research interests are: (1) Developing functionally graded and nanostructured materials for dental and biomedical devices; (2) Elucidating competing damage modes in all-ceramic restorations under mastication; (3) Characterizing the wear and fatigue behavior of dental materials; and (4) Improving the fracture resistance of veneered prostheses through the reduction of deleterious residual tensile stresses.