Department of
Operative Dentistry
Graduate Program in Operative Dentistry
University of Iowa College of Dentistry
The Department of Operative Dentistry provides an important role in the College of Dentistry in
establishing the foundational concepts of dentistry to the pre-doctoral dental students in basic
restorative techniques. It also serves an equally important position in providing national
leadership in dental research and advanced restorative technology both in its collective faculty efforts and through its
Graduate Program in Operative Dentistry.
The Department of Operative Dentistry has nine full-time faculty members, all of whom have advanced degrees in dentistry. These
faculty are recognized for their teaching, research and clinical expertise. This is evident in the large number of articles
published in leading journals, the research presentations at national meetings, and in the many continuing education courses given
both nationally and internationally by the faculty. Many of the faculty have served or are serving in leadership roles in
dentistry, both locally and nationally. All of the faculty in the department are active in private patient care and many are
involved with product testing and clinical research.
The department has access to well-equipped laboratories for involvement in most types of dental materials testing. In addition,
there are excellent clinical facilities for the development of clinical techniques and for clinical research. These laboratories
and clinical areas are routinely used by the faculty and the graduate students as well as by a select number of undergraduate
students.
Although the departmental faculty have been involved in many areas of materials research in operative dentistry, they have
been especially recognized for their leadership in the area of composite resins and their contribution to bonding technology
over the past twenty years. Early involvement with these materials and techniques has been beneficial both in clinical experience
and in research studies, and has resulted in many clinical publications. The department has been among the first in the nation
to incorporate resin technology such as bonded cast appliances, posterior esthetic restorations, dentin bonding, and esthetic
courses into its undergraduate and graduate curriculum.
Graduate Program
The Operative Dentistry Graduate Program has been designed to provide each graduate student an opportunity to have a choice of
reaching several professional goals. The first of these is the development and refinement of skills in advanced operative
dentistry techniques with special emphasis on esthetic dentistry. The graduate student will have the opportunity to learn the
latest materials and procedures in bonding technology and integrate them into a sound philosophy of esthetics.
Second, the program provides the opportunity to gain experience in teaching and research in preparation for an academic career
in Operative Dentistry. Courses in education are available for the student as well as student teaching experience. All students
will develop a research protocol, conduct the research, and report the findings in the form of a thesis.
Finally, the program provides the opportunity for clinical case development and preparation for the student interested in board
certification in Operative Dentistry. The Graduate Program requires a minimum of 52 semester hours of study, which
normally will involve two years including summer sessions. Both a master of science degree and a certificate in Operative Dentistry
are awarded upon completion of the course of study. The program involves a research project and thesis. Although certain courses are
required for graduation, the students will have the opportunity to take elective course work directed towards their area of special
interest. Application for the graduate program should be made to Graduate/International Admissions and will be processed through the
Graduate
College of the University of Iowa. The Test of English as
a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all international applicants who are non-native speakers of English. This requirement is
waived for applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree or higher at an accredited university in the U.S., the United Kingdom,
Canada (excluding French Quebec), Africa (English speaking), Australia, or New Zealand. A score of at least 213 (computer),
550 (paper) or 81 (IELTS) will also be
accepted with a minimum composite score of 7 and no single section score under
6. A maximum of three students are accepted into the graduate program each year.
Currently, no stipends are available for graduate students accepted into the
program and all students must be able to financially support themselves for the
time to complete the program. International students must also submit a
financial statement upon acceptance to the University. The deadline for
application is October 1 of the year prior to the anticipated date of starting
the program. The program begins on or about July 1. Tuition and fees may be
found on the
Office of the Registrar
Web pages. Operative Dentistry fees are listed in
Table 7/Graduate College/non-Liberal Arts & Sciences; non-Engineering.
Dr. Deb Cobb
- Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry & Graduate Program Director
- DDS - University of Iowa
- MS (Operative Dentistry) - University of Iowa
- Many educational, research and clinical publications
- Areas of interest:
- Indirect esthetic restorations
- Esthetics
- Clinical research
- Bleaching
Dr. Gerald Denehy
- Professor & Chairman, Operative Dentistry
- DDS, Loma Linda University
- MS (Operative Dentistry), University of Iowa
- National & international continuing education lecturer
- Many research and clinical publications;
co-author, Concise Dental Anatomy & Morphology
- Areas of interest:
Direct bonded restorations;
Dentin bonding systems;
Composite resins;
Esthetics
Dr. Steven Armstrong
- Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry
- DDS - University of Iowa
- Certificate in Operative Dentistry - University of Iowa
- PhD (Oral Science) - University of Iowa
- Many research publications
- Continuing education lecturer
- Areas of interest:
- Dentin Adhesion
Dr. Cathia Bergeron
- Clinical Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry
- DMD - Laval University, Quebec, Canada
- AEGD - Laval University
- MS (Operative Dentistry) - University of Iowa
- Many research publications
- Continuing education lecturer
- Areas of interest:
Direct bonded restorations;
Composite resins;
Dentin bonding system;
Esthetics;
Minimally invasive operative dentistry
Dr. Saulo Geraldeli
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Dows Dental Research & Operative Dentistry
- DDS - University of Mogi das Cruzes
- MS and PhD (Dental Materials) - University of Sao Paulo
- Certificate in Periodontics - EAP Sao Paulo
- Several clinical and research publications
- Continuing education lecturer
- Areas of interest:
Dentin/enamel adhesion
Dr. Sandra Guzman-Armstrong
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Operative Dentistry
- DDS - Javeriana University, Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
- MS (Operative Dentistry) - University of Iowa
- Areas of interest:
Caries risk assessment;
Management of high caries risk patients;
Minimally invasive operative dentistry;
Esthetics;
Chemotherapeutic agents for prevention and treatment
Dr. Marcela Hernandez
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Operative Dentistry
- DDS - Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia
- MS (Operative Dentistry) - University of Iowa
- Areas of interest:
- Esthetics
- Caries progression
- Dental anatomy & clinical relevance
Dr. Justine Kolker
- Assistant Professor of Operative Dentistry
- DDS - University of Iowa
- MS (Operative Dentistry) - University of Iowa
- PhD (Oral Science) - University of Iowa
- Areas of interest:
Oral epidemiology;
Oral health disparities;
Nutritional epidemiology;
Oral cancer;
Dental treatment outcomes
Dr. Satish Khera
- Professor of Operative Dentistry
- BDS - Lucknow University
- DDS, MS (Fixed Prosthodontics), Certificate (Operative Dentistry) - University of Iowa
- International continuing education lecturer;
Many research and clinical publications
Areas of interest:
Stress analysis;
Enamel and dentin/surface characteristics;
Mercury vapor emission analysis;
Restorations
