Dr. Toru Okabe

The Department of Biomaterials Science began in 1982 as a new program called the Dental Materials Science Program, and was given "department status" in 1985.  The original department consisted of two faculty members, three research technicians, and a secretary, with program offices scattered throughout the campus.  The Department of Dental Materials was physically consolidated in 1986, and became the Department of Biomaterials Science in 1992.  In the spring of 2005, the department moved into new offices and laboratory facilities on the first floor of the Sciences Building.  Today, the Department of Biomaterials Science consists of four faculty members, two visiting scientists, two lab coordinators, one administrative coordinator, and one education specialist.

Many changes have taken place in the Department of Biomaterials, but the mission of the department remains the same:

Education: providing a solid base of knowledge in dental materials science to dental, dental hygiene, and graduate students.

Research: striving through scientific investigation to improve existing dental materials and develop new materials.

Service: sharing expertise in dental materials with the public and practicing dentists, and supporting the mission of Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry.