Until 1982, instruction in dental materials was taught by faculty in the Operative Department, however, with the hiring of Dr. Okabe that same year, the curriculum and teaching responsibilities were revised.

The dental materials lecture and lab materials were streamlined and a series of didactic course materials, similar to those used at the Medical College of Georgia, were introduced for both dental and dental hygiene students. The dental materials laboratory course was adapted from a lab course taught at Northwestern University, and the didactic and laboratory courses were later improved to make them more clinically relevant.

In 1991, a graduate program in dental materials was developed, and a master's program in oral biology with a specialty in dental materials was approved. A PhD program was later established in conjunction with the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Faculty in the Department of Biomaterials Science now teach courses in dental materials to first-year dental and dental hygiene students and in removable prosthodontics to second-year dental students, while research continues to be a major focus.

Contact the Department of Biomaterials Science

Dr. Toru Okabe
Regents Professor

214-370-7002
tokabe@bcd.tamhsc.edu