Faculty at the USC School of Dentistry are at the forefront of innovation and discovery in the biological, translational, molecular, clinical, and developmental sciences.
In past decades, the school's researchers have made major contributions and discoveries that have led to new research methodologies, improved patient care and an expanded understanding of the mechanisms of human development.
Robustly supported by the National Institues of Health and the private sector alike, USC School of Dentistry faculty continue to shape what is thought, what is taught, and what is practiced in the oral health profession.
PRIMARY FACULTY
Yang Chai, Ph.D., D.D.S.
Professor
Chair, Division of Craniofacial Sciences and Therapeutics
Director, USC Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology ychai@usc.edu - website
(323) 442-3480
Winston Chee, D.D.S.
Associate Professor
Ralph W. & Jean L. Bleak Professor of Restorative Dentistry
Interim co-Director, Advanced Program in Prosthodontics wclee@usc.edu
(213) 740-1537
Implant dentistry
Casey Chen, Ph.D., D.D.S.
Associate Professor
Co-Chair, Division of Primary Oral Health Care ccchen@usc.edu
(213) 740-1075
Genetics and genomic comparisons of oral bacteria
George Cho, D.D.S.
Associate Professor
Interim co-Director, Advanced Program in Prosthodontics gccho@usc.edu
(213) 740-1542
Evidence-based restorative dentistry
Glenn Clark, D.D.S.
Professor
Director, Advanced Program in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine gtc@usc.edu
(213) 821-5298
Oral Pain and neurosensory disorders, oral medicine, oral motor disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, computer-based dental education
J. William Costerton, Ph.D.
Professor of Research
Director, Center for Biofilms costerto@usc.edu
(213) 740-2538
Microbial biofilms, wound healing, microbial identification and characterization
Paul Denny, Ph.D.
Professor pdenny@usc.edu
(213) 740-1406
Saliva as a diagnostic fluid, saliva test for caries risk, human salivary proteome
Reyes Enciso, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry renciso@usc.edu
(213) 821-6730
Jane Forrest, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry
Chair, Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Epidemiology jforrest@usc.edu
(213) 740-8669
Integration of evidence-based decision making into dental education, musculoskeletal pain in dental practitioners
Molecular biology of development of lung tissues, intracellular signaling
Pascal Magne, Ph.D., D.M.D.
Associate Professor
Director of Esthetic Dentistry magne@usc.edu
(213) 740-4239
Biomimetic restorative dentistry – adhesive dentistry; finite element analysis using CT-data; fatigue testing of dental restorations; microtensile testing (dentin bonding)
Michael Melnick, Ph.D., D.D.S.
Professor, Development of Genetics mmelnick@usc.edu
(213) 740-1417
Embryonic submandibular salivary gland morphogenesis, systems biology
Cedric Minkin, Ph.D.
Professor cminkin@usc.edu
(213) 740-1410
Bone biology
Holly Moon, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry hollymoo@usc.edu
(213) 740-4352
Clinical dentistry, orthodontics
Janet Moradian-Oldak, Ph.D.
Associate Professor joldak@usc.edu - website
(323) 442-1759
Enamel formation, molecular biology of amelogenin
Roseann Mulligan, D.D.S.
Professor
Associate Dean of Community Health Programs mulligan@usc.edu
(213) 740-1084
Community health, oral health of HIV-infected women, oral health of geriatric patients
Niel Nathason, M.P.H., M.A.
Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry
Assistant Dean of Community Health Programs nathason@usc.edu
(213) 740-1523
Clinical dentistry, community dentistry
Mahvash Navazesh, D.M.D.
Professor
Chair, Division of Diagnostic Sciences
Associate Dean of Student Life and Academic Affairs navazesh@usc.edu
(213) 740-1418
Clinical dental research, saliva as a diagnostic fluid, saliva test for caries risk
Hessam Nowzari, Ph.D., D.D.S.
Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry
Director, Advanced Periodontics nowzari@usc.edu
(213) 740-8081
Clinical dentistry, periodontology, dental implants, viral pathogenesis in periodontitis
Michael Paine, B.Sc., B.D.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director, Graduate Program in Craniofacial Biology paine@usc.edu - website
(323) 442-1728
Enamel matrix protein interaction, cellular uptake of amelogenin and its localization
Saravanan Ram, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry saravanr@usc.edu
(213) 740-3410
Orofacial pain and oral medicine
Sandra Rich, R.D.H., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Associate Professor srich@usc.edu
(213) 740-1093
Ilan Rotstein, D.D.S.
Professor
Chair, Division of Surgical, Therapeutic and Bioengineering Sciences
Associate Dean for Continuing Oral Health Professional Education ilan@usc.edu
(213) 740-6795
Clinical dentistry, Endodontics, dental trauma
Glenn Sameshima, Ph.D., D.D.S.
Associate Professor
Director, Advanced Program in Orthodontics sameshim@usc.edu
(213) 740-1013
Molecular, cellular and genetic approaches to study enamel biomimetics, amelogenin expression, tooth development, drug delivery
Dennis-Duke Yamashita, D.D.S.
Professor of Clinical Dentistry
Director, Advanced Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Co-Chair, Department of Dentistry, LAC and USC Medical Center dyamashi@usc.edu
(323) 226-5051
Clinical dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery
Stephen Yen, D.M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry syen@usc.edu - website
(323) 442-1747
Clinical dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, craniofacial trauma and repair
Homa Zadeh, Ph.D, D.D.S.
Associate Professor zadeh@usc.edu
(213) 740-1415
Human immunology, microbial immunosuppression, clinical research, periodontology
Margarita Zeichner-David, Ph.D.
Research Professor zeichner@usc.edu - website
(323) 442-3167
Tooth morphogenesis, cementogenesis, orthodontic tooth movement and root Resorption, animal models for oral disease, tissue engineering
Yan Zhou, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Research yzhou@usc.edu - website
(323) 442-2573
Determination and expression of amelogenin gene products, embryonic stem cells and neural crest plasticity
ADJUNCT FACULTY
James Mah, Ph.D., D.D.S.
Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry jamesmah@usc.edu
(213) 740-3762
3D craniofacial imaging, computed tomography, orthodontitics
JOINT FACULTY
Pragna Patel, Ph.D.
Professor
Keck School of Medicine pragna@usc.edu - website
(323) 442-2751
Inherited dental anomalies, human genetics, gene expression associated with tooth development
Mark Urata, MD, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Keck School of Medicine
Head, Division of Plastic Surgery
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles murata@chla.usc.edu
(323) 361-4544
Craniofacial development and function, wound repair, maxillofacial surgery
