Center for Dental Research

The CDR was established in 1999 and seeks to fulfill Loma Linda University’s mission “to make man whole” through the following objectives:

  • Pursue the mission of Loma Linda University and the School of Dentistry.
  • Conduct high quality, funded research in dental, clinical, and the basic sciences.
  • Create an environment conducive to research for faculty and students of the School of Dentistry.
  • Provide education and guidance to faculty and students in the development of dental research expertise.

Meet our team

The Center for Dental Research (CDR) is staffed by a team of highly experienced and respected researchers who provide assistance and support to both faculty and student research.

CDR Research Faculty

  • Yiming Li, DDS, MSD, PhD. Distinguished Professor, Restorative Dentistry (School of Dentistry) and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (School of Medicine)
  • Montry Suprono, DDS, MSD. Associate Professor, Restorative Dentistry; Director, Center for Dental Research
  • Wu Zhang, MD. Professor, Dental Education Services; Director, Research Services, Center for Dental Research
  • Gina D. Roque-Torres, DDS, MSc, PhD. Associate Professor, Dental Educational Services 
  • Zhe Zhong, DDS, PhD. Assistant Professor, Dental Educational Services
  • Abraham Montalvo, DDS, Center for Dental Research


Faculty with CDR Appointment

  • Ahmed Khocht, DDS, MSD. Professor, Periodontics
  • Dwight Rice, DDS. Professor, Oral Diagnosis, Radiology and Pathology
  • Thomas Rogers, DDS, MA. Professor, Dental Educational Services
  • Clyde Roggenkamp, MA, DDS, MSD, MPH. Associate Professor, Division of General Dentistry

Faculty Conducting Research in Departments

  • Aladdin Al-Ardah, BDS, MS. Associate Professor, Restorative Dentistry
  • Leif Bakland, DDS. Distinguished Emeritus Professor, Endodontics
  • Mauricio Gonzalez Balut, DDS, MS, Assistant Professor, Orthodontics
  • Sasiya “Kelly” Bhumpattarachai, DDS, MSD, Assistant Professor, Division of General Dentistry
  • Joseph Caruso, DDS, MS, MPH. Distinguished Professor, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
  • Jung-Wei Chen, DDS, MS, PhD. Professor; Director, Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry
  • Eun-Hwi Cho, DDS. Associate Professor, Dental Education Services
  • Priscilla Choi (Eun-Joo), DDS, Associate Professor, General Dentistry
  • Amelia David, BDS, MS, Assistant Professor, Periodontics
  • Sofia Fitzpatrick, DDS, General Dentistry
  • Debra Friesen, MS, RDH, Assistant Professor, Dental Hygiene, Director, Student Affairs and Admissions
  • Charles Goodacre, DDS, MSD. Distinguished Professor, Restorative Dentistry
  • Richard Gray, DDS, Assistant Professor, Endodontics
  • Alan Herford, DDS, MD. Professor and Chair, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Balsam Jekki, BDS, Associate Professor, General Dentistry 
  • Rami Jekki, DDS. Assistant Professor, Division of General Dentistry
  • Joseph Kan, DDS, MS. Professor, Implant Dentistry
  • Shivani Karre, BDS, MS, Associate Professor, General Dentistry 
  • Mathew Kattadiyil, BDS, MDS, MS. Professor, Restorative Dentistry
  • Jessica Kim, DDS. Assistant Professor, Division of General Dentistry
  • Soh Yeun Eileen Kim, DDS, Associate Professor, General Dentistry
  • Yoon Kim, DDS, MS Professor, Chair, Periodontics
  • So Ran Kwon, DDS, MS, PhD, MS, Professor, Division of General Dentistry
  • Scott Lee, DDS, MS, Assistant Professor, Periodontics
  • V. Leroy Leggitt, DDS, MS, PhD. Professor and Chair, Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
  • Sunee Limmeechokchai, DDS, MSD, Associate Professor, Division of General Dentistry
  • Jaime Lozada, DDS. Professor; Director, Advanced Education Program in Implant Dentistry
  • Marina Luna, DMD, Assistant Professor, General Dentistry
  • Carlos Moretta, DDS, Assistant Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Houda Naayem, DDS, General Dentistry 
  • Samah Omar, DDS. Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry
  • Udochukwu Oyoyo, MPH. Assistant Professor, Dental Education Services
  • Susan Roche, Associate Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Clyde Roggenkamp, DDC, MSD, Associate Professor, Division of General Dentistry
  • Nima Sarmast, DDS, MS, MPH, MSD, Associate Professor, Periodontics 
  • Adam Shafik, DDS, Assistant Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Tory Silvestrin, DDS, MSD, MSHPE. Professor, Endodontics
  • Jambi Suhair, BDS, MSc, Associate Professor, Endodontics
  • Chi Viet, DDS, PhD, MD. Associate Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • John Won, DDS, MS. Associate Professor, Division of General Dentistry


Adjunct Faculty

  • Sean Lee, DDS. Adjunct Professor, Restorative Dentistry
  • Mahmoud Torabinejad, DMD, MSD, PhD. Adjunct Professor, Endodontics
  • Rodrigo Viecilli, DDS, PhD. Adjunct Associate Professor, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics


Research Associates

  • Erben Bayeta, MS