UNC Adams School of Dentistry Operative Dentistry & Biomaterials Program

It's Dental Assistant Appreciation Week- we're thankful for our DA, Jennifer Taylor, and all she does for our clinic!

Our newest residents have arrived - join us in welcoming the Operative Dentistry Class of 2028! 👇

Please join us in congratulating our 2025 Spurgeon Operative Award winners!

Academy of Operative Dentistry Award: DDS student Jeremy Hawkins (Class of 2025)

American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry: DDS student Lauren Howard (Class of 2025)

DDS student (class of 2028) Abbi Adler received the Sockwell Award in Dental Anatomy for the 2024-25 academic year. The Sockwell Award was established in 1993 by longtime ASOD faculty member in operative dentistry Dr. C. Lee Sockwell. The award recognizes superior achievement in dental anatomy coursework by a D1. This award comes with a stipend of $1,000.

DDS student (class of 2026) Courtney Garneau received the Sturdevant Research Award for the 2024-25 academic year with a monetary award of $2,000 for her to present the results of her research project, “Effect of Ultrasound Application on Biofilm Formation in Glass Ionomer Cements,” at the 2025 International Association for Dental Research (IADR/AADOCR) meeting.

DDS Class of 2028 Graduate Resident Award: Ayesha Abumurad (first-year operative resident)

Wednesday night's dental implants hands on with Straumann and Perio, Pros, and Operative first-years. 👇

Some glimpses of our Thanksgiving Lunch hosted last week! Tasty food, appreciation, and friendship within our Operative family! Our first-year residents, Drs. Abumurad and Basmaeil, received our top-selling textbook, Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, from Dr. Vasconcellos.

Our first year residents at last night's dental implant hands-on with Nobel 👇

A few photos from Monday night...

Congrats to Dr. Bert Vasconcellos for being named Dr. Clifford M. Sturdevant Term Professor in Operative Dentistry! Dr. Vasconcellos is the first faculty member to hold this prestigious professorship.

Dr. Paul Kwon, who graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in 2001, is the Donor to this Professorship Fund, which is managed by the Dental Foundation of North Carolina.

Dr. Cliff Sturdevant joined the UNC School of Dentistry faculty in 1950 and was chairman of the Department of Operative Dentistry from 1959 to 1979. During his full-time faculty career, Dr. Sturdevant made countless contributions to the Department, the School, and the profession. He was actively involved in educating over twenty-five classes of students during his years at UNC. He was personally responsible for the development of a number of new instruments, materials, and techniques. In addition, he was the primary author and editor of the first and second editions of The Art and Science of Operative Dentistry, the leading textbook on operative dentistry worldwide. He was also responsible for initiating a Clinical Research Program in the Department of Operative Dentistry, which has flourished and received national recognition for its contributions to restorative dentistry.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Vasconcellos on this professorship and honor! 👏

Drs. Bitar, Nandwani, and Soares, third-year residents of the graduate program in Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials at UNC Adams School of Dentistry, were awarded the Ann and G. Randolph Babcock Fellowship for the 2024-25 academic year by the Dental Foundation of North Carolina. 👏
The Babcocks contributed generously to a permanent fund held by the Foundation, allowing this award to be granted to outstanding graduate students at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry nominated by the graduate program director. In addition to its formal recognition, this fellowship also provides a monetary award of $5,000 to 10,000. Please join us in congratulating our third-year residents on this well-deserved honor and recognition!

Our newest residents have arrived - join us in welcoming the Operative Dentistry Class of 2027! 👇