Dr. Toby J. Cheramie, D.D.S. Interim Head, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry & Biomaterials Associate Professor Director of Senior Clinic LSUHSC School of Dentistry Department of Comprehensive Dentistry & Biomaterials Box 137 1100 Florida Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119 Phone: 504-941-8385

The Department of Comprehensive Dentistry and Biomaterials is one of eight clinical science departments at LSUHSC School of Dentistry (LSUSD). The department conducts preclinical and clinical teaching in operative dentistry and biomaterials to students in the freshman, sophomore and junior years. Courses in esthetic dentistry, as well as senior electives in dental photography and effective use of dental assistants, are taught by department members. Biomaterials courses are taught to dental and dental hygiene students as well as graduate students. Offices of the department are located on the third, fifth and sixth floors.

Research interests in the department include developing dental filling materials that inhibit dental decay, improving mechanical and physical properties of existing dental filling materials as well as the clinical evaluation of dental restorative materials. The Biomaterials Laboratory has several laboratories located on sixth, seventh, and eighth floors of the E. E. Jeansonne Clinic Building in the School of Dentistry a total space over 2200 sq.ft. It is equipped with state-of-the-art analytical and testing instruments and supports the research activities of faculty, students and graduate students. Departmental equipment includes scanning electron microscopy, mechanical testing machines, chemical analysis and synthesis equipment, hardness testers and shrinkage measurement devices. Currently four postdoctoral research associates are working in the Biomaterials Laboratory.

Faculty members within the department are active members of the school's Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology. We frequently collaborate on funded projects with other departments within the Health Sciences Center as well with as other institutions. Recruitment of one faculty member, currently in progress, will bring the department size to 11 full-time and 9 part-time faculty members.

Departmental goals are to build a strong clinical, teaching and research department in which all faculty members contribute to the success of the institution and the education of the developing dentist. We are building significant funding from federal, state, private and industrial sources to further basic and applied research. Our greatest goal is to further the success of the Health Sciences Center by gaining national and international recognition for the department and the school.