Advanced Prosthodontics Program Faculty

The Advanced Prosthodontics Program is staffed by a diverse faculty reflective of the complex interdisciplinary nature of modern prosthodontic therapy. Prosthodontic residents have direct access to Program faculty with expertise in all facets of conventional prosthodontics, dental implant prosthodontics, temporomandibular dysfunction, dental occlusion, dental implant surgery, general oral surgery, periodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, radiology, and dental research.

Specialty-level interdisciplinary consultants are readily available for chairside patient evaluations and case reviews in the Advanced Prosthodontics Clinic or any of the specialty clinics in the College of Dentistry.

Program Director

David R. Cagna, D.M.D., M.S.
Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Associate Dean, Postgraduate Affairs
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
Prosthodontic Training: Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, 1993
Academic Responsibilities: prosthodontics, implant dentistry, TMD & MDS research

Program Assistant Director

Gregory J. Paprocki, D.D.S.
Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Co-Director, Head & Neck Cancer Clinic
Fellow, American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics
Prosthodontics Training: Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, 1988
Maxillofacial Prosthetic Training: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 1989
Academic Responsibilities: prosthodontics, maxillofacial prosthetics and MDS research

Head, Occlusion & TMD

William H. McHorris, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Private Practitioner, Memphis, TN
Dental Training: UTHSC College of Dentistry, TN, 1964
Academic Responsibilities: occlusion, TMD & private practice administration

Head, Surgical Prosthodontics

Dennis G. Perala, D.M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Periodontal Training: Oregon Health Sciences Univ., Portland, OR, 1992
Academic Responsibilities: surgical training for all implant, grafting and supportive therapy

Head, Maxillofacial Prosthetics

Head, Dental Laboratory Technology

Cindy Deaton, C.D.T., R.D.A.
Teaching Associate, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Certified Dental Laboratory Technician, National Board Certification, 1986 (Ceramics)
Certified Dental Laboratory Technician, National Board Certification, 1986 (C&B)
Dental Laboratory Training: Tennessee Technology Center of Memphis, TN, 1981
Academic Responsibilities: dental laboratory fabrication & training

Head, Anaplastology

Matt Singer, B.F.A., B.A.
Anaplastologist, Advanced Prosthodontics Program, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Training: New York University, Tisch School of Arts
Training: UTHSC Advanced Prosthodontics Clinic
Academic Responsibilities: extraoral prosthesis fabrication and training

Coordinators, Graduate TMD Clinic

Swati Ahuja, B.D.S., M.D.S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Prosthodontics Training: Univ. of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 2009
Academic Responsibilities: prosthodontics, implant dentistry, TMD & MDS research

Vinay Jain, B.D.S., M.S., M.D.S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Prosthodontics Training: Univ. of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 2010
Academic Responsibilities: prosthodontics, implant dentistry, TMD & MDS research

Clinical Support Faculty/Consultants

Robert L. Brandt, D.D.S., M.S.
Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics Training: U.S. Air Force, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, 1975
Academic Responsibilities: implant dentistry & MDS research

Carl Drago, D.D.S., M.S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Associate Professor, Dept of Rest & Prosthetic Dent, Ohio State Univ, Columbus, OH
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics Training: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, 1981
Academic Responsibilities: implant dentistry, CT radiology & clinical implant research

Joseph J. Massad, D.D.S.
Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Adjunct Assoc Prof, Dept Prosthodontics, Tufts Univ School of Dentistry, Boston, MA
Adjunct Assoc Faculty, Dept Comprehensive Dent, UTHSCSA Dent School, San Antonio, TX
Dental Training: Loyala University School of Dentistry, Maywood IL, 1981
Academic Responsibilities: removable prosthodontics & implant dentistry

Michael K. Savage, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Restorative Dentistry, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Diplomate, Federal Services/American Board of General Dentistry
Active Medical Staff, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis, TN
Advanced Training: AEGD programs (3 years) at Scott AFB, IL, and Lackland AFB, TX
Academic Responsibilities: operative dentistry, implants, orthodontics & endodontics

Carl Schulter, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Private Practitioner, Memphis, TN
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics Training: VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, 1977
Academic Responsibilities: implant dentistry, CT radiology & private practice administration

Jay A. Sober, C.D.T.
Teaching Associate, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Certified Dental Laboratory Technician, National Board Certification, 1994 (RPD)
Academic Responsibilities: dental laboratory fabrication & training

Russell A. Wicks, D.D.S., M.S.
Chair & Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Prosthodontics Training: Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, 1993
Academic Responsibilities: MDS research & teaching clerkship

Darren Williams, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Private Practitioner, Memphis, TN
Diplomate, American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral Surgery Training: St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 1996
Academic Responsibilities: implant dentistry, CT radiology & private practice administration

Program Support Staff

Diana Echols, R.D.A. – Clinical Assistant
Diane Anderson, C.D.A., R.D.A. – Clinical Assistant
Mary Whittingdon, R.D.A. – Clinical Assistant
Tammy Soto, R.D.H. – Dental Hygienist
Myra McGarrity-Randolph, R.D.A. – Front Desk Coordinator
Shawn Rider – Front Desk Coordinator
Nancy Wilson – Department Administrator and Program Coordinator

Consultants, Prosthodontic Research & MDS Program

Christopher Nosrat, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Bioscience Research, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Dental Training: Karolinska Institutet School of Dentistry, Stockholm Sweden, 1994
Research Training: Karolinska Institutet School of Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997
Academic Responsibilities: basic science education & MDS research

Mark Scarbecz, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Bioscience Research, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Research Training: University of Arizona (Sociology), Tucson, AZ, 1991
Academic Responsibilities: statistics and MDS research

Antheunis Versluis, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Bioscience Research, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Director, Biomaterials
Dental Training: University of Nijmegen, Netherlands
Research Training: Eindhoven University of Technology (Mechanical Engineering)
Academic Responsibilities: basic & clinical science and MDS research

Dr. Daranee Versluis-Tantbirojn, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, UTHSC College of Dentistry
Dental Training: Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Research Training: University of Alabama (M.S.) and University of Minnesota (Ph.D.)
Academic Responsibilities: basic & clinical science and MDS research

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