Friday, June 2, 2023, 3:30pm – 5:00pm at the School of Dentistry (room G205)

Speaker: Mark A. Latta, DMD, MS '95

New technologies for delivering oral health care are being offered at break-neck speed to dental professionals. However, it is difficult for unbiased evidence to catch up with the marketing that floods the dental space through numerous communication channels—many of which are not well vetted. With digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and advances in dental materials all seeking to find commercial success, it is even more critical that selecting these advances for dental practice be based on both evidence and ethical considerations. This lecture will focus not only the direct effect on patients, but also the overall effects on the dental profession.

1. The participants will gain an understanding of the different levels of evidence supporting the introduction of new materials and devices.
2. The participants will learn how materials and devices are legally introduced to the market via the FDA.
3. The participants will gain insight and context into material and device selection decision making by the presentation of case examples of successes and failures in digital technology, artificial intelligence and dental restorative materials.

Participants will receive 1.5 CE credits.

Mark A. Latta, DMD, MS '95, is Dean Emeritus and Professor of General Dentistry at the Creighton University School of Dentistry, where he served as dean from 2011 to 2021. Prior to being appointed dean, he served as the associate dean for research at Creighton from 1995-2011. He continues to contribute as an individual teacher/scholar with his own research and teaching, and by collaborating internationally in research and teaching.

Following four years in private dental practice Dr. Latta joined the Laboratory Products Division of Dentsply International - now Dentsply/Sirona. He served numerous roles in Research and Development for the company ultimately serving as the Director of R&D. During his industrial career, he contributed to or was responsible for more than 20 new dental product introductions.

He has been awarded more than 120 research grants investigating prosthetic materials, dental restorative materials, dental adhesives, and cements. He has led numerous clinical trials of dental materials. He is a speaker and lecturer of international renown and has published more than 130 manuscripts and 200 abstracts and has presented at numerous state, national and international dental association meetings throughout the world.

Dr. Latta, is a fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, and a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society. He was awarded Faculty of Dentistry status in the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 2022. He has also served as president of the Dental Materials Group of the International Association for Dental Research.