Your name, program, dissertation title.

Mylinh Duong, Graduate Periodontics Program, Evaluation of Healing at Molar Extraction Sites with and without Ridge Preservation: a Three-arm Histologic Analysis

Please tell me about yourself, why did you pick UT Health San Antonio, and your program.

Originally from Vietnam, I moved to Austin, Texas to complete my high school education. I graduated from a seven-year, accelerated dual admission to dental school program as part of UT San Antonio. I sought the periodontics residency with its world-renowned reputation in clinical and didactic training. I’m on track to graduate in May 2019. I look forward to serving as a dental leader in the Texas community alongside my husband and daughter, Grace.

What has been the highlight of graduate school so far? Have you won any awards or have there been any achievements you’ve been proud of?

I’m fortunate to be part of a program open to new concepts and technologies. Our growing use of digital technology in dentistry has been a definite highlight of my training and something I hope to continue with patient care in private practice. As an immigrant family, financial pressure was sure real to us. Fortunately, I got multiple scholarships in college that helped to ease the burden on me and my family. As graduated from dental school, I was inducted as member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon national dental honor society.

Please provide a few sentences summarizing your dissertation. What was the experience like for you?

My research project was designed to evaluate the healing effect of ridge preservation at molar sites and to compare the use of different barriers in ridge preservation. We performed histologic analysis of the bone cores that were harvested at the studied sites to compare the amount of vital bone formation for each treatment group. We found that in carefully selected molar sites, ridge preservation using freeze-dried bone allograft and an absorbable collagen sponge may be a sufficient and economical way to preserve the ridge dimension without interfering with the amount of new bone formation.

Throughout the project, I had encountered multiple challenges but with the help and guidance of my mentor and my committee members, I was able to stay on track and finish it on the timely manner.

Why are you passionate about your research topic? How did you first become interested in it?

To date, there is still no definitive consensus in the literature specific to preparation of molar sites for implant placement. The current practice has high level of variation between clinicians and the treatment choice is often a subjectively based decision. Therefore, I was hoping that my research project would provide some scientific evidence to help dental providers make better judgement and better treatment decision for the patients.

What’s next?

I am looking forward to staying in Texas and working in private practice.

Any advice for your fellow graduate students?

The advice I have for my fellow graduate students is to be passionate about what you do and try to find a good balance between your graduate student’s life and your personal life.