31
Volume1 Issue2
|
I
ssues and
P
eople
CDA:
What isyourultimategoal asa researcher?
RP:
Myprimary focus is to improve theoral healthof all Canadians.
CDA:
What is the focusof your researchwork?
RP:
Iworkon improving thedesignofdental curing lights. I noticed importantdiscrepancies
incuring success ratesboth in the literatureandwhen talking tootherdentists.
Oneof the reasons I decided to focuson light curinganddental curing lights is that it’s some-
thingwecanmeasure. Andwhenyoucanmeasure something, youcanat leastmanage that
particular aspectof theproblem. There isactuallynot a singlepublication that says curing
lightsareworkingaswell as theycouldand should.
CDA:
What are thechallenges ingettingpublic funding fordental andmaterial research?
RP:
It’sverychallenging!Myexperiencehasbeen thatgranting
agenciesbelieve thatmaterial researchhaseither alreadybeen
doneor isbeingdonebymanufacturers. It’salmost impossible to
receive funding todopurematerial science research.
CDA:
What isyour scientificapproach?
RP:
I like to relatemy research toclinical practice. I alwaysgoback to
the samequestions: “How is itgoing to improve the lifeof theclinician
and thepatient?” and “Howwill it improve the restoration’s longevity?”
I lookedathowpeoplemeasurecuring lightsand realized itdoesn’t
relate towhat actuallyhappens in themouth. I thereforeworked
ondeveloping theMARC®Patient Simulator toclosely simulate
whatmightbehappening indental officesandmeasure the
outcome.Myconclusion?Weneed to improve theperfor-
manceofboth thecuring lightsandhow theoperators
use the lights.
DalhousieUniversityprofessorDr.RichardPrice is aworld expert in light curing.He receivedhis
doctorate indentalmaterialsfrom theUniversityofMalmö, Sweden, in2001; hisdoctoral thesis focused
on factors affecting resin–dentinbonds. It isduring the course of his graduate studies thathe recognized
the importance of dental curing lights, andhehas beenworkingon improving light curingoutcomes
ever since.To that end, hedesigned theMARC
PatientSimulator, theMARC
ResinCalibratorand
initiated thedevelopment of checkMARC
device, nowmarketedbyBlueLightAnalytics, aHalifax-
based company.
Dr. Price is also thedriving forcebehinda2-day international symposiumon light sources indentistry,
whichwill behostedatDalhousieUniversityonMay29and30, 2014.CDAmetwithDr. Price to
discuss lifeas a clinician-scientist.
CDAConversations:
DR.RICHARDPRICE
RichardPrice
