The ADM proudly presents

“Meet the Fellows”

2025 Webinars and Live Q & A 

Tuesday, November 25, 2025
6 am (PST), 3 pm (CET)
REGISTER TODAY!

Monday, December 1, 2025
11 am (PST), 8 pm (CET)
REGISTER TODAY!

Each session to be held on Zoom and will last about an hour and a half.

Bioactive and Antimicrobial Dental Materials

Featuring

Presenter: Adriana P. Manso, Canada

Dr. Adriana Manso is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Division of Restorative Dentistry in the Faculty of Dentistry’s Department of Oral Health Sciences at The University of British Columbia, Canada. She leads the UBC Advancing Multifunctional Dental Biomaterials Research Excellence Cluster, and serves as Chair for the Biomaterials Group in the National Canadian Oral Health Research Network. As clinician-scientist, she seamlessly integrates extensive clinical experience with a strong research portfolio, seeking to transform oral health challenges into meaningful scientific inquiry. Dr. Manso received a DDS from the State University of Londrina, in Brazil, and worked as a full-time dentist for 11 years, where she became well acquainted with clinical challenges and barriers faced by clinicians and patients. Returning to academia, Dr. Manso earned a MSc in Restorative Dentistry and a PhD in Dental Biomaterials, both from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Manso’s years in clinical practice and academia have deepened her understanding of the urgent need for advanced dental materials engineered to inhibit, control, or modulate oral biofilms. Her research has been directed towards innovations in antimicrobial, biocompatible, and bioactive dental biomaterials built on a robust, collaborative and interdisciplinary program. Some recent research work in her lab has demonstrated that photosensitive compounds or nanoparticles loaded into a polymerizable dental resin presents long-lasting antimicrobial properties when associated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). Dr. Manso has directly supervised or co-supervised 30 research trainees from undergraduate to post-doctorate levels. Currently, Dr. Manso serves as Councillor for the International Association for Dental Research; Chair of the Research Committee for the American Academy of Cariology; and as member of Editorial Boards for the Journal of Dental Research, the Scientific Reports, and the Journal of the American Dental Association – Foundational Sciences.

Presentation title: Exploring photodynamic therapy as a sustainable strategy for long-lasting antimicrobial properties in dental materials.

Abstract

Dental materials are continually exposed to a complex oral microbiome, making microbial colonization and biofilm formation major contributors to material degradation, recurrent caries, and treatment failure. Most conventional restorative and adhesive materials lack intrinsic antimicrobial properties, relying instead on mechanical barriers or the temporary release of antimicrobial agents that diminish over time. This limitation underscores the need for sustainable strategies that provide durable protection without fostering resistance or compromising material performance.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) presents a promising solution by harnessing light-activated photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species capable of selectively eliminating oral pathogens. Unlike traditional antimicrobial additives, PDT does not depend on continuous release mechanisms and can be reactivated on demand, promoting long-term efficacy. This presentation explores the principles and mechanisms underlying PDT’s antimicrobial effects and highlights advances in integrating photosensitizers into dental composites, adhesives, and coatings. Emphasis is placed on maintaining biocompatibility, ensuring material stability, and minimizing ecological impact.

 

Presenter: Prof. Abdul Samad Khan, Saudi Arabia

Prof. Abdul Samad Khan is a distinguished academician, clinician, and researcher in Dental Biomaterials at the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. He obtained a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in 1999 from Pakistan, earned his MSc (2005) in Dental Materials with Distinction, and PhD (2009) in Dental Biomaterials from Queen Mary University of London, UK. He had his postdoctoral associateship at the University of Sheffield, UK. Holding fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the UK Higher Education Academy. Prof. Khan teaches Dental Materials and Clinical Restorative Dentistry to both undergraduate and postgraduate students and actively supervises numerous postgraduate research projects. His scholarly work focuses on developing a strategy towards amalgamation of clinical and basic science research. His area of interest is the development of bioactive restorative materials for dental and biomedical applications. He has been providing consultancies to dental and biomedical Industries. Prof. Khan has successfully secured multiple national and international research grants, published extensively in leading journals, presented regularly at scientific conferences, and holds several U.S. patents in dental biomaterials. A Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials and an active member of the IADR Dental Materials Group, Prof. Khan has been consistently listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists (2022–2024) by Stanford University, recognizing his global research impact and academic excellence.

Presentation title: From Passive to Active: Future is Bioactive

Abstract

The field of restorative dentistry has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from the use of passive, inert materials to bioactive systems that interact beneficially with dental tissues. The evolution of restorative materials, with emphasis on the emergence and significance of bioactivity, can enhance clinical performance. Major classes of bioactive materials, including calcium phosphate-based compounds, bioactive glasses, and calcium silicates, were examined in relation to their chemical composition, ion-exchange mechanisms, and biological effects. The incorporation of these materials was found to improve key physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Applications in resin infiltrants, dental composites, adhesive systems, and endodontic materials were evaluated, demonstrating their capacity to promote interfacial stability, inhibit bacterial activity, and stimulate mineral deposition within the tooth–restoration complex. Collectively, these findings highlight the pivotal role of bioactive restorative materials in redefining restorative dentistry from a passive, reparative discipline toward one centered on active biological regeneration and long-term tissue preservation.