UR Medical Center Announces New Dental Institute

The University of Rochester Medical Center today announced the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, a division within the Medical Center and now a fully integrated dental enterprise, representing $8.1 million in research funding and 500 faculty, residents and staff. The new Institute brings together all its dental academic units: Eastman Dental Center, the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Department of Dentistry and the Center for Oral Biology.

To address Rochester’s growing need, the Eastman Institute for Oral Health has begun the following renovations to improve clinical services for the community:

• Adding treatment rooms to Eastman Dental Downtown in Sibley Building – ready by July.
• New Urgent Care Center opening in January at its Elmwood Ave. site to treat 60 patients a day.
• Adding treatment rooms in the General Dentistry and Orthodontic clinics, renovations to the lobby and Periodontics/Prosthodontics area.
• Incorporate new technologies to provide patients the latest in cosmetic, implant and restorative work.

In addition, under the new structure, basic science and clinical researchers will work more closely together to translate scientific discoveries for patients’ benefit, such as improving oral health care in children.

Cyril Meyerowitz, D.D.S, M.S., who has served as director of Eastman Dental Center for the last 10 years, has been appointed director of the new Institute. “By creating one dental enterprise university-wide, we will, for the first time, be able to truly realize our full potential,” he said.

“The organizational changes are designed to put us in an even better position to enhance education and research initiatives in dentistry,” said Mark B. Taubman, M.D., acting CEO for the Medical Center.

Jack Caton, D.D.S., M.S., Periodontics chair and program director will serve as EIOH associate director for Education, while Robert Quivey, Ph.D., director of Center for Oral Biology, will serve as EIOH associate director for Research.

Eastman Institute for Oral Health is a world leader in research and post doctoral education in general and pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery. Patients are seen at sites throughout the community: Elmwood Ave., Eastman Dental Downtown, School #17, Hillside Children’s Center, Monroe Community Hospital, SMILEmobiles, Strong Memorial Hospital and Clinton Crossings.