The recipients of the Align Technology Research Award 2021 from the America’s (includes Canada, Latin America and South America) were Dr. Edwin Yen and Dr. Sharmila Arjunan. They were awarded $25,000 USD to fund the project to assess the diagnostic accuracy of Near Infra-red Imaging (NIRI) technology of the iTero 5D element digital scanners in detecting interproximal enamel caries in patients starting orthodontic treatment and if it can be used as a non-ionizing triage test in lieu of bitewing radiographs. Sharmila said that It has been a wonderful learning experience to work on this project with mentors, Drs. Edwin Yen and Sandra Tai.
Edwin H.K. Yen D.D.S., Dip.Ortho., Ph.D. Professor, program director for the graduate orthodontics at UBC, has a private practice and is active in community and professional organizations. Dr. Yen received his dental degree from McGill University and his Diploma in Orthodontics and his Ph.D. in Oral Biology from the University of Toronto. Dr. Yen was on faculty for many years at the University of Manitoba where he was Head of the Department of Preventive Dental Science and Director of the Graduate Orthodontic Program. He served as Dean of UBC Dentistry for 13 years, until 2006. He is the Past President of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, the Canadian Association of Orthodontists, Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry, and the Canadian Foundation for the Advancement of Orthodontics. Dr. Yen is also a Member of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and a Fellow of the American College of Dentists. Dr. Yen has lectured extensively throughout North America and internationally. Orthodontics (2013) from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India. I
Sharmila grew up in India and the U.S. She completed her Dental degree (2008) followed by a Masters and worked as a full-time Orthodontic faculty member for 5 years before moving to Canada with her family. She is presently a graduate student at UBC pursuing her second Masters degree in Orthodontics (2020-2023), a whole decade after the first time! Her favorite memory –”I met Chinmay, my husband, at dental school 19 years ago. Starting off as competitors in class to now being parents to our seven-year-old son has been a long and wonderful journey. Presently, he is pursuing his DDS at the University of Michigan. We try to motivate and bring out the best in each other. Fun facts about me – I can speak 6 languages, thanks to all the traveling since childhood. I come from a family of animal lovers and once had 8 dogs at home. Apart from being a graduate student, my son and I spend weekends learning a new activity. We are presently honing our tennis and badminton skills together.”