Contributors

August 6, 2010
Michael DiTolla, DDS, FAGD

Dr. Michael DiTolla is a graduate of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, and he is a fellow of the AGD. After working in private practice for 15 years, he became director of clinical education and research at Glidewell, where he gained an intimate knowledge of U.S. dentists’ crown & bridge habits. From 2006 to 2009, Dr. DiTolla led the clinical team at Glidewell that developed and brought BruxZir® Zirconia to market. In 2011, he received the “Most Effective Dentist Educator” award in a nationwide survey of dentists. Four years later, he became the director of clinical affairs at Dentsply Sirona, and in 2017 he was named the vice president of clinical affairs and communications at AEGIS Communications. Dr. DiTolla has given over 1,000 lectures to dentists worldwide, and his online videos have been viewed more than 10 million times by clinicians.

Leendert Boksman, DDS, FADI, FICD
Leendert Boksman

Dr. Len Boksman earned his dental degree from the faculty of dentistry at Western University in Ontario, Canada, in 1972. After practicing in his hometown of Burlington for seven years, he returned to his alma mater as an assistant professor of operative dentistry, and attained tenure as an associate professor shortly thereafter. Recognized by Dentistry Today as one of the continent’s top dental educators for many years, Len authored more than 100 articles, and was the first international editorial board member for REALITY magazine. Having returned to private practice full-time in 1987, Dr. Boksman recently retired, and now volunteers his time teaching at the School of Oral Health Sciences at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Contact him at lenpat28@gmail.com.

James S. Dower Jr., DDS, M.A.
James Dower

Dr. James Dower is an associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. He has been the Director of Local Anesthesia Courses, which includes a year-round curriculum with three rotations in local anesthesia, since 1979. Dr. Dower has presented local anesthesia courses nationally and has published articles internationally. He has a master’s degree in educational and counseling psychology. Contact Dr. Dower at jdower@pacific.edu or 415-929-6538.

Daniel Melker, DDS

Dr. Daniel Melker graduated from the Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry in 1975 with specialty training in periodontics. Since then, he has maintained a private practice in periodontics in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Melker lectures at the University of Florida, UAB and LSU periodontic and prosthodontic graduate programs on the periodontic-restorative relationship. He also presents at the University of Houston and Baylor University. Dr. Melker has published several articles in national dental magazines, as well as The International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry, and has twice been honored with the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Gold Medal. Contact him at 727-725-0100.

Ellis J. Neiburger, DDS
Ellis J. Neiburger, DDS

Dr. Ellis “Skip” Neiburger graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry in 1968, where he did postgraduate work on pulp histology in the department of oral pathology. Dr. Neiburger currently practices general dentistry in Waukegan, Illinois. A former vice president of the American Association of Forensic Dentists, Dr. Neiburger has been the association’s journal editor since 1978. He also was publisher/editor for Dental Computer Newsletter (the journal that introduced computing to the dental field). Contact him at 847-244-0292 or eneiburger@comcast.net.

Gregg Tousignant, CDT
Gregg Tousignant

Gregg Tousignant graduated from George Brown College with a dental technology degree in 1992. Two years later, he earned CDT designation from the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology. He lectures and teaches hands-on courses for the general and cosmetic dentist and at dental and hygiene schools across Canada on tooth whitening, impressioning, temporization, adhesives, and direct anterior and posterior composites. Gregg currently serves as manager of technical support for Clinical Research Dental, where he provides continuing education programs consistent with the company’s philosophy, “Teaching Better Dentistry.” Contact him at gtousignant@clinicalresearchdental.com.