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Nikita Ruparel, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Dental School
Endodontics
210-567-3396
ruparel@uthscsa.edu

Nikita B. Ruparel, MS, DDS, PhD

Niki Ruparel is an Associate Professor and Director of the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics at UT Health San Antonio. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontists and maintains both, a clinical and a research program at UT Health San Antonio. Her clinical practice includes all aspects of endodontic therapy. Her research program has been funded by foundation and federal grants with research foci on development of peripheral analgesics and role of stem cells in wound healing.

Education

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Appointments

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11/2019 - Present Associate Professor and Advanced Education Director UT Health San Antonio, Endodontics, San Antonio, TX
1/2018 - Present Mentor UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
1/2018 - Present Cross Appointment, Assistant Professor Tenure Tack UT Health San Antonio, Integrated Biomedical Sciences, San Antonio, TX
1/2017 - Present Hospital Appointment Children's Hospital of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, San Antonio, TX
1/2017 - Present Adjunct Associate Professor Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences- South Region, San Antonio, TX

Expertise

Publications

Teaching

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Date Description Institution # Students
1/2018 - Present Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
1/2018 - Present DHDD 5003 Periodontium and Pulp
Title 1: Anatomy and Physiology of Pulp and Periapical Tissues
Title 2: Pathology of Pulp and Periapical Tissues

This freshman course is a combined Periodontics and Endodontics course of the newly developed dental school curriculum. The lectures review normal anatomy and physiology of the dental pulp and periapical tissues in the first lecture and then describe the pathology of these tissues in the second lecture. The lecture integrates cellular, molecular and functional aspects of cells of the pulp-dentin complex including odontoblasts, immune cells, nerve cells and vasculature. 4.5 credit hours.
1/2018 - Present DIPC 6003 Sophomore Pre-Clinical Endodontics Laboratory
Co-Course Director - This preclinical procedure-intensive course meets once a week for 8 weeks during the Fall semester teaches clinical techniques for performing non-surgical root canal treatment (NSRCT) on extracted teeth to sophomore dental students. I am a lab director and teach endodontic access, chemomechanical debridement and obturation techniques to the sophomore class. The goal of this laboratory course is to train and prepare dental students on performing NSRCT on patients in their junior and senior years. 4.0 credit hours.
1/2018 - Present Membership on Supervising Committee UT Health San Antonio
1/2018 - Present Undergraduate Student Supervision UT Health San Antonio
1/2018 - Present Undergraduate Student Supervision
1/2017 - 1/2021 Undergraduate Student Supervision UT Health San Antonio
1/2016 - Present ENDO Surgical Anatomy The University of Texas Health Science Center
Title: Anesthesia and Hemostasis in Endodontic Microsurgery
This a graduate level lecture that teaches Endodontic residents how to best obtain adequate pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative anesthesia for endodontic microsurgical procedures. This lecture also covers all basic science and clinical literature on various hemostatic agents, management of patients with coagulopathies, platelet disorder and other bleeding disorders. Current recommendations for cardiac patients and anesthesia and anticoagulation therapy for patients undergoing dental surgeries are also made. 1.5 credit hours.
1/2016 - Present Pediatric Dentistry II The University of Texas Health Science Center
Title 1: Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of Pulp and Periapical Tissues
This graduate level lecture is aimed at enhancing the existing knowledge of Pediatric residents on the biology of the pulp-dentin complex. I teach residents the immunoregulatory functions of the cells within the pulp-dentin complex, mechanisms of hyperalgesia and allodynia and changes in vasculature and lymphatics following pulpal injury and trauma.
Title 2: Vital Pulp Therapy (VPT)
This is a graduate level lecture that teaches Pediatric residents the conservative approach to preserving the dental pulp. Residents are introduced to newer clinical studies that support this treatment modality in addition to reviewing new clinical protocols, biomaterials and success rates of VPT. All clinical studies are also substantiated with basic science literature to promote evidence-based practice. 2.0 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Current Literature Review The University of Texas Health Science Center
Course Director - This year long course has a literature-intensive curriculum and meet once a month where Endodontic residents are prepared to critically assess scientific literature and discuss 15-20 articles each month selected for them from 5 peer-reviewed journals. Classroom discussions include summarizing articles, presenting critiques and strengths as well as assessing how the current knowledge can be applied to clinical endodontics. Topics here include clinical endodontics, pharmacology, biological principles and extensive preparation towards the written and oral exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). This class also stimulates discussion to identify new research topics for resident research. The course has now incorporated modern data sharing tools such as cloud-based systems and SharePoint for storage and access of course curriculum. 1.0 credit hour.
10/2014 - Present Supervised Teaching The University of Texas Health Science Center
Endodontic residents as part of their program are required to be involved in teaching duties. They engage in teaching the Preclinical Endodontic Laboratory courses (DIPC 6003 and ENDO 6142). I am a lab director and in addition to supervising dental students, also train Endodontic residents how to teach the laboratory course. I train 2-3 Endodontic residents each year and provide feedback on their teaching performance. This group meets once a week. 4.0 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Supervised Teaching The University of Texas Health Science Center
Endodontic residents as part of their program are required to be involved in teaching duties. They engage in teaching the Preclinical Endodontic Laboratory courses (DIPC 6003 and ENDO 6142). I am a lab director and in addition to supervising dental students, also train Endodontic residents how to teach the laboratory course. I train 2-3 Endodontic residents each year and provide feedback on their teaching performance. This group meets once a week. 4.0 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Clinical Endo II The University of Texas Health Science Center
Graduate Clinical Endodontics is a year long clinical course that is geared towards training Endodontic residents in advance clinical endodontic training. Residents are trained in diagnosis, treatment planning using interdisciplinary approaches as well as clinical procedures using contemporary armamentarium such as surgical operating microscope and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Residents complete an average of 300 cases over a 26 month residency program. I teach this course two half days a week. 16 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Clinical Endodontics III The University of Texas Health Science Center
Graduate Clinical Endodontics is a year long clinical course that is geared towards training Endodontic residents in advance clinical endodontic training. Residents are trained in diagnosis, treatment planning using interdisciplinary approaches as well as clinical procedures using contemporary armamentarium such as surgical operating microscope and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Residents complete an average of 300 cases over a 26 month residency program. I teach this course two half days a week. 16 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present ENDO6080 Focused Regenerative Endodontics Research
Co-Course Director - This graduate level course is offered throughout the year and teaches principles and practice of stem cell-based therapies in endodontics. Endodontic residents are introduced to last 2 decades of available literature on Regenerative Endodontics and trained to use this knowledge in the clinic when performing these procedures in children with immature necrotic teeth. 4.0 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Case Presentations III The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - This is a graduate level course that is offered throughout the year once a week and aims at evaluating and providing critical feedback on resident clinical cases. Residents are required to present treated cases performed throughout each week and are provided with critical feedback on their performance. This class is also aimed at preparing residents with oral and case portfolio exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). 4.5 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Case Presentations III The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - This is a graduate level course that is offered throughout the year once a week and aims at evaluating and providing critical feedback on resident clinical cases. Residents are required to present treated cases performed throughout each week and are provided with critical feedback on their performance. This class is also aimed at preparing residents with oral and case portfolio exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). 4.5 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Clinical Endo II The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - Graduate Clinical Endodontics is a year long clinical course that is geared towards training Endodontic residents in advance clinical endodontic training. Residents are trained in diagnosis, treatment planning using interdisciplinary approaches as well as clinical procedures using contemporary armamentarium such as surgical operating microscope and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Residents complete an average of 300 cases over a 26 month residency program. I teach this course two half days a week. 16 credit hours
10/2014 - Present Case Presentations II The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - This is a graduate level course that is offered throughout the year once a week and aims at evaluating and providing critical feedback on resident clinical cases. Residents are required to present treated cases performed throughout each week and are provided with critical feedback on their performance. This class is also aimed at preparing residents with oral and case portfolio exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). 4.5 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Case Presentations I The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - This is a graduate level course that is offered throughout the year once a week and aims at evaluating and providing critical feedback on resident clinical cases. Residents are required to present treated cases performed throughout each week and are provided with critical feedback on their performance. This class is also aimed at preparing residents with oral and case portfolio exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). 4.5 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Case Presentations II The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - This is a graduate level course that is offered throughout the year once a week and aims at evaluating and providing critical feedback on resident clinical cases. Residents are required to present treated cases performed throughout each week and are provided with critical feedback on their performance. This class is also aimed at preparing residents with oral and case portfolio exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). 4.5 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Case Presentations II The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - This is a graduate level course that is offered throughout the year once a week and aims at evaluating and providing critical feedback on resident clinical cases. Residents are required to present treated cases performed throughout each week and are provided with critical feedback on their performance. This class is also aimed at preparing residents with oral and case portfolio exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). 4.5 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Case Presentations I The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-Course Director - This is a graduate level course that is offered throughout the year once a week and aims at evaluating and providing critical feedback on resident clinical cases. Residents are required to present treated cases performed throughout each week and are provided with critical feedback on their performance. This class is also aimed at preparing residents with oral and case portfolio exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). 4.5 credit hours.
10/2014 - Present Current Literature Review The University of Texas Health Science Center
Course Director - This year long course has a literature-intensive curriculum and meet once a month where Endodontic residents are prepared to critically assess scientific literature and discuss 15-20 articles each month selected for them from 5 peer-reviewed journals. Classroom discussions include summarizing articles, presenting critiques and strengths as well as assessing how the current knowledge can be applied to clinical endodontics. Topics here include clinical endodontics, pharmacology, biological principles and extensive preparation towards the written and oral exams for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). This class also stimulates discussion to identify new research topics for resident research. The course has now incorporated modern data sharing tools such as cloud-based systems and SharePoint for storage and access of course curriculum. 1.0 credit hour.
1/2014 - Present Individual Instruction UT Health San Antonio
1/2014 - Present Post Graduate Rotation Supervision University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
1/2014 - Present Clinical Seminar I The University of Texas Health Science Center
This is a clinical correlate class that aims at preparing Endodontic residents in clinical procedures using contemporary tools. Procedures such as non-surgical endodontic treatments, non-surgical endodontic retreatment, surgical endodontics, management of trauma, medically compromised patients, and management of challenging diagnosis are covered. Training in the use of modern technologies such as the surgical operating microscope (SOM), come beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 3D planning and printing of surgical guides are also heavily covered in this course. All procedures are supplemented with data and evidence that support the use of such protocols. This class is also geared towards preparing residents with case portfolio exam for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). Clinical documentation, guidelines for submission and internal deadlines for review process are taught in this class. 2.0 credit hours.
1/2014 - Present Clinical Seminar I The University of Texas Health Science Center
This is a clinical correlate class that aims at preparing Endodontic residents in clinical procedures using contemporary tools. Procedures such as non-surgical endodontic treatments, non-surgical endodontic retreatment, surgical endodontics, management of trauma, medically compromised patients, and management of challenging diagnosis are covered. Training in the use of modern technologies such as the surgical operating microscope (SOM), come beam computed tomography (CBCT) and 3D planning and printing of surgical guides are also heavily covered in this course. All procedures are supplemented with data and evidence that support the use of such protocols. This class is also geared towards preparing residents with case portfolio exam for board certification (Diplomate of The American Board of Endodontists). Clinical documentation, guidelines for submission and internal deadlines for review process are taught in this class. 2.0 credit hours.
1/2014 - Present Clinical Endodontics I The University of Texas Health Science Center
Graduate Clinical Endodontics is a year long clinical course that is geared towards training Endodontic residents in advance clinical endodontic training. Residents are trained in diagnosis, treatment planning using interdisciplinary approaches as well as clinical procedures using contemporary armamentarium such as surgical operating microscope and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Residents complete an average of 300 cases over a 26 month residency program. I teach this course two half days a week. 16 credit hours.
1/2014 - Present ENDO5011 Clinical Endodontics I
Graduate Clinical Endodontics is a year long clinical course that is geared towards training Endodontic residents in advance clinical endodontic training. Residents are trained in diagnosis, treatment planning using interdisciplinary approaches as well as clinical procedures using contemporary armamentarium such as surgical operating microscope and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Residents complete an average of 300 cases over a 26 month residency program. I teach this course two half days a week. 16 credit hours.
1/2014 - Present SELC 8160 Molar Endodontics
This is a selective summer offered to senior dental students prior to beginning their senior year. The course includes performance evaluation of students on 3 extracted molars (maxillary and mandibular). Additionally, students are required to take a written exam to complete the preclinical portion of this course. During their senior year, students are required to complete two molar cases on patients in order to get full credit for this course. The goal of this course is to prepare dental students for moderately challenging molar root canals . 1.0 credit hour.
1/2014 - Present Perio/Pros Seminar I The University of Texas Health Science Center
various specialties such as Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Advanced General Dentistry. Each week, a resident from each specialty is required to prepare and presentation that promotes interdisciplinary discussion on treatment planning. The goal of this class is to encourage specialties to combine expertise when planning to restore a patient?s dentition. Faculty engage in presentation preparation as well as in-class discussion. 1.0 credit hour.
1/2014 - Present Perio/Pros Seminar II The University of Texas Health Science Center
various specialties such as Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Advanced General Dentistry. Each week, a resident from each specialty is required to prepare and presentation that promotes interdisciplinary discussion on treatment planning. The goal of this class is to encourage specialties to combine expertise when planning to restore a patient?s dentition. Faculty engage in presentation preparation as well as in-class discussion. 1.0 credit hour.
1/2014 - Present Case Conferences The University of Texas Health Science Center
various specialties such as Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Advanced General Dentistry. Each week, a resident from each specialty is required to prepare and presentation that promotes interdisciplinary discussion on treatment planning. The goal of this class is to encourage specialties to combine expertise when planning to restore a patient?s dentition. Faculty engage in presentation preparation as well as in-class discussion. 1.0 credit hour.
1/2014 - Present Endodontics Clinic The University of Texas Health Science Center
Undergraduate Clinical Endodontics is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters of each year and is geared towards training junior dental students with their first root canal cases on patients. Students are graded on a novel electronic grading system, FileMaker Pro that is an unbiased assessment of competency progress. Students are assessed on obtaining case history, diagnosis, clinical steps and overall preparedness. Students are given feedback throughout their treatment performance and are helped with all the steps required to successfully complete a root canal case. I teach this course one half day a week. 16 credit hours.

Grants

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