About Shivani Karre, BDS, MS

Personal Statement

 

I write this to discuss my work as a prosthodontist and to provide an overview of my career. While I typically do not like to discuss my own accomplishments, I feel it is necessary for the purposes of this application that I provide insight on my career’s achievements and to express my intention to continue engaging in impactful work. However, please note that the below is just a brief sampling of my work in order to provide an overview.

 

As a prosthodontist who specializes in restorative dentistry, implant prosthodontics, and digital dentistry, I have dedicated my career to enhancing patients’ oral function, aesthetics, and overall quality of life, innovative research, and mentorship. My scholarly work has strived to advance equity in oral health care while improving outcomes in dental implantology. By tackling barriers to care, I aim to ensure all patients benefit from dental innovations. At the same time, my research on implant techniques and materials informs best practices in prosthodontics, enhancing restoration longevity, function, and patient satisfaction. My research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Dental Science Research Reviews & Reports, Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, Journal of Advanced Medical Science and Research, and the Journal of Prosthodontics. My research scholarship has been recognized in the broader scientific community as reflected in the invitations to review the work of my peers from prestigious forums such as the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, Journal of Prosthodontics, Cureus, the Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Sciences, and as an Editorial Board member of the Journal of Dental Science Research and Reports, European Society of Medicine, Discoveries in Dental Research Reviews and Reports, and the International Journal of Dental Medicine.

 

As a prosthodontist at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, I lead complex restorative and implant cases, blending advanced prosthetic techniques with digital dentistry to restore function, aesthetics, and patient confidence. I collaborate closely with periodontists, oral surgeons, and other specialists to design comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans, ensuring predictable outcomes and long-lasting results. My hands-on involvement in clinical care allows me to model excellence while directly improving patients’ oral health and quality of life. As an Associate Professor, I mentor and train the next generation of dentists, guiding students through real-world clinical challenges and advanced prosthodontic procedures. I integrate research, technology, and evidence-based practices into my teaching, fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional growth. By shaping both clinical skill and judgment, I prepare students to provide high-quality, compassionate care and to become leaders in the field of prosthodontics. I also contribute to curriculum development, institutional committees, and clinical quality assurance initiatives, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based practices. Through these roles, I aim to prepare future dentists to deliver compassionate, high-quality, patient-centered care while advancing the field of prosthodontics.

 

More specifically, at Loma Linda University, I have contributed in policies and workflows for the fabrication of removable prostheses, including partial dentures, complete dentures, and immediate dentures. These policies provide students with clear, step-by-step guidance on clinical procedures and expected timeframes, ensuring efficient, high-quality patient care. I recognized that removable prosthodontics can be challenging for students due to the complexity of techniques, patient management, and the integration of both traditional and digital methods. By implementing structured workflows and introducing digital technologies, such as digital complete dentures and TRIOS Smile Design, I helped students understand both conventional and modern approaches, improving treatment predictability, patient communication, and engagement. Additionally, I contributed to the authorship of 3D interactive electronic text book on Removable Partial Dentures (RPD). This digital resource allows dental students to simulates the placement and removal of several different RPD designs, supporting the visualization and application of design concepts and fabrication techniques, and understand post placement patient care. These changes not only streamline clinical education but also enhance patient satisfaction and support LLU Health’s mission of providing “whole person” care by improving patient outcomes and educational quality.

 

I am also deeply involved in research initiatives that are shaping the future of prosthodontics. As a member of the Dental Research Committee, I am directly responsible for supervising research teams and ensuring that projects meet the expectations of sponsoring agencies. I review research protocols submitted by graduate students and postdoctoral trainees, providing feedback to strengthen their work. I have also served as an external peer reviewer, supporting students’ professional growth and research skills. In addition, as a member of the Faculty Promotion Committee, I review promotion applications and make recommendations to the Dean, actively mentoring clinical educators and junior faculty by involving them in research projects that help meet promotion requirements. Through these roles, I contribute to advancing both research excellence and faculty development at the School of Dentistry.

 

As a principal investigator and a research mentor, I am leading on the research project which will help to assess and compare the overall anatomical accuracy of AI-designed crowns versus traditional Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) crowns. This study will determine and compare the time and cost to fabricate a single zirconia crown utilizing AI software vs traditional CAD/CAM software and establish a laboratory study that will inform future clinical trials. The outcomes of this research have the potential to significantly influence the adoption of AI in prosthodontics by demonstrating whether AI-enhanced workflows can improve crown design quality, reduce laboratory and chairside time, and lower costs. Ultimately, these findings may lead to more efficient, accessible, and high-quality restorative dental care, supporting the School’s mission to advance evidence-based, patient-centered dentistry.

 

As noted above, I intend on continuing my clinical and research work in order to improve patient care in my field. I believe I possess a unique set of skills that most in the clinical setting cannot provide, which also lends itself to my clinical research that has been widely recognized in the prosthodontics community, underscoring its importance in advancing the scientific rigor of oral care. Specifically, the areas of my proposed endeavor include (1) prosthodontics, (2) dentistry, and (3) other related areas. I have already conducted important research in these areas that has helped to improve treatment outcomes and restorative options for patients with complex oral health needs, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue making further advances.