Helena Tapias Perdigon, DDS, MS

Biography

Education and Post graduate training

Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogota)

January 1994 
D.D.S.

University of Minnesota College of Dentistry

May 2007.
M.S., Geriatric Dentistry, Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program

Teaching interests

Currently Dr. Tapias is a Clinical Associate Professor at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. She joined the Restorative Sciences Department on 2008 as an Assistant Professor. She teaches undergraduate students in both, Clinical and Laboratories courses and she teaches Geriatric Dentistry to graduate prosthodontics students.

Since 2012, Dr. Tapias is the creator and coordinator of the Annual Linda C Niessen Geriatric Dentistry Symposium with a vision of provide update training in this field to faculty, students and practicing dental professionals in annual basis. In 2010, she initiated “Give Seniors a Smile”, a program that allow students to be heavily involve in outreach and research initiatives with a positive impact among older adults in Dallas, TX.

Research interests

Dr. Tapias’ research focuses on Geriatric Dentistry. She was the PI of a the project: “Oral Health Status of Independent Older Adults in Texas-Pilot Study” funded by Delta Dental and Co- PI for the project entitled” Oral Health Status of Independent Older Adults in Texas: The Urban and Rural Approach”. Currently, she is the Co-I for the project “Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride on Treatment of Gingivitis in Geriatric Patients”

Selected publications

• Tapias H, Sneiderman E, Opperman L. Oral Health Assessment of independent Elders in Texas. Journal of Special Care in Dentistry. August/September 2019
• Martin J, Boyd L, Tapias Perdigon H, LaSpina L. Oral Health Status of independent Older Adults in Texas: An Observational Study Comparing Urban and Rural Areas. The Journal of Dental Hygiene. Vol 91; No 5. October 2017. 

Awards and honors

•  April 1, 2015 Third Place Award. 42^ndAnnual Research Scholars Day. Obtained by Mari Carmen Ramirez (4^th year Dental Student) mentored by Dr. Helena Tapias
• 7, 2014 First Place Poster Presentation: Texas Oral Health Annual Summit. Obtained by Dr. Helena Tapias Perdigon
• 3, 2014 Recognition Award: Excellence in Leadership- NTHDA
• 14, 2014 Certificate of Recognition. Outstanding Community Service-Notre Dame Court & Notre Dame Place.
• April 2014 Award Recognition. ADEA: Leadership and dedicated service as a Chair of the ADEA Section on Gerontology and Geriatrics Education.
• 2014 Certificate of Appreciation, Health Science Center Texas A&M University College of Dentistry- 5 years of outstanding dedication and service.
• 2010- 2010 Colgate-Palmolive/ Hispanic Dental Association- National Faculty Teaching Recognition Award.

Professional Memberships

•  American Dental Association 2010- Present
• Texas Dental Association 2010- Present
• Dallas County dental Society 2010- Present
• IADR & D-AADR 2010- Present
• International Geriatric Oral Research Group (GORG) 2010- Present
• North Texas Hispanic Dental Association 2008-Present (Board Member)  
• Houston Hispanic Dental Association 2005- 2008
• American Dental Education Association 2005- Present
• Special Care Dentistry Association 2000- Present
• Texas Oral Health Coalition 2003- Present
• Texas Oral Health Coalition 2013-Present (Elder Dental Care Special Committee)

Invited Lectures/Presentations

• Oral Presentation. Texas A&M University COD Faculty Development & Calibration: “Geriatric Dentistry: Comprehensive Assessment of the Geriatric Dental Patient”. May 24, 2018.
• Oral presentation at the 2012 Southwest Dental Conference. Women’s Forum:    “Geriatric Dentistry”. Thursday, January 12, 2012.
• Oral presentation at the 2012 Southwest Dental Conference: “Interdisciplinary Management of the Geriatric Patient”. Saturday, January 14, 2012.
• Oral presentation at the 90^thGeneral Session & Exhibition. IADR Latin American Regional Meeting. “Students Self-Assessment of Competence and Knowledge in Geriatric Dentistry- The results from the 3 Dental Schools in Texas”. July 20, 2012. Iguaçu Falls, Brazil.
• Lunch and Learn Session: “Students Self-Assessment of Competence and Knowledge in Geriatric Dentistry” Presented during the Hispanic Dental Association 18^thAnnual Meeting. Chicago, Illinois. Saturday, October 30, 2010.
• Table Clinic Presentation: “Dentistry and the Aging Patient” 2007 Texas Oral Health Summit. Austin, TX. October 19, 2007. 
• Oral presentation at Greater Houston Hispanic Dental Association -Scientific Monthly Meeting. Title: Dental Management of the Geriatric Patient. May 17, 2007.
• Table Clinic Presentation: “Oral Health in Nursing Homes” 2006 Texas Oral Health Coalition Summit. Austin, TX. November 16-17, 2006.
• Oral presentation at the Ombudsman Program- Center on Aging- School of Nursing University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.  Title:  Oral Health and Aging. November 1, 2006.
• Poster Presentation:  D-4 Students Self-Assessment of Competence and Knowledge in Geriatric Dentistry: 88^thGeneral Session & Exhibition -IADR Annual Meeting. Centre Conventions International Barcelona (CCIB) Barcelona, Spain. Thursday, July 15, 2010.
• Poster Presentation: “Collaborative Partnership Approach to Increase Access to Dental Care for Underserved Children in North Texas” 18^thAnnual Hispanic Dental Association Meeting, Chicago, Illinois. October 29, 2010.
• Table Clinic Presentation: “Geriatric Dentistry: Are We Ready Yet?  Star of the South Dental Meeting. Houston, Texas. March 2007.
• Oral presentation at University of Texas at Dental Branch at Houston. Title: The need to include Geriatric Dentistry in our Dental Curriculum. January 2006.