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Robert G. Triplett, DDS

Robert G. Triplett
Robert G. Triplett, DDS, PhD

Regents Professor

Contact

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Texas A&M University College of Dentistry
3302 Gaston Avenue
Dallas, TX 75246
gtriplett@tamhsc.edu
Phone: 214.828.8101
Fax: 214.874.4527

Biography

Dr. Triplett trained and served as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps, retiring with the rank of Captain after 21 years of service. He directed the research and training programs with an emphasis on combat casualty care, and served as Chairman of the Dental Department at one of the Navy's flagship hospitals, where he ran the residency training program.

Dr. Triplett is the assistant editor of the only textbook ever written on the topic of war injuries to the head and neck region. He was recruited by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to join their faculty in 1984. In 1991, he was named Chair of the Texas A&M University College of Dentistry Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which subsequently merged with the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Triplett's areas of research interest are in the areas of bone physiology, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, head and neck infection, maxillofacial trauma, dental implants, guided tissue regeneration, and microneurosurgery. 

Dr. Triplett speaks worldwide on guided tissue regeneration techniques, implantology, and treatment of wartime combat casualties. He was instrumental in the creation of the Dr. P. Earle Williams Memorial Lectureship, an annual continuing education platform created in the memory of the first board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Dallas. 

Dr. Triplett is Vice Chair of the Department, Director of Hospital Affairs, and Chair of the Dentistry Department at Baylor University Medical Center. He is the primary liaison between the College and the hospital. In 1998, he was awarded one of the highest honors in the Texas A&M University System when the Board of Regents named him a Regents Professor.

Education and Training

  • Loyola University, DDS in General Dentistry, 1963
  • Navy Post-Graduate Dental School, Resident in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 1970-1971
  • Boston Naval Hospital, Resident in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, 1971-1973
  • Georgetown University , PhD in Physiology and Biophysics, 1982

Professional Certifications

  • Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 1975

Teaching Interests

  • Texas A&M Health Science Center Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX ~ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ~ Regents Professor and Vice Chairman, Director of Hospital Affairs, 2007-present
  • Texas A&M University System HSC, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX ~ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pharmacology ~ Regents Professor and Chairman, Director of Hospital Affairs, 1998-2007
  • Texas A&M University System HSC, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX ~ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pharmacology ~ Professor and Chairman, Director of Hospital Affairs 1996-1998
  • Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas ~ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pharmacology ~ Professor and Chairman, Director of Hospital Affairs, 1991-1996
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX ~ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ~ Professor, Director of Hospital Affairs, 1988-1991
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX ~ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ~ Associate Professor, 1984-1988

Awards, Recognition and Service

  • Laskin Award as Co-Author for Best Scientific Article in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2006
  • Regents Professor Service Award for "a career of exemplary professional contributions to Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, The Texas A&M University System, the people of Texas and beyond", The Texas A&M University System, 1998.
  • Edward C. Hinds Award for Continuing Education in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UTHSC-Houston and the Houston Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 1997
  • Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, 1988.

Representative Publications

  • Balshi TJ, Balshi SF, Jaffin R, Saloma MA, Triplett RG, Parel S.  CT-generated surgical guides and flapless surgery.  Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 23:190-197, 2008.
  • Triplett RG.  Bone augmentation of the maxillary sinus floor with rhBMP-2.  In: Lynch SE, Marx RE, Nevins MR, Wisner-Lynch LA, eds.  Tissue Engineering Applications in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Periodontics.  Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc.  Chicago, IL, 2008, pp186-202.
  • Triplett RG, Schow SR.  Sinus augmentation with bone harvest from ilium.  In Jensen OT, ed.  The Sinus Bone Graft.  2nd ed.  Chicago, IL.  Quintessence Publishing, 2006.
  • King MC, Triplett RG, Rees TD.  Treatment of refractory facial pain diagnosed as atypical trigeminal neuralgia: a case report.  Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry 27:113-120, 2006.
  • Frohberg U, Triplett RG.  Implant surface design and characteristics.  Aesthetische Zahnheilkunde 9(1):32-41, 2006
  • Triplett RG, Schow SR.  Sinus augmentation with bone harvest from ilium.  In Jensen OT, ed.  The Sinus Bone Graft.  2nd ed.  Chicago, IL.  Quintessence Publishing, 2006.
  • Boyne PJ, Lilly LC, Marx RE, Moy PK, Nevins M, Spagnoli DB, Triplett RG.  De novo bone induction by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rmBMP-2) in maxillary sinus floor augmentation.  J Oral Maxillofac Surg 63:1693-1707, 2005.  Received Laskin Award in 2006 as Co-Author for Best Scientific Article in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
  • Mazock JB, Schow SR, Triplett RG.  Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo as a complication associated with osteotome use in the maxillofacial region.  (Submitted for publication).  J Oral Maxillofac Surg
  • Sykaras N, Iacopino AM, Triplett RG, Marker VA.  Effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 on the osseointegration of dental implants: a biomechanics study.  Clinical Oral Investigations 8(4):196-205, 2004
  • Mazock JB, Schow SR, Triplett RG.  Evaluation of ocular changes secondary to blowout fractures.  J Oral Maxillofac Surg 62:1298-1302, 2004
  • Sykaras N, Woody RD, Iacopino AM, Triplett RG, Nunn ME.  Osseointegration of dental implants complexed with rhBMP-2: a comparative histomorphometric and radiographic evaluation.  Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 19(5):667-678, 2004
  • Parel SM, Triplett RG.  Interactive imaging for implant planning, placement, and prosthesis construction.  J Oral Maxillofac Surg 62(9 Suppl 2):41-47, 2004
  • Mazock JB, Schow SR, Triplett RG.  Proximal tibia bone harvest: review of technique, complications and use in maxillofacial surgery.  Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 19:586-593, 2004
  • Parel SM, Triplett RG.  Rescue procedure for the Brånemark Novum Protocol.  Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 19(3):421-425, 2004
  • Mazock JB, Schow SR, Triplett RG.  Posterior iliac crest bone harvest: review of technique, complications and use of an epidural catheter for postoperative pain control.  J Oral Maxillofac Surg 61: 1497-1503, 2003.  Triplett RG, Frohberg U, Sykaras N, Woody RD.  Implant materials, design, and surface topographic: their influences on dental implants.  J Long-Term Eff of Med Implants, 13(6):485-501, 2003.  Triplett RG, Andrews JA, Hallman WW.  Management of peri implantation.  Oral Maxillofacial Surg Clin North Am 15:129-138, 2003.  Parel SM, Ruff SL, Triplett RG, Schow SR.  Bone reduction surgical guide for the Novum implant procedure: technical note.  Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 17(5):715-719, 2002.  Sykaras N, Triplett RG, Nunn ME, Iacopino AM, Opperman LA.  Effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 on bone regeneration and osseointegration of dental implants.  Clin Oral Implants Res 12:339-349, 2001.