Massachusetts General Hospital

BiographyDr. Thomas Dodson is recognized for patient-oriented research and as a teacher of evidence-based clinical practice.  His work has played an important role in the management of third molars and has spurred debate on social issues including mandatory seatbelt laws, management of HIV-positive patients, and domestic violence.  He is active in evaluating risks and repair of nerve injury, management of giant cell tumors, and bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ).

A native of rural Oregon, Dr. Dodson attended the University of Oregon before receiving his DMD from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health.  He completed residency training at UCSF, as well as a post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Epidemiology and Dental Public Health.  He previously served on the academic faculties of UCSF and Emory Medical School, and is currently Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at HSDM and Director of the Center for Applied Clinical Investigation.  He is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

A frequent speaker, Dr. Dodson has lectured throughout the US, Europe and Asia.  He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is on the Board of Directors of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation.  He is a two-time recipient of the Daniel M. Laskin Award (2003, 2010) and recipient of the 2009 HSDM Distinguished Senior Faculty Award.

With a deep belief that scientific evidence drives clinical decision making, Dr. Dodson's clinical practice is enhanced and informed by the depth of his research.  His approach to practice is to combine state-of-the-art technology with evidence-based treatment planning to provide the "optimal" experience for the patient: a balance between therapeutic value, cost, convenience, pain, and risk.

Dr. Dodson is author of over 150 scientific publications and chapters.

Research

Dr. Dodson is the director and founder of The Center for Applied Clinical Investigation (CACI), which maintains an aggressive research program designed to provide a clinical complement to basic science research across the oral and maxillofacial surgery domain.  CACI monitors OMS literature worldwide, and works to initiate and support research in emerging and under-studied disciplines. The goal is to expand the literature to promote evidence-based clinical practice and improved outcomes in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Most research questions arise in clinical practice. We observe "what happens" and ask what factors are associated with what happens. The "why" questions are reserved for the laboratory; our investigators concentrate on what occurs and which factors can be manipulated by clinicians.

From these observations we formulate hypothesis-driven research questions and initiate rigorous, sound scientific studies designed to contribute concrete findings and outcomes that promote evidence-based clinical practice. For us, the methodology is as important as the research question, because only through a disciplined analytical process can the investigator support his findings.

The CACI research agenda currently includes in-depth work in the following areas:

• Third molar outcomes
• Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRON)
• Intimate partner violence
• Giant cell bone tumors
• Implant survival.

Publications

View my most recent publications at PubMed

Dodson TB, Kaban LB.Californiamandatory seatbelt law: The effect of recent legislation on motor vehicleaccident-related maxillofacial injuries.J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1988;46:875-80.

Dodson TB.HIV status and the risk of post extraction complications. J Dental Res 1997;76:1644.

Chuang, S-K, Tian L, Wei, L-J, Dodson, TB.Kaplan-Meier analysis of dental implant survival: A strategy for estimatingsurvival with clustered observations. J Dent Res 2001;80:2016-2020.

Perrott DH, Yuen J, Andresen R, Dodson TB. Office-basedAmbulatory Anesthesia: An overview of the clinical practice of oral andmaxillofacial surgeons in the United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2003;61:983-95. Awarded the Daniel M.Laskin Award.

RichardsonD, Dodson TB. Risk of Periodontal Defects After Third Molar Surgery: Anexercise in Evidence-based Clinical Decision-making. Oral Surg Oral Med OralPathol 2005;100:133.

HalpernLR, Dodson TB. A predictive model to identify women with injuries related tointimate partner violence. JADA 2006;137:604-9.Cover story.

Susarla S, KabanLB, Donoff RB, Dodson TB. Does early repair of lingual nerve injuries improvefunctional sensory recovery? J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2007; 65:1070-76.

Dodson TB. A guide for preparing a patient oriented research manuscript. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endodont 2007.

American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons position paperon bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws. J Oral Maxillofac Surg2007;65:369-76.(Co-author; member of AAOMS BRONJ task force).

Dr. Dodson's Harvard Catalyst page

Dr. Thomas Dodson elected to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation (OMSF)

Dr. Thomas Dodson elected to OMS Foundation Board.

Dr. Thomas Dodson elected president of HDAA

Dr. Thomas B. Dodson was elected president of the Harvard Dental Alumni Association.

Dr. Dodson presents Grand Rounds at UCSF

Evidence-based OMS practitioner Dr. Thomas Dodson shows that science--not convention--determines optimal management of wisdom teeth.

Mass General oral and maxillofacial surgeons honored by Omichron Kappa Upsilon

National dental honor society adds Mass General OMF surgeons to officers, members

Dr. Dodson's advice on wisdom teeth featured in Washington Post

To pull or not to pull? Often it's a matter of patient choice. A June 1st Washington Post article by Laura Hambleton shows all the sides of the wisdom tooth extraction dilemma.

Dr. Thomas Dodson promoted to full professor at Harvard

Dodson is first OMS faculty to reach professor rank through academic promotion apart from chair appointment.