Find me on LinkedIn - Dr Arosha Weerakoon & Insta (@DrArosha_Dentist)
Dr Arosha Weerakoon
Dentist
Researcher
Researcher
I am the Principal and owner of Tewantin Family Dental. You can find me at 2/97 Poinciana Avenue, Tewantin.
Ph: (07) 5449 7167
E: admin@tewantinfamilydental.com
Researcher
Researcher
Researcher
I hold a PhD in dental materials and dentine ageing. My research interests encompass dental materials, dental and bone biology, public health and policy, and the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare and education. I enjoy employing both qualitative and quantitative research methods to advance knowledge and practice.
Educator
Educator
Educator
I am a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator at the School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Leader
Educator
Educator
I hold roles with Colgate as an Advocate for Oral Health and Key Opinion Leader(KOL). I am also a KOL for Kuraray Noritake Dental. I hold honourary fellowships with the Pierre Fouchard Academy and the International College of Dentists.
Publications from my PhD
PhD Thesis
Does dentine mineral change with anatomical location, microscopic site and patient age?
Dentine, Adhesive Interfaces & Physiological Ageing.
Does dentine mineral change with anatomical location, microscopic site and patient age?
Does dentine mineral change with anatomical location, microscopic site and patient age?
How does the mineral in our teeth change as we age?
Effect of dentine site on resin and cement adaptation tested using X-ray and electron microscopy to evaluate bond durability and adhesive interfaces.
Does it matter which white filling materials we use, and where they are located within a tooth?
Coronal dentin differs between young and mature adult humans: A systematic review.
Dynamic dentin: A quantitative microscopic assessment of age and spatial changes to matrix architecture, peritubular dentin, and collagens types I and III.
This paper has been accepted for publication in The Archives of Oral Biology. Watch this space!
Dynamic dentin: A quantitative microscopic assessment of age and spatial changes to matrix architecture, peritubular dentin, and collagens types I and III.
Dynamic dentin: A quantitative microscopic assessment of age and spatial changes to matrix architecture, peritubular dentin, and collagens types I and III.
Dynamic dentin: A quantitative microscopic assessment of age and spatial changes to matrix architecture, peritubular dentin, and collagens types I and III.
This paper is in the process of being published with The Journal of Structural Biology. Watch this space!
More About Me
Academic Qualifications
Academic Qualifications
Academic Qualifications
- 2022: Doctor of Philosophy (UQ).
- 2014: Master of Public Health (UQ)
- 2006: Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (GDP)
- 2003: Bachelor of Dental Science First Class Honours (UQ)
Major Service Roles:
- Australian Dental Association Congress Organising Committee (2025)
- Assistant Secretary for International Dental Ethics & Law Society.
- Treasurer - Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (QLD branch) 2020-21
Awards & Nominations
Academic Qualifications
Academic Qualifications
- 2023: 27th Australian Conference on Microscopy and Microanalysis Bursary.
- 2022 : Australian Dental Association QLD and Bank of Queensland Specialist Dental Excellence Bursary ($5500). BOQ Specialist
- 2019
- Winner of top prize, Vice Chancellor's Award for Pitch It Clever Competition hosted by Universities Australia.
- Best Oral Presentation Award at Light Microscopy Australia Conference 2019.
- Brisbane City Council's Lord Mayor's Convention Trailblazer Grant.
- 2018: Runner-up 3 Minute Thesis Competition at IADR/PER London, England.
- 2015: Nominated for Emerging Young Lecturer Award Competition
- 2003: Finalist IADR/Unilever Hatton Pre-Doctoral Research Award 2003
- 2002-03: Bede Hintz Endodontic Scholarship
- 2002: Pierre Fauchard Academy Undergraduate Award of Merit for outstanding academic achievement
- 2002: Colgate Pre-doctoral Research Award
Memberships
Academic Qualifications
- 2002- : International Association of Dental Research
- 2003- : Australian Dental Association
- 2006- : Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
- 2014 - : International Dental Ethics and Law Society
- 2015- : International Association for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- 2015- : Academy of Dental Materials
- 2017-: Australian Science Communicators
- 2018-: Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Society
Employment History
- 2023-: Dentist & Practice Owner at Tewantin Family Dental.
- 2023-: Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator at the University of Queensland.
- 2023- Deputy Chair, Country to Coast, Queensland.
- 2021-22: Private Dentist at Noosa Family Dental
- 2007 - 2021: Private Dentist at Cooroy Dental Surgery
- 2018-23 Lecturer (hon), School of Dentistry, UQ.
- 2017 - Learning Designer, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UQ.
- 2014-15: Associate Lecturer & Lecturer in Epidemiology and Professional Practice, School of Dentistry, UQ.
- 2003-07: Dental Officer, Queensland Health, Sunshine Coast District.
Recent Peer-reviewed Research Publications
Recent Peer-reviewed Research Publications
- Weerakoon AT, Cooper C, Meyers IA, Condon N, Sexton C, Thomson D, Ford PJ, Symons AL. Does dentine mineral change with anatomical location, microscopic site and patient age? J Struct Biol X. 2022 Jan 23;6:100060. doi: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2022.100060. PMID: 35146411; PMCID: PMC8818708.
- Pateman KA, Weerakoon AT, Batstone MD, Ford PJ. A culture shock in dental hygiene: Exploring the management of oral health after head and neck cancer. Int J Dent Hygiene. 2018;00:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/idh.12376
- Akers HF, Weerakoon AT, Foley MA, McAuliffe AJ. The Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme: Historical, Scientific, Socio-political Origins. Journal of the history of dentistry. 2017;65(2):46-62
- Weerakoon A, Fitzgerald L, and Porter S, (2014) An Australian government dental scheme: Doctor-dentist-patient tensions in the triangle. Journal of Forensic Odontostomatology, 32 Sup No. 1: 9-14.
Recent Conference Presentations
Recent Peer-reviewed Research Publications
- 2021 Weerakoon AT*, Cooper C, Meyers IA, Sokolowski K, Thomson D, Ford PJ, Symons AL. The dentin site can enhance adhesive material adaptation. 2021 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session. (IADR General Session Virtual Platform) 21-24th July.
- Weerakoon AT, Cooper C*, Condon ND, Using electron microscopy to study human tooth mineral. 26th Australian Conference on Microscopy and Microanalysis. (Canberra, Australia) 16-20th Feb. Arosha Weerakoon*, Ian Meyers, Sandrine Roy, David Thomson, Pauline Ford, Anne Symons. Collagen in teeth: old technique, new use. Light Microscopy Australia 2019 (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) March 2019.
- Arosha Weerakoon*, Ian Meyers, Sandrine Roy, David Thomson, Pauline Ford, Anne Symons. Dentin collagen architecture related to site, depth and ageing. International Association of Dental Research 96th General Session, (London, England) July 2018.
- Arosha Weerakoon. A Three-Minute Thesis Presentation. International Association of Dental Research 96th General Session, (London, England) July 2018.
- Arosha Weerakoon*, Ian Meyers, Sandrine Roy, David Thomson, Pauline Ford, Anne Symons. Dentine collagen architecture related to site, depth and ageing: A 3 MT presentation & preliminary findings. Research Day, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, July 2018.