Rate My Professor Vanessa Reher

Dr. Vanessa Reher serves as Senior Lecturer in General Dental Practice at Griffith University's School of Medicine and Dentistry, located on the Gold Coast campus within Griffith Health. She earned a Master of Odontology with an emphasis in Periodontics. Reher joined Griffith University in January 2010 as a Lecturer in the School of Dentistry and Oral Health, advancing to her current senior lecturing role. Her research specializations encompass biomaterials for functional applications in the oral cavity, including bioactive-functionalized interpenetrating network hydrogels (BIOF-IPN), chitosan-based hydrogels, and systems for free radical detection and defense. She explores bio-adhesion, therapeutic capabilities, antioxidant therapy, and oxidative stress biomarkers in chronic and degenerative diseases. Reher also focuses on dental education, addressing student transitions to university, clinical decision-making via technology-enhanced learning, and communication skills development in dentistry.

Reher's scholarly contributions include over 340 citations across numerous publications. Key works feature 'Effectiveness of technology-enhanced learning to improve dental students’ clinical decision-making' (Journal of Dental Education, 2020, co-authored with M.C.C. Berry and others), 'Design of a communication skills course in dentistry' (2022, co-authored with M. Berry and others), 'A positive outcome of a COVID-19-induced dental course' (2021), 'Nerve Injuries Following Third Molar Surgery at an Australian University: A 4-Year Review' (co-authored with S. Choudhari and P. Reher), and 'Evaluation of Nystatin Containing Chitosan Hydrogels as Potential Dual Action Bio-Active Restorative Materials: in Vitro Approach' (Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2014, co-authored with V.T. Perchyonok and others). Additional significant publications cover 'Insights and relative effect of aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen containing hydrogels' (2014), 'Bioactive-Functionalized Interpenetrating Network Hydrogel (BIOF-IPN)' series (2015-2016), 'Nitric oxide levels in saliva increase with severity of chronic periodontitis' (2007), 'Enamel demineralization and bracket bond strength when etching with acid and/or Er:YAG laser' (2012), and 'Supra-apical posterior ostectomy and zygomatic miniplate anchorage—a new approach to treat severe skeletal anterior open bites' (2011). In 2018, she participated in providing vital dental care in East Timor on behalf of the School of Dentistry and Oral Health alongside Professor Peter Reher. Her teaching involves general dental practice courses and enhancing student experiences.