Professor Chris Louca
Biography
I have over 25 years’ experience of both teaching and research in dentistry. I have taught undergraduate and postgraduate dental students, dental nurses, dental hygienists and dental therapists. I am supervising a PhD in dental education and I have supervised over 60 MSc projects over the last 9 years. I have led the development of several new and innovative non degree based courses including online courses, short CPD courses, Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) revision courses & London Deanery courses, at UCL Eastman CPD. I recently initiated a collaboration with the British Association of Dental Therapists to deliver dedicated courses for dental hygienists and therapists. In addition, I have led the development of overseas courses for dentists in various countries. I have led the development of a part-time flexible master’s in restorative dentistry at UCL Eastman Dental Institute and I have introduced new innovative methods of assessment (e.g. online Moodle based assessment & reflective diaries). In 2015 I received an International Mature Teachers award for Excellence in Dental Education from the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE).
Research interests
My research interests are currently in dental education and prosthodontic/restorative dentistry. I am interested in student assessment and feedback, the role of mental imagery in the learning of practical skills, the development & evaluation of novel teaching techniques (e.g. ‘flipping’), the impact of PG teaching on clinical practice and the training requirements of vocational dental practitioners. I present my work regularly at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) conferences.
Research outputs
2025
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK dental nurses' professional practice 2020-21: lessons for the future
Turkistani, S., Radford, D. R., Vargas, C. M., Wallis, T., Louca, C.
21 Nov 2025, In: British Dental Journal
Research output: Article
Short-term effects of sweetened acidic beverages consumption on human saliva: Colloidal properties and protein composition
Zaheer, S., Kew, B., Louca, C., Hafizi, S., Sarkar, A., Mutahar, M.
3 Sep 2025, In: PLoS One. 20, 9, 20p., e0330023
Research output: Article
Comparison between bond strengths of a resin cement on traditional prosthetic substrates and a 3D-printed resin for permanent restorations
Vichi, A., Al-Johani, H., Balestra, D., Louca, C.
1 Aug 2025, In: Coatings. 15, 8, 14p., 896
Research output: Article
In vitro flexural testing of clear aligner materials: a scoping review of methods, results, and clinical relevance
Nugent, G., Munoz, A., Louca, C., Vichi, A.
4 Jul 2025, In: Applied Sciences. 15, 13, 24p., 7516
Research output: Article
Microhardness of enamel with pellicle and bioactive mint against erosion
Mutahar, M. A. M., Zaheer, S., Abuzeid, H., Khambay, R., Louca, C.
1 Jul 2025,
Research output: Poster
Protein expressions in human saliva following water and juice interventions
Zaheer, S., Hafizi, S., Louca, C., Mutahar, M. A. M.
1 Jul 2025,
Research output: Poster
A qualitative study of coach mentoring dentists in difficulty from a mentor perspective
Gowers, P. A., Radford, D. R., Machuca-Vargas, C., Louca, C.
9 May 2025, In: British Dental Journal. 238, 9, p. 720-725
Research output: Article
Artificial Intelligence: friend or foe in the assessment of dental students?
Louca, C., Tonni, I., Leung, A., Fine, P.
1 May 2025, In: Journal of Dentistry. 156, 15p., 105676
Research output: Article
Virtual haptic simulators: diversifying the technologies to enhance teaching and learning in higher education
Cox, M. J., Louca, C., Barber, S., Haywood-Hull, J., Hallissey, B., Withers, D.
26 Apr 2025,
Research output: Conference contribution
Characterization of a lithium disilicate CAD/CAM material with firing temperature-controlled translucency
Munoz, A., Louca, C., Vichi, A.
1 Apr 2025, In: Materials. 18, 7, 13p., 1591
Research output: Article