Grace De Souza, DDS, MSc, PhD, FADM

Associate Professor

Department of Comprehensive Dentistry


School of Dentistry, 501 S. Preston St., Room 315A 502-852-2649

Education

  • Post-doctorate in Biomaterials, University of Sao Paulo School of Dentistry, 2011

  • PhD in Comprehensive Care - Restorative, State University of Campinas, 2006

  • Visiting Researcher in Biomaterials, New York University College of Dentistry, 2005

  • MSc in Comprehensive Care - Restorative, State University of Campinas, 2003 

Honors and Awards

  • Bruce Hord Master Teaching Award

  • Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (Mitacs) awardee

  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery grant recipient

  • Fellow member of the Academy of Dental Materials

Professional Activities

  • Status-only Associate Professor Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Canada

  • Lecturer, University of Saskatchewan Dental School, Canada

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

  • President, Women in Science Network, International Association for Dental Research

  • Member, International Association for Dental Research

  • Fellow member, Academy of Dental Materials

  • Kentucky Dental Association

Service

  • Graduate Research Program Oversight Committee 

  • Diversity Committee

Research Interests and Current Projects

  • Dental materials

  • Laboratorial methods to simulate in vivo aging of dental materials

  • Ionizing irradiation and tooth structure

  • Zirconia – mechanical properties, crystalline stability and bond strength

  • Dental education

Publications

Journal articles

  • Fischer KM, Sekula MN, Hannigan JD, Vaught RL, House H, De Souza GM, Williams TT. Effects of simulation-based flipped classroom in developing head and neck examination skills in dental students. J Dent Educ. 2024;e3490. https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13490 
  • Lima RBW, Leite JV, Santos JVDN, Barbosa LMM, Neto HN, da Silva JGR, Muniz IDAF,Campos DES, De Souza GM. Tribochemical silica-coating or alumina blasting for zirconia bonding? A systematic review of in vitro studies. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijadhadh.2023.103554 
  • Neto HN, Leite JV, Medeiros JM, Campos D, Muniz I, Andrade AK, Duarte R, De Souza GM, Lima RBW. Scoping Review: Effect of Surface Treatments on Bond Strength of Resin Composite Repair. Journal of Dentistry2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104737 
  • Fitzgerald JM, De Souza GM, Tam L. Effect of Tooth Bleach on Dentin Fatigue Resistance in Situ. Oper Dent. 2023 Oct 26. doi: 10.2341/22-093-C. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37881145. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37881145/ 
  • Found AA, De Pretto LR, Ussui V, Lima NB, De Souza GM, Machado JPB, Tango RN, Freitas AZ, Lazar DRR.Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the analysis of zirconia crystalline phase transformation. Materialia 2023;30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2023.101825 
  • Khodayari A, Jessani A, Adeniyi A, Anderson G, Tam LE, De Souza GM. A survey of amalgam use to guide dental education curriculums. J Dent Educ. 2023; 1- 10. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jdd.13252    
  • Lima RBW, Melo AMDS, Dias JDN, Barbosa LMM, Santos JVDN, De Souza GM, Andrade AKM, Assunção IV, Borges BCD. Are polywave light-emitting diodes more effective than monowave ones in the photoactivation of resin-based materials containing alternative photoinitiators? A systematic review. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2023 May 13;143:105905. Epub ahead of print. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37201225/ 
  • Bastos-Bitencourt NA, Bitencourt SB, Alfrisany N, Hajhamid B, De Souza GM. Effect of simulated gastric acid on the interface between zirconia and resin cement. Int J Prosthodont. 2022 Dec 14. Epub ahead of print. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36525264/ 
  • Lima RBW, Silva AF, da Rosa WLO, Piva E, Duarte RM, De Souza GM. Bonding Efficacy of Universal Resin Adhesives to Zirconia Substrates: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Adhes Dent. 2023 Feb 6;25(1):51-62. https://doi.org/10.3290/j.jad.b3868649  
  • Hajhamid B, Bozec L, Tenenbaum H, De Souza GM, Somogyi-Ganss E. Effect of artificial aging on optical properties and crystalline structure of high translucency zirconia. J Prosthodont. 2023 Jan 14. doi: 10.1111/jopr.13648. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36641491/
  • Patussi AFC, Ramacciato JC, da Silva JGR, Nascimento VRP, Campos DES, de Araújo Ferreira Munizz I, De Souza GM, Lima RBW. Preheating of dental composite resins: A scoping review. J Esthet Restor Dent. 2022 Dec 7. doi: 10.1111/jerd.12991. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36478368/ 
  • Vasconcelos Monteiro R, Dos Santos DM, Chrispim B, Bernardon JK, Soares Porto T, De Souza GM. Effect of Universal Adhesives on Long-term Bond Strength to Zirconia. J Adhes Dent. 2022 Oct 24;24(1):385-394. doi: 10.3290/j.jad.b3512333. PMID: 36278397. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36278397/ 
  • De Souza GM, Tiwari T, Fox CH, Miguez PA, Letra A, Geisinger ML, Patel M, Shaddox L, Ioannidou E. Perception of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on dental researchers. J Dent Educ. 2022 Sep 21. doi: 10.1002/jdd.13104. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36131372/
  • Alfrisany NM, Somogyi-Ganss E, Tam L, Hatton BD, Sodhi RNS, De Souza GM. Room-temperature atomic layer deposition of SiO2 on microcracked ZrO2 layers. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105410.
  • Bastos-Bitencourt NA, Soares Bombonatti JF, Bitencourt SB, Hatton BD, De Souza GM.  Silica deposition on zirconia via Room-Temperature Atomic Layer: Deposition and bond strength to resin-based luting agent. Ceramics International, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.06.109
  • Neshatian M, Holcroft J, Kishen A, De Souza GM, Ganss B. Promoting mineralization at biological interfaces Ex vivo with novel amelotin-based bio-nano complexes. Materials Today Bio 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100255
  • Bitencourt SB, Hatton BD, Bastos-Bitencourt NA, dos Santos DM, Pesqueira AA, De Souza GM. Silica deposition on zirconia via room-temperature atomic layer deposition (RT-ALD): Effect on bond strength to veneering ceramic, J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.10514
  • Lima RBW, Muniz IAF, Campos DES, Murillo-Gómez F, Maciel de Andrade AK, Duarte RM, De Souza GM. Effect of universal adhesives and self-etch ceramic primers on bond strength to glass ceramics: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies [published online ahead of print, 2022 Mar 10]. J Prosthet Dent. 2022;S0022-3913(22)00055-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.01.011
  • Alfrisany NM, De Souza GM. Surface and bulk properties of zirconia as a function of composition and aging. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104994
  • Monteiro RV, Santos DM, Chrispim B, Bernardon JK, Porto TS, De Souza GM. Effect of universal adhesives on long-term bond strength to zirconia. J Adhes Dent 2021; in press.
  • Bastos NA, Bombonatti JFS, Bittencourt SB, Hatton B, De Souza GM. Mechanical performance of a hybrid zirconia developed through hydrothermal treatment and room-temperature atomic layer deposition (RT-ALD). J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104783
  • Lima RBW, Silva AF, Rosa WLO, Piva E, Duarte RM, De Souza GM. Effectiveness of universal adhesives to bond to zirconia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies. J Esthet Rest Dent 2021; in press.
  • Bastos NA, Bitencourt SB, Martins EA, De Souza GM. Review of Nano-technology Applications in Resin-Based Restorative Materials. J Esthet Rest Dent 2020; https://doi.org/10.1111/jerd.12699
  • Hajhamid B, De Souza GM. Irradiation therapy and mastication: effect on zirconia and human enamel. J Prosthod Res 2020;  https://doi.org/10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_20_00018
  • Bitencourt SB, Bastos NA, Mazza LC, Rangel EC, De Souza GM, Pereira FS, Goiato MC, Santos DM, Pesqueira AA. Effect of handling material on mechanical and optical properties of feldspathic porcelain. J Esthet Rest Dent 2020; http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jerd.12665
  • Monteiro RV, Santos DM, Bernardon JK, De Souza GM. Effect of surface treatment on the retention of zirconia crowns to tooth structure after aging. J Esthet Rest Dent 2020; https://doi.org/10.1111/jerd.12623
  • Hajhamid B, Rahimi RM, Bahr DF, De Souza GM. Effect of ionizing radiation and chewing simulation on human enamel and zirconia. J Prosthod Res 2020;  https://doi.org/10.2186/jpr.JPOR_2019_592
  • Amarante JEV, Pereira MVS, De Souza GM, Alves MFRP, Simba BG, Santos C. Effect of hydrothermal aging on the properties of zirconia with different levels of translucency. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103847
  • Tikhonova S, Jessani A, Girard F, Macdonald ME, De Souza GM, Tam LE, Eggert FM, Nguyen-Ngoc C, Morin N, Aggarwal N, Schroth RJ. Outcomes and recommendations for a cariology education reform in Canada: report of a national symposium. J Dent Educ 2020; 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.12313
  • Alshamrani A, De Souza GM. Effect of ionizing radiation on mechanical properties and translucency of monolithic zirconia. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2019; 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.34458
  • Barreto SC, Lima RBW, Aguiar FHB, Santos CT, Paulillo LAMS, De Souza GM. Mechanical properties of aged yttria- tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) after blasting with different aluminum oxide particles. J Prosthet Dent 2019; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2019.10.027.
  • Lima RBW, Barreto SC, Alfrisany NM, Porto TS, De Souza GM, De Goes MF. Effect of silane and MDP-based primers on physico-chemical properties of zirconia and its bond strength to resin cement. Dent Mater 2019; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2019.07.008
  • Abu-Ruja M, De Souza GM, Finer Y. Ultrashort-pulse laser as a surface treatment for bonding between zirconia and resin cement. Dent Mater 2019; 35: 1545-1556 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2019.07.009
  • Lima RBW, Barreto SC, Hajhamid B, De Souza GM, De Goes MF. Effect of cleaning protocol on silica deposition and silica-mediated bonding to Y-TZP. Dent Mater 2019; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2019.08.099
  • Alfrisany NM, Shokati B, Tam LE, De Souza GM. Effect of surface treatments on zirconia roughness and wear of opposing artificial enamel. J Adv Prosthod 2019; 11:162-8. https://doi.org/10.4047/jap.2019.11.3.162
  • Tanaka CB, Ballester RY, De Souza GM, Zhang Y, Meira JBC. Influence of residual thermal stresses on the edge chipping resistance of PFM and veneered zirconia structures: Experimental and FEA study. Dent Mater 2019; 35: 344-355 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2018.11.034
  • Amarante JEV, Pereira MVS, De Souza GM, Alves MFRP, Simba BG, Santos C. Roughness and its effects on flexural strength of dental yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics. Mater Sci Eng A 2019; 739: 149-157.
  • Furtado de Mendonca A, Shahmoradi M, Gouvea CVD, De Souza GM, Ellakwa A. Microstructural and mechanical characterization of CAD/CAM materials for monolithic dental restorations. J Prosthodontics 2019; 28:e587-e594/doi: 10.1111/jopr.12964
  • Bitencourt SB, Santos DM, Silva EF, Barao VR, Rangel EC, Cruz NC, De Souza GM, Goiato MC, Pesqueira AA. Characterization of a new plasma enhanced-based film to improve shear bond strength between zirconia and veneer ceramic. Mater Sci Engineer C 2018; 92: 196-205.
  • Aggarwal A, De Souza GM. The role of MDP/VBATDT-primer composition on resin bonding to zirconia. Metals 2018; 8: 247. doi:10.3390/met8040247
  • Lameira Vedana D, Vedana L, Martins EA, Brodersen PM, De Souza GM. Artificial enamel wear after prolonged chewing simulation against monolithic Y-TZP crowns. Mater Sci Appl 2018; 9:381-392.
  • Alsarani M, De Souza GM, Rizkalla A, El-Mowafy O. Influence of crown design and material on chipping resistance of all-ceramic molar crowns: an in vitro study. Dent Medic Problems 2018; 55: 35-42.
  • De Souza GM, El-Badrawy W, Tam LE. Effect of training method on the light-curing performance of undergraduate dental students. J Dent Educ 2018; 82: 864-871. doi: 10.21815/JDE.018.081
  • De Souza GM, Zykus A, Rahbari R, Lawrence SK, Bahr D. Effect of accelerated aging on dental zirconia-based materials. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2017; 65:256-263.
  • Vechiato-Filho AJ, Matos AO, Landers R, Goiato MC, Rangel EC, De Souza GM, Barao VAR, Santos, DM. Surface analysis and shear bond strength of zirconia on resin cements after non-thermal plasma treatment and/or primer application for metallic alloys. Mater Sci Engineer C 2017; 72: 284-292. 
  • Tam LE, Kim N, De Souza GM. Effect of whitening strips on fatigue resistance and flexural strength of bovine dentin. PLos One 2017; 12(3): e0173480.
  • Basaki K, De Souza GM, Alkumru H, Finer Y. Accuracy of a digital versus a conventional impression approach: a three-dimensional comparative in vitro analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2017; 32(4): 792-799. 
  • Pinto PA, Colas G, Filleter T, De Souza GM. Surface and mechanical characterization of dental Y-TZP after different aging processes. Microsc Microanal 2016; 22: 1179-1188.
  • Lopes GC, Spohr AM, De Souza GM. Different strategies to bond BisGMA-based resin cement to zirconia. J Adhes Dent 2016; 112:895-902. 
  • Vechiato-Filho AJ, Pesqueira AA, De Souza GM, Santos, DM, Pellizzer EP, Goiato MC. Are zirconia implant abutments safe and predictable in posterior regions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Prosthodont 2016; 29(3):233-44.
  • Serkies KB, Tam LE, De Souza GM, Finer YF. The effect of simulated human salivary enzymes and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition on the degradation and fracture toughness of the self-etched resin-dentin interface. Dent Mater 2016; 32(12): 1513-1523. 

Book chapter

  • De Souza, Grace M. Nanoparticles in Restorative Materials. Nanotechnology in Endodontics. First ed. New York: Springer, 2015. Page(s) 139-171.