Dentistry

Dr Carina B Tanaka

BDSc, PhD

Senior Lecturer in Clinical Dentistry (Tooth Conservation)
Orange
Building 1006 Room 248

Dr. Carina B. Tanaka is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Dentistry of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences at Charles Sturt University. She is the discipline coordinator responsible for teaching Foundations of Dental Clinical Practice 1 (DOH 125) to the first years of the Bachelor of Dental Science program.

Dr. Tanaka received her Bachelor's degree in Dentistry in 2010 and her Ph.D. degree in Dental biomaterials in 2015, both from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2013 she was a visiting scholar at the Department of Biomaterials & Biomimetics in the College of Dentistry at New York University, funded by the Brazilian federal government with a Science without Borders scholarship. After concluding her Ph.D. in 2015, she worked full-time as a general dentist in private practice.

In 2017, Dr. Tanaka joined the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) as a Postdoctoral Fellow and was promoted to Lecturer in 2021. In addition, Dr. Tanaka worked as a casual clinical educator in the Tooth Conservation Discipline at the University of Sydney until joining CSU in 2022.

  • Senior lecturer in Clinical Dentistry (Tooth conservation)
  • Year 1 subject coordinator - Foundations of Dental Clinical Practice 1 (DOH125)

Dr Tanaka research activities concentrate on understanding the fracture mechanics, microstructure characterization and microbiological analysis of biomaterials.

Bioactive dental composite: Dental structure are composed of a complex composite material. The modern dentistry aims to replace inert restorative materials for “smart” restorative materials that are able to prevent or to reduce restoration failure due to secondary caries. Using bioactive compounds our goal is to design and develop composite biomaterials that can respond biologically to the harsh oral conditions.

Mechanics of biomaterials: Our goal is to understand the mechanical behaviour of the biological and restorative materials such as ceramics, composites and metals in order to develop the new generation of dental materials.

PhD Opportunities

I am looking for multiple talented prospective students who are interested in interdisciplinary projects that span the fields of Dentistry, Engineering, Chemistry and Materials.

If you are interested, please email me at ctanaka@csu.edu.au to learn more about project specifics.

  • Education and Research committee NSW ADA (Guest member: 2020-Current)
  • Australia Dental Association (Member: 2019 – current)
  • Academy of Dental Materials (Member: 2012 – current)
  • International Association for Dental Research (Member: 2012 – current)
  1. Tanaka CB, Mroz M, Naleway SE, Kruzic JJ. Anisotropic strength and fracture resistance of epoxy-ceramic composite materials produced by ultrasound freeze-casting. Ceramics International, 48(4), pp. 4904–4910, 2022.
  2. de Lima E., Tanaka CB, Meira JBC, Gonzaga CC, Cesar PF. Effect of processing methods on the chipping resistance of veneered zirconia. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, v. 89, p. 587-591, 2022.
  3. Huang Y, Jayathilaka BP, Islam MdS, Tanaka CB, Silberstein MN, Kilian KA, Kruzic JJ. Structural aspects controlling the mechanical and biological properties of tough, double network hydrogels. Acta Biomaterialia, 138, pp. 301–312, 2022.
  4. Tanaka CB, Ershad, F, Ellawka AE, Kruzic JJ. Fiber reinforcement of a resin modified glass ionomer cement. Dental Materials, vol. 36 (12), pp. 1516-1523, 2020.
  5. Tanaka CB, Zhou Y, Gludovatz B, Kruzic JJ, ‘Anisotropic fracture resistance of avian eggshell’, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, vol. 110, 103888, 2020
  6. Tanaka CB; Lopes DP; Kikuchi LNT; Moreira MS; Catalani LH; Braga RR; Kruzic JJ; Gonçalves F, 2020, 'Development of novel dental restorative composites with dibasic calcium phosphate loaded chitosan fillers', Dental Materials, vol. 36 (4), pp. 551 - 559, 2020
  7. King S, Tanaka CB; Ross D, Kruzic, JJ, Levinger I, Klineberg I, Brennan‐Speranza, TC. A diet high in fat and fructose adversely affects osseointegration of titanium implants in rats. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, vol. 6, pp. 107 – 116, 2020.
  8. Tanaka CB; Ahmad NHB, Ellawka AE, Kruzic, JJ. Effect of cooling protocol on mechanical properties and microstructure of dental veneering ceramics. Dental Materials, Dental Materials, v. 35 (10), p. 1498-1505, 2019.
  9. Jikihara, A.N.; Tanaka CB; Ballester,RY, Swain, MV, Versluis,A., Meira, J.B.C. Why a zero CTE mismatch may be better for veneered Y-TZP structures. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, v. 96, p. 261-268,2019.
  10. Tanaka CB; Ballester RY; Mendonça GDS; Zhang Y; Meira JBC. Influence of residual thermal stresses on the edge chipping resistance of PFM and veneered zirconia structures: Experimental and FEA study. Dental Materials, Dental Materials, v. 35 (2), p. 344–355, 2019.
  11. Kruzic, JJ; Arsecularatne JA, Tanaka CB; Hoffman MJ; Cesar, P.F. Recent advances in understanding the fatigue and wear behavior of dental composites and ceramics. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, v. 88, p 504-533, 2018.
  12. Tanaka CB; Harisha H; Baldassarri M; Wolff MS; Tong H; Meira JBC.; Zhang Y. Experimental and finite element study of residual thermal stresses in veneered Y-TZP structures. Ceramics International, v. 42, p. 9214-9221, 2016.
  13. Belli R; Wendler M; Zorzin JI; Petschelt A; Tanaka CB; Meira JBC; Lohbauer U. Descriptions of crack growth behaviors in glass-ZrO2 bilayers under thermal residual stresses Dental Materials, v. 32, p. 1165–1176, 2016.
  14. Tong H; Tanaka CB, Kaizer MR; Zhang Y. Characterization of three commercial Y-TZP ceramics produced for their High-Translucency, High-Strength and High-Surface Area. Ceramics International, v. 42, p. 1077-1085, 2016.
  15. Chai H.; Kaizer MR; Chughtai A; Tong H; Tanaka CB, Zhang Y. On the interfacial fracture resistance of resin-bonded zirconia and glass-infiltrated graded zirconia. Dental Materials, v. 31, p. 1304-1311, 2015.
  16. Meira JBC, Reis BR, Tanaka CB, Ballester RY, Cesar PF, Versluis A, Swain MV. Residual stresses in Y-TZP crowns due to changes in the thermal contraction coefficient of veneers. Dental Materials, v. 29, p. 594-601, 2013.
  17. Meira JBC, Braga RR, Ballester RY, Tanaka CB, Versluis A. Understanding Contradictory Data in Contraction Stress Tests. Journal of Dental Research, v. 90, p. 365-370, 2011.
  18. Santos AFV, Meira JBC, Tanaka CB, Xavier TA, Ballester RY, Lima RG, Pfeifer CS, Versluis A. Can Fiber Posts Increase Root Stresses and Reduce Fracture? Journal of Dental Research, v. 89, p. 587-591, 2010.
  19. Meira JBC, Espósito COM, Quitero MFZ, Poiate IAVP, Pfeifer CS, Tanaka CB, Ballester RY. Elastic modulus of posts and the risk of root fracture. Dental Traumatology, v. 25, p. 394-398, 2009.
  20. Santos AFV, Tanaka CB, Lima RG, Espósito COM, Ballester RY, Braga RR, Meira JBC. Vertical Root Fracture in Upper Premolars with Endodontic Posts: Finite Element Analysis. Journal of Endodontics, v. 35, p. 117-120, 2009.

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