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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 7044
Email
sunyoung.ma@otago.ac.nz
Position
Professor in Prosthodontics, Specialist Prosthodontist, Associate Dean Postgraduate (Dentistry)
Qualifications
BDS DClinDent(Pros) PhD MRACDS(Pros)
Research summary
Oral implantology, CADCAM, Digital dentistry, Removable prosthodontics, Gerodontology
Teaching
  • CLDN920 Clinical Practice - Research Evidence
  • DENT531 The Dentist and Patient Care
  • DENT570 Clinical Dental Practice for Honours
  • DENT461 The Dentist and the Patient 3
  • DEOH401 Adult Restorative Dental Care
Memberships
  • Fellow, Academy of Australian and New Zealand Prosthodontists
  • Fellow, International College of Dentists
  • Fellow, Pierre Fauchard Academy
  • Member, International College of Prosthodontists
  • Member, Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
  • Member, International Team for Implantology
  • Member, New Zealand Association of Prosthodontists
  • Member, New Zealand Dental Association
Clinical

DCNZ registered specialist prosthodontist with clinical expertise in fixed and removable prosthodontics, oral implantology and digital dentistry

Research

Professor Ma’s research interest includes conducting clinical trials using different treatment modalities involving dental implants for patients, especially in the older age group that need to replace their missing teeth. The main research outcome of interest includes biological success of the treatment as well as long-term clinical maintenance / complications issues for both clinicians and patients including any treatment impact on oral health related quality of life for these patients. Professor Ma is also the co-primary investigator for two-center clinical trial involving narrow implants replacing posterior missing tooth - supported by the International Team for Implantology Research Grant.

With ongoing national and international collaborations in addition to previous successful research grants and continuous external research funding support, Professor Ma continues to produce research outputs in the areas of oral implantology and digital dentistry, and has had multiple international invitations to present her research in these areas.

Professor Ma has supervised more than 70 undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and is actively involved as a reviewer for multiple international peer reviewed journals and grant applications. She was also a recipient of the SJWRI Undergraduate Research Supervisor Award (2018, 2021, and 2022), the J. Morita Junior Investigator Award for Geriatric Oral Research, International Association for Dental Research (2016), and the University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023).

Professor Ma is currently serving as the President of the Academy of Australian and New Zealand Prosthodontists as well as on the International College of Prosthodontists Education and Research Committee, and the New Zealand Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

Publications

Low, E., Bhattacharjee, T., Harris, P., Petherick, R., Jansen van Vuuren, W.-A., Ma, S., & Duncan, W. (2025). Early detection of gingivitis using a novel ultrasound elastography device: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 52(Suppl. 28), PR041. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.14160 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Atieh, M. A., Ma, S., Tawse-Smith, A., Duncan, W. J., Amir-Rad, F., Shah, M., … Alsabeeha, N. H. M. (2025). Narrow versus standard diameter implants for supporting single crown restorations in the posterior jaw: A randomised controlled trial. International Dental Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.12.031 Journal - Research Article

Rudland, J., Al-Busaidi, I., Aldabe, D., Bryant, K., Jones, V., Kane, P., Ma, S., Moffat, S., Noller, G., Peterson, A., Ross, J., Sopoaga, F., & Anderson, L. (2024). Addressing unacceptable behaviours in clinical learning environment. In S. Marshall (Ed.), Proceedings of the 16th Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. (pp. 47-48). HERDSA Aotearoa/New Zealand. Retrieved from https://www.herdsa.org.nz/ternz Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Al-Busaidi, I. S., Noller, G., Ross, J. M., Gray, A. R., Peterson, A., Aldabe, D., Rudland, J., Pōtiki Bryant, K., Kane, P., Moffat, S. M., Ma, S., Jones, V., & Anderson, L. (2024). Unacceptable behaviors towards health professional clinical students: Protocol for a mixed-methods study. Health Science Reports, 7, e70190. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70190 Journal - Research Other

Goh, R., Li, K. C., Atieh, M. A., Ma, S., Oliver, A., & Giraldo, D. (2024). The effect of implantoplasty on fracture resistance and implant surface changes: An in vitro and finite element analysis study. Clinical Implant Dentistry & Related Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/cid.13409 Journal - Research Article

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