Success Story

After several years of continuous research and efforts to develop the techniques used in the field of dentistry and orthodontics, a scientific team that included Dr. Ibrahim bin Sulaiman Al-Shahrani, and the Orthodontist and Maxillofacial Consultant at King Faisal Medical City in Abha, Dr. Ali bin Hassan Al-Haizai, succeeded in getting their second patent from the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, following the invention of an orthodontic bracket that is adjustable at multiple angles, as an essential part of orthodontic devices that controls the tensile force to straighten the roots of teeth. The bracket that was invented has several advantages, the most prominent of which is reducing the waste of materials used and preserving the integrity of the tooth roots. The idea of the invention is based on modernizing orthodontic brackets, which began in 1972 AD and are still used and operated to this day, without any development of these technologies over a period of 50 years. Al-Shahrani and Al-Haizai thanked the Vice Deanship of King Khalid University for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research for the support and facilitation of patent registration, and they also appreciated the role of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property in this direction. It is worth noting that the scientific team has been working on these achievements since 2019 AD to find solutions to the problems of therapeutic techniques in the field of dentistry. The beginning was by developing a list that included the existence of technical problems in the techniques and then working to solve them. In 2020 AD, a patent was obtained for a tool to adjust and carry the height. Orthodontic brackets, after which a second patent was obtained for an orthodontic bracket with a separate base. These innovations seek to find solutions to the remaining problems of technologies used in the field of dentistry and develop current ideas to reduce mechanical and technical details, which contributes to the manufacture of orthodontic brackets that are acceptable in shape and easy to maintain and clean during treatment period.

The Vice Dean for Postgraduate studies and Research, KKUCOD, Dr. Nasser AlQahtani graduated BDS from KKUCOD (2009) and MDS from Indiana University (2015). He is a Fellow of the royal college of dentist in Canada in prosthodontics (2015), Associate fellow of the American academy of implant dentistry (2018), Fellowship in maxillofacial prosthesis, Indiana University (2016), Fellowship in implant dentistry, Loma Linda university (2017). He was awarded: 2013: The Lester Furnas Graduate Prosthodontics Award for Academic Excellence, JFJ society, Chicago, IL, USA. 2015: The JFJ Scholarship Awards for the academic achievement, technical and clinical performance, JFJ society, Chicago, IL, USA. 2015: The Carl J. & Ida J. Andres Scholarship Awards for outstanding resident, JFJ society, Chicago, IL, USA. 2015: Indiana Dental Association Best Clinical Case Report Award, Indiana University school of dentistry research day, IN, USA.

After the doctor graduated from the College of Dentistry at King Khalid University with honors and first among the graduates of the 2015–2016 batch, Dr. Alfaifi joined the pre-specialization training program from 2018–2019, as this period served as the first building block for achieving the ambition to complete the specialization in one of the most prestigious programs in the United States of America. During this period, he participated in many student activities and volunteer work that had a significant impact on understanding society and building good relationships within the university and outside of it.   After the doctor was accepted into the specialty and master's programs, the scientific journey began with researching a master's thesis, where the doctor worked on a research thesis under dual supervision between Loma Linda University and the University of Washington. The doctor completed all research requirements in the first year, and the thesis was defended early during the specialization and fellowship period. During this period, the doctor participated in many scientific activities, including scientific posters and lectures. The doctor published and participated in 6 scientific research papers published during this period that were published in high-ranking journals. During the period of specialization and fellowship, the doctor was chosen to teach some courses and supervise clinics for graduate students. The doctor was chosen as the head of graduate students between 2021 and 2022 and a member of the personal interview committee for the year 2022. During this period, the doctor presented many scientific courses and lectures to students at the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.   The successes were crowned by the doctor passing the Canadian Board exam on May 5, 2022, and obtaining the Canadian Fellowship on September 9, 2022. The doctor then joined the subspecialty program for digital dentistry and dental implants. During this period, the doctor completed the requirements of the American Board and passed the exam on November 11, 2022, obtaining the American Fellowship in Prosthodontics. It is worth noting that the doctor was the first graduate student to pass one of the parts of the American Board exam in the history of the American Board for prosthodontics during the first half of his third year in the fellowship program. Dr. Alfaifi is recognized as one of the pioneering dentists in Saudi Arabia to be certified in digital dentistry. Dr. Alfaifi achieved the Hans Scobal Award, which was given to the best treatment for complex cases among Canadian and American residents. His achievement was published in the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and other Saudi media. Dr. Alfaifi hosted some of the Saudi TV programs for his achievement. 

Dr. Majid Al Toman is a dentist who graduated with honors from the College of Dentistry at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia in 2015. After completing a degree in dentistry, I began my career as a teaching assistant in the prosthodontics department. This role provided me with first-hand experience and insights into the challenges faced by international dentists seeking advanced education in the United States. In 2018, I started my journey to pursue advanced prosthodontic education in the United States. Having gone through the various stages myself, including National Dental Board exams, personal statements, resume preparation, advanced education program applications, interviews, immigration, and living abroad, I have developed a unique perspective on the entire process. To gain more experience and understanding, I joined a one-year training program at the Department of Prosthodontics at Loma Linda University (LLU) in California. This program allowed me to assist residents, attend classes, and demonstrate my skills on exams and journal discussions. At the same time, she worked diligently on applications for advanced education programs in prosthodontics, which led to multiple interviews and acceptances from various programs throughout the United States. In the end, I decided to pursue my studies at Loma Linda University, USA, starting in 2019. The Advanced Prosthodontic Education Program at LLU lasted three years and included pursuit of a Master of Science degree, along with a certificate in the Advanced Prosthodontic Education Program. The journey has not been easy and requires enormous sacrifices, hard work and dedication. By my second year, I had completed all required coursework and conducted my Master of Science research in prosthodontics, culminating in receiving my Master of Science degree in 2021. In recognition of my research contributions, I was honored as runner-up in the Best Graduate Research Competition in Prosthodontics among universities in the western states of the United States and Canada at the Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontics meeting in 2021. Furthermore, I had the honor of presenting a poster and an oral presentation at the American College for dental replacement in the same year. Over the years 2020-2023, she has given numerous prosthodontic presentations in the Prosth-Implant Maxi course, which caters to graduate students and general dentists in California. I was also invited by the Zimmer Implant Foundation to present and conduct a hands-on workshop on dental implantology in 2021. In addition, I had the opportunity to present and teach residents in the advanced education programs at LLU, and in 2022, I was selected as a supervisory and research committee member for a resident with Master of Science degree in Prosthodontics. To contribute to the scientific community, I have published several peer-reviewed articles in prestigious international prosthodontics and implantology journals between 2020 and 2023. Furthermore, she actively participated in various outreach programs in the United States from 2018 to 2023, increasing the reach and impact of the prosthodontics specialty. In 2022, I accomplished the remarkable feat of being awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in Prosthodontics after successfully completing all required board examinations. Subsequently, she obtained her diploma in residence in prosthodontics at LLU in the same year. One of my long-time dreams was to become a board-certified prosthodontist, which involved rigorous study and meticulous preparation of dental cases to qualify for the exam. The American Board of Prosthodontics exam consists of six parts, and I had the pleasure of passing two parts during my residency program in 2021. Through unwavering dedication, I completed the remaining parts and successfully obtained this prestigious and challenging certification in 2022. Therefore, He became a board-certified American prosthodontist and a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontics. In 2022-2023, I pursued a minor in the Advanced Implantology and Digital Dentistry program at Loma Linda University, which further expanded my experience. During my residency and fellowship programs, I continued to present and teach in the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at LLU. In summary, I currently have the honor of holding the titles of Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in Prosthodontics, and Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Nabeh Al-Qahtani, consultant periodontist and dental implant surgeon received a patent from the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property for a device used to measure chronic gum disease and diabetes at the same time. The idea of the invention was launched in 2016 AD and work on it continued for two years. The device seeks to reduce the suffering of diabetic patients when they visit the dental clinic. In every visit to the clinic to perform any surgical procedure or any treatment related to the gums, it requires knowing the blood sugar level, using traditional devices that It requires pricking the patient’s finger to obtain drops of blood and placing them on the strip of the device to read the blood sugar level. After that, the dentist begins to examine the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth as a routine procedure using a gum probe, which is a diagnostic tool through which the depth of the gum pockets is known to arrive at a final diagnosis of diseases. gums. Prof Nabeeh described the invention as a portable device connected to a glass capillary tube with a graduated millimeter scale that can be used once for each patient and helps in measuring gingival pockets, and a screen on the other side of the invention displays the gingival blood sugar level. He mentioned that he and the work team had approved the idea for the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia in 2018, before the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property was established.