Dr. William Ben Johnson

Dr. Wm. Ben Johnson received his D.D.S. degree and endodontic certificate from Baylor University Dental School.

Early in his career as an endodontist, Dr. Johnson became aware of the differing thermophysical properties between brittle and flexible gutta-percha points. During his endodontic residency at Baylor University, Dr. Johnson applied his observations to the development of a gutta-percha/solid-core carrier technique by which he was able to obturate root canals in a single step. Dr. Johnson applied this solid-core obturation technology to the development of the Thermafil® Endodontic Obturators and Tulsa Dental products, Ltd., was formed to market the invention.

An endodontist in private practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since 1973, Dr. Johnson is an active member of numerous local and national endodontic associations and past president of the Oklahoma Association of Endodontists and Southwest Society of Endodontists. He was elected to the Fellowship in the American College of Dentists in 1988, the Fellowship in the International College of Dentists, 1996, and to the Pierre Fauchard Academy in 1992. Dr. Johnson received the Oklahoma Inventor of the Year award in 1994. The American Association of Endodontists named him the 1996 Philanthropist of the Year. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at University of Tulsa, Tulsa Oklahoma. Dr. Johnson has published several articles and is an internationally recognized lecturer in the field of endodontics.

Most recently Dr. Johnson has directed his efforts toward designing instruments for improved cleaning and shaping of the root canal system, most notably the ProFile Series 29® hand instruments and the .04 and .06 ProFile® Variable Tapers. Dr. Johnson has unique opportunities to investigate various instruments, materials and designs. Collaboration with other endodontists has led to the introduction of revolutionary endodontic innovations such as the ProTaper® line of instruments and BioPure™ MTAD® Root Canal Cleanser.

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