Rate My Professor Catharina (Tina) Hauman

Catharina (Tina) Hauman is a Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the Department of Oral Rehabilitation at the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry. Her academic credentials include a BChD and MMedSci from the University of Pretoria, followed by an MDS from the University of Otago. Since joining the university in the late 1990s, she has focused on teaching and research in endodontics, with a particular emphasis on endodontic microbiology.

Hauman's research centers on innovative methods to determine bacterial viability in dentine, utilizing fluorescence-based techniques such as live-dead staining coupled with confocal microscopy. This approach enables precise evaluation of bacterial infiltration, distribution, and viability within dentinal tubules. Her investigations include assessing the effectiveness of disinfection methods in resected root-end cavities, examining bacterial localization and persistence in apical dentine, and correlating these findings with dentinal tubule density across different age groups using scanning electron microscopy. These studies provide critical insights into the factors affecting non-surgical root canal treatment outcomes and contribute to enhanced endodontic practices and patient care.

Throughout her career, Hauman has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and conference contributions. Key publications encompass "Biocompatibility of dental materials used in contemporary endodontics: A review. Part 1. Obturation materials" (2003, International Endodontic Journal) and "Part 2. Root-canal-filling materials" (2003, International Endodontic Journal); "Endodontic implications of the maxillary sinus: a review" (2002, Australian Endodontic Journal); "Factors influencing the removal of posts: a survey" (2003, International Endodontic Journal); "The butterfly effect: An investigation of sectioned roots" (2013, Journal of Endodontics); "Infection of apical dentin and root-end cavity disinfection" (2012, Journal of Endodontics); and "Factors affecting the outcome of non-surgical root canal treatment" (2014, Journal of Dental Research). Her collaborations with researchers such as Nicholas P. Chandler and Geoffrey R. Tompkins have advanced endodontic microbiology at the Sir John Walsh Research Institute.