Dr Arosha Weerakoon
ATH - Senior Lecturer & Senior Lecturer
School of Dentistry
Researcher biography
Dr. Arosha Weerakoon is a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator at The University of Queensland's School of Dentistry, with expertise in dental materials, dentine structure, and adhesive technologies. She combines clinical practice with research, focusing on dentine bonding, adhesive interfaces, and the impact of physiological aging on oral structures. Dr. Weerakoon has also made significant contributions in public health, with a Master's in Public Health, and actively engages in dental education and advocacy, particularly through media outreach. She also holds a special interest in the ethical use of AI in teaching, research and patient care. Arosha has maintain private dental practice for the last 21 years, and is the principal and owner of Tewantin Family Dental.
Key highlights:
- Research: Dentine structure, adhesive materials, physiological aging, health services in dentistry, ethical use of AI in healthcare.
- Clinical & Public Health Expertise: Dental education, dental material performance, oral health advocacy.
- Public Engagement: Frequent media contributor on dental topics, with published articles reaching wide audiences.
- Professional Roles: Key opinion leader for Kuraray Noritake Dental, Colgate Oral Health Advocate, Deputy Chair of the Clinical Advisory Council (Country to Coast QLD).
Her innovative work bridges clinical practice and research, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of dental materials, dental practice, AI and public health in dentistry. Arosha is frequently requested to provide oral health-related content to the media. Her most recent contributions include information related to Vaping and oral health, teeth grinding and AI in dental care.
Journal Articles
Weerakoon, Arosha T., Condon, Nicholas, Cox, Thomas R., Sexton, Christopher, Cooper, Crystal, Meyers, Ian A., Thomson, David, Ford, Pauline J., Roy, Sandrine and Symons, Anne L. (2022). Dynamic dentin: a quantitative microscopic assessment of age and spatial changes to matrix architecture, peritubular dentin, and collagens types I and III. Journal of Structural Biology, 214 (4) 107899, 107899. doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107899
Weerakoon, Arosha T., Meyers, Ian A., Thomson, David H., Cooper, Crystal, Ford, Pauline J. and Symons, Anne L. (2022). Coronal dentin differs between young and mature adult humans: A systematic review. Archives of Oral Biology, 144 105553, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2022.105553
Weerakoon, Arosha Tania, Cooper, Crystal, Sokolowski, Kamil Andrzej, Meyers, Ian Arthur, Thomson, David, Ford, Pauline Jane, Sexton, Christopher and Symons, Anne Louise (2022). Effect of dentine site on resin and cement adaptation tested using X‐ray and electron microscopy to evaluate bond durability and adhesive interfaces. European Journal of Oral Sciences, 130 (5) e12890, 1-17. doi: 10.1111/eos.12890
Weerakoon, Arosha T., Cooper, Crystal, Meyers, Ian A., Condon, Nicholas, Sexton, Christopher, Thomson, David, Ford, Pauline J. and Symons, Anne L. (2022). Does dentine mineral change with anatomical location, microscopic site and patient age?. Journal of Structural Biology: X, 6 100060, 100060. doi: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2022.100060
Weerakoon, A.T., Meyers, I.A., Roy, S., Cooper, C., Cox, T.R., Condon, N.D., Sexton, C., Thomson, D.H., Ford, P.J. and Symons, A.L. (2019). Dentin changes associated with patient age and cavity site. Dental Materials, 35, e41-e41. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2019.08.083
Pateman, Kelsey A., Weerakoon, Arosha T., Batstone, Martin D. and Ford, Pauline J. (2019). A culture shock in dental hygiene: exploring the management of oral health after head and neck cancer. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 17 (2), 183-191. doi: 10.1111/idh.12376
Akers, Harry Francis, Weerakoon, Arosha Tania, Foley, Michael Anthony and McAuliffe, Andrew James (2017). The Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme: historical, scientific, socio-political origins. Journal of the History of Dentistry, 65 (2), 46-62.
Weerakoon, Arosha, Fitzgerald, Lisa and Porter, Suzette (2014). An Australian government dental scheme: Doctor-dentist-patient tensions in the triangle. Journal of Forensic Odontostomatology, 32 (Sup No. 1), 9-14.
Tsai, P. C. L., Weerakoon, A. T., Meyers, I. A., Symons, A. L. and Walsh, L. J. (2007). Optimization of current resin photopolymerization systems. Australian Dental Journal, 52 (4), S35-S35. doi: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2007.tb06143.x
Porter, S. A. T., Weerakoon, A., Sivasithamparam, K. and O'Rourke, P. K. (2005). Anxiety control in dental practice: use of lavender. Australian Dental Journal, 50 (4), S30-S30.
Symons, Anne L., Weerakoon, Arosha and Marks, Sandy C. (2003). Growth hormone receptor and insulin-like growth factor-I immunoreactivity in osteoclast-like cells during tooth eruption in the toothless (Osteopetrotic) rat following treatment with colony-stimulating factor-1. Critical Reviews In Eukaryotic Gene Expression, 13 (2-4), 195-204. doi: 10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.v13.i24.120
Weerakoon, A, Meyers, IA and Walsh, LJ (2003). The effectiveness of thermal disinfector vs. ultrasonic cleaning of endodontic instruments.. Journal of Dental Research, 82, 103-103.
Weerakoon, AT, Meyers, IA, Symons, AL and Walsh, LJ (2003). Pulpal heat changes with newly developed resin photopolymerization systems.. Journal of Dental Research, 82, 79-79.
Weerakoon, A. T., Meyers, I. A., Symons, A. L. and Walsh, L. J. (2002). Pulpal heat changes with newly developed resin photopolymerisation systems. Australian Endodontic Journal, 28 (3), 108-111. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4477.2002.tb00402.x
Symons, A.L., Weerakoon, A. and Marks, S. C. (2002). Growth hormone receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1 immunoreactivity in osteoclast-like cells during tooth eruption in the toothless (osteopetrotic) rat following treatment with colony-stimulating factor-1.. Australian Dental Journal, 47 (4), S26-S26.
Conference Papers
Weerakoon, Arosha T. (2024). Exploring adhesive methods and generative AI in dentistry. UQ School of Dentistry Clinic Day, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 20 July 2024.
Weerakoon, Arosha T., Cooper, Crystal, Sokolowski, Kamil, Sexton, Christopher, Meyers, Ian A., Thomson, David, Ford, Pauline J. and Symons, Anne L. (2021). The effect of dentine site on dental material adaptation using x-ray, and electron microscopy. 2021 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session, Virtual, 19-21 July 2021.
Weerakoon, Arosha, Meyers, Ian, Roy, Sandrine, Cooper, Crystal, Cox, Thomas, Condon, Nicholas, Sexton, Christopher, Thomson, David, Ford, Pauline and Symons, Anne Louise (2019). Discovering the collagen matrix and mineral in teeth – old methods, new technology. Matrix Biology Society of Australia and New Zealand 2019, Sydney, NSW Australia, 11 October 2019.
Weerakoon, Arosha, Meyers, Ian Arthur, Roy, Sandrine, Cooper, Crystal, Cox, Thomas, Condon, Nicholas, Sexton, Christopher, Thomson, David, Ford, Pauline and Symons, Anne Louise (2019). Dentine changes associated with patient age and cavity site. UQ School of Dentistry, Annual Research Day, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 23 August 2019.
Weerakoon, Arosha, Meyers, Ian Arthur, Roy, Sandrine, Ford, Pauline Jane, Thomson, David and Symons, Anne (2019). Human dentine collagen varies with site, depth and age: a picrosirius red study. 2019 Light Microscopy Australia Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 6-7 March 2019.
Cooper, Crystal, Weerakoon, Arosha and Condon, Nicholas (2019). Using electron microscopy to study human tooth mineral. 26th Australian Conference on Microscopy and Microanalysis, Canberra, ACT Australia, 16-19 February 2019.
Weerakoon, A.T., Meyers, I.A., Roy, S., Cooper, C., Cox, T.R., Condon, N.D., Sexton, C., Thomson, D.H., Ford, P.J. and Symons, A.L. (2018). Dentin collagen architecture related to site, depth and ageing. International Association for Dental Research/Pan European Regional (IADR/PER), London, United Kingdom, 20-25 July 2018. Thousand Oaks, CA United States: Sage Journals.
Weerakoon, Arosha (2018). Three Minute Thesis. 2018 International Association for Dental Research General Session, London, United Kingdom, 24-29 July 2018.
Weerakoon, Arosha, Dahl, Sarah, Gilmore, Anne, March, Sandra, Townsend, Grant, Mihailidis, Suzanna, Seow, Liang Lin and Ford, Pauline (2015). Reaching and teaching tomorrow's dental professionals today. International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 27-30 October 2015. Melbourne, VIC Australia: International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Weerakoon, Arosha (2015). Three key concepts that could alter the course of our future. Australian Dental Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 25-29 March 2015.
Weerakoon, Arosha, Fitzgerald, Lisa and Porter, Suzette (2014). Tensions in the triangle: An Australian Government Dental Scheme. Cape T T, Cape Town, South Africa, 3-5 September 2014.
Middleton, AG, Meyers, IA and Weerakoon, AT (2003). New generation LED curing lights and depth of cure in composite.. 35th Annual Meeting of the Interantional-Association-for-Dental-Research, Buenos Aires Argentina, Nov 08-09, 2002. INT AMER ASSOC DENTAL RESEARCHI A D R/A A D R.
Weerakoon, A. T., Meyers, I. A., Symons, A. L. and Walsh, L. J. (2003). Pulpal heat changes with newly developed resin photopolymerization systems. XXXV Reunión anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-9 November, 2002. Thousand Oaks, CA, United: Sage Publications.
Weerakoon, A., Meyers, I. A., Middleton, A. G., Symons, A. L. and Walsh, L. J. (2003). Spectral and thermal properties of LRD and high intensity curing lights. 81st General Session of the IADR, Goteborg, 25-28 June 2003. USA: International Assoc for Dental Research.
Newspaper Articles
Weerakoon, Arosha (2024, 08 24). Why does my breath smell bad, and what can I do about it? The Conversation
Weerakoon, Arosha (2024, 06 10). Artificial Intelligence in dental practice: now and into the future Colgate
Weerakoon, Arosha (2024, 03 28). Curious Kids: what did people use before toothpaste was invented? The Conversation Media Group
Weerakoon, Arosha (2024, 01 10). 5 dental TikTok trends you probably shouldn’t try at home The Conversation Media Group
Weerakoon, Arosha (2023, 12 13). What happens to our teeth as we age? And how can we extend the life of your smile The Conversation
Weerakoon, Arosha (2023, 11 23). Mengapa napas saya berbau tidak sedap, dan apa yang dapat saya lakukan? The Conversation - Indonesia
Weerakoon, Arosha (2023, 07 03). What the health: Is vaping bad for your teeth? Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences 'What the health' blog.
Weerakoon, Arosha (2022, 02 25). How to brush your teeth properly, according to a dentist The Conversation Media Group
Weerakoon, Arosha and Silva, Mihiri (2021, 01 21). Yes, baby teeth fall out. But they’re still important – here’s how to help your kids look after them The Conversation Media Group
Weerakoon, Arosha (2020, 04 28). Do I need to floss my teeth? The Conversation
Weerakoon, Arosha (2020, 03 01). Why should you care about your smile? Health and PE 3-9.
Weerakoon, Arosha (2020, 02 06). Curious Kids: Why do we make saliva? The Conversation
Weerakoon, Arosha (2020, 01 01). How to avoid the dentist this holiday (and what to do if you need one in an emergency) The Conversation
Weerakoon, Arosha (2019, 08 27). How often should i get my teeth cleaned? The Conversation Media Group
Weerakoon, Arosha (2019, 01 06). Can we heal teeth? The quest to repair tooth enamel, nature's crystal coat The Conversation
Theses
Weerakoon, Arosha Tania (2023). Dentine, adhesive interfaces & physiological ageing. PhD Thesis, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/3b7d466
Weerakoon, Arosha (2013). The enhanced primary care of the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme: A comprehensive oral examination. Master's Thesis, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.