Gina D. Roque-Torres, DDS, MSc, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY
School of Dentistry – Center for Dental Research
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Email: gdrtorres@llu.edu

Figure 1. 3D renderings of a mouse mandible showing root resorption after orthodontic movement.

As the manager of a micro-imaging research facility, you are scanning and analyzing data from a wide range of samples and applications. Can you explain the services and analysis you provide?

I’m part of the Center for Dental Research (CDR) team at Loma Linda University, managing the Micro Imaging Research Facility (MIRF). This facility is available to all LLU researchers as well as scientists in other institutions and private industries. I provide services for the use and analysis of data from micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopes. I’m dedicated to ensuring that the CDR maintains its excellent reputation being an active contributor to clinical research.

Do you have any projects where you utilize both micro-CT and SEM technology together to achieve a broader analysis of a sample?

Can you expand briefly on your focus in your research?

My research focus over the past 10 years has been related to oral radiology and orthodontics using micro-CT. During my Master’s and Ph.D. programs focusing on Oral Radiology, I started working with micro-CT. My Ph.D. dissertation focused on the effect of nicotine and/or bisphosphonates on alveolar bone repair in irradiated and non-irradiated ovariectomized rats. My current work, and all my subsequent work, has still been focused on bone regeneration, but new collaborations led me to additional areas such as the evaluation of soft tissues, stress distribution after endodontic treatment, tooth color change and erosion, and dentin and enamel abrasion depth caused by toothpaste. My ultimate career goal is to combine my knowledge of using diverse image software and micro-CT to improve bone regeneration outcomes and quality by performing highly impactful translational research.

What is important about this research today, and what are you hoping to achieve through your work?

I have scientific training, clinical knowledge, and innovation to identify a pathway to improve bone regeneration. Over the next years, I will continue to build on my expertise to establish a bone research program. I have an innate drive for research that stems from my desire to change the landscape of bone regeneration and have acquired the advanced skills needed for this research. During this journey, I have authored articles that combined all my expertise and published a chapter in a textbook on micro-CT in medicine and engineering.

Given the wide array of applications you are involved with, are there any images that you could share illustrating results using micro-CT?

In a study funded by NASA to determine whether spaceflight alters gene expression profiles and induces oxidative damage in the retina, we utilized micro-CT images to characterize global ocular morphology and to measure the thickness of the retina and surrounding tissues for both ground control and spaceflight mice.

 What has been the most important discovery or unexpected outcome in your research?

When I started my research career, most of the studies were focused on hard tissue such as bone, teeth, etc. One of the most fascinating times was when I started doing soft tissue scans and visualizing those with great resolution using micro-CT. Moreover, it is exciting to use the micro-CT images to apply to future models to predict the effect of different treatments, as shown in my paper Chun, et al. 2023.

Do you have any key publications you suggest we cite for further reading? 

I have published several peer-reviewed articles as well as been reviewed for multiple scholarly journals. Some of the principal publications are as follows:

A chapter in the unique Micro-computed Tomography (Micro-CT) in Medicine and Engineering MicroCT textbook, “Applications of Micro-CT in soft tissue specimen imaging”. 2020

RICE D, GRANDHI A, ROQUE-TORRES GD, OYOYO U, BAKLANDLF. The Effect of Calcium Hydroxide Pastes on Isolated Vital Nerve Fibers. J Endod. 2024 Mar;50(3):355-361. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2023.11.011.

CHUN M, SILVESTRIN T, SAVIGNANO R, ROQUE-TORRES GD. Effects of Apical Barriers and Root Filling Materials on Stress Distribution in Immature Teeth: Finite Element Analysis Study. Journal of Endodontic 2023 May;49(5):575-582.

CUA, J, CRESPO E, PHELPS S, RAMIREZ R, ROQUE-TORRES GD, OYOYO U, KWON SR. Tooth Color Change and Erosion: Hydrogen Peroxide versus Non-Peroxide Whitening Strips. Operative Dentistry. 2022 May 18.  doi: 10.2341/20-302-L.

SHAIKH  M, LUND  G,  KO  J , ROQUE-TORRES GD, OYOYO  U, KWON SR. Micro-computed tomography analysis of abrasivity of toothpaste tablets compared to conventional toothpaste. Am J Dent. 2021 Oct;34(5):235-239.

YAMASAKI MC, ROQUE-TORRES GD, PERONI LV, NASCIMENTO EHL, SALMON B, OLIVEIRA ML, FREITAS DQ, CORRER-SOBRINHO L. Does the administration of meloxicam before head and neck radiotherapy reduce the risk of mandibular osteoradionecrosis? An animal model study. Clin Oral Investig. 2021 Jan 2. doi: 10.1007/s00784-020-03701-x. Online ahead of print.

RICE D., GRANDHI A., ROQUE-TORRES GD., GUO J., BAKLAND L. Microcomputed tomography of calcium-hydroxide exposed vital nerve tissue: a pilot protocol. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. Volume 130, Issue 2, August 2020, Pages e66-e67. DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2020.03.027.

ROQUE-TORRES GD, NISHIYAMA NC, STANBOULY S, MAO XW. Assessment of Global Ocular Structure Following Spaceflight Using a Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) Imaging Method. J Vis Exp. 2020 Oct 27;(164). doi: 10.3791/61227.

ROQUE-TORRES GD, KWON SR,OYOYO U, LI Y. Measurement of erosion depth using microcomputed tomography and light microscopy. Microsc Res Tech. 2020;1–6.

YAMASAKI MC, ROQUE-TORRES GD, PERONI LV, NASCIMENTO EHL, SALMON B, OLIVEIRA ML, FREITAS DQ, CORRER-SOBRINHO L. A modified protocol of mandibular osteoradionecrosis induction in rats with external beam radiation therapy. Clinical Oral Investigations vol 24, pag 1561–1567(2020)

KELLN, TAYLOR, LEGGITT, V. LEROY, ROQUE-TORRES, GD AND NICK, KEVIN E. Storm-Dominated Diatomite: Processes And Deposition From Micro-Texture. GSA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, USA 2020. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 5 DOI:10.1130/abs/2019AM-339425

OVERBEY EG, DA SILVEIRA WA, STANBOULY S, NISHIYAMA NC, ROQUE-TORRES GD, PECAUT MJ, ZAWIEJA DC, WANG C, WILLEY JS, DELP MD, HARDIMAN G, MAO XW. Spaceflight influences gene expression, photoreceptor integrity, and oxidative stress-related damage in the murine retina. Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 16;9(1):13304.

YAMASAKI MC, NEJAIM Y, ROQUE-TORRES GD, FREITAS DQ. Meloxicam as a Radiation-Protective Agent on Mandibles of Irradiated Rats. Brazilian Dental Journal (2017) 28(2): 249-255.

NOGUEIRA DOS SANTOS LA, JÁCOME LOPES L, ROQUE-TORRES GD; FAGUNDES DE OLIVEIRA V, FREITAS DQ. Complex Odontoma: a case report with micro-computed tomography findings. Case Reports in Dentistry 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3584751

The images above are used with permission. © 2024 Micro Imaging Research Facility, LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY.