Dr Sami Bissasu, MPros RCSEd, MFDS RCSEng, PhD (Fixed Prosth), MSc (Fixed Prosth), LDS RCS Eng PGCert TLHE, FHEA

Profile

Dr Sami Bissasu is a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Prosthodontics at the Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). He brings over 20 years of clinical experience and a strong academic foundation in restorative dentistry and prosthodontics. He graduated from Damascus University in 2003 and went on to complete an MSc in Fixed Prosthodontics in 2009, followed by a PhD in the same field in 2015. He holds Membership in Prosthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, MFDS and LDS from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, as well as postgraduate certifications in Dental Implantology and in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

His clinical interests include aesthetic dentistry, minimally invasive techniques, implant prosthodontics, and full-mouth rehabilitation. With experience spanning both the UK and abroad, he integrates clinical practice with education to support evidence-based and patient-centred dentistry.

Centre: Centre for Teaching and Innovation 

Teaching

Dr Bissasu has more than 20 years of experience in dental education, having held academic appointments in Syria and the UK. At Queen Mary University of London, he currently leads the undergraduate Fixed Prosthodontics programme and contributes to teaching across the Restorative Dentistry department. His academic responsibilities include curriculum development and delivery in areas such as digital dentistry, dental occlusion, management of tooth wear, and minimally invasive prosthodontic techniques. He also contributes to postgraduate education, delivering teaching in clinical skills laboratories for the Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent) in Prosthodontics.

His teaching career includes appointments at King’s College London and the College of Medicine and Dentistry (previously BPP University), where he was involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate training in Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry. Earlier in his career, he served as a clinical lecturer at the University of Kalamoon and as a supervisor in Fixed Prosthodontics at Damascus University.

Dr Bissasu has received several recognitions for his teaching, including the Golden Hand (Most Skilled) Award and the Favourite Clinical Staff Award, both presented at the Midway Ball by students at QMUL. His teaching style is characterised by clarity, structure, and an emphasis on developing both technical skill and critical thinking among students.

Research

Research Interests:

Dr Bissasu’s research interests focus on restorative materials, ceramic systems, bonding strategies, and minimally invasive prosthodontic techniques. His PhD investigated the clinical application of lithium disilicate resin-bonded fixed partial dentures, and he has contributed to a number of peer-reviewed journals, including Dental Materials, The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, and Clinical Case Reports. His publications explore topics ranging from the flexural strength and surface treatment of ceramics to clinical innovations in isolation techniques and occlusal verification.

In recognition of his research, he was awarded second prize in the postgraduate category of the IADR/Unilever Syria Hatton Award in 2015. He also serves as a reviewer for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry and remains actively engaged in research collaborations within the Institute of Dentistry at QMUL. His academic work aims to bridge clinical application and scientific inquiry, contributing to improved prosthodontic outcomes and enhanced educational practices in dentistry.

Publications

2021 – present: Reviewer in The Journal of Prosthodontic Dentistry; JPD

• Alkhatib OA, Bissasu S, Daud A. Dental floss ties for rubber dam isolation: A proposed classification and a new technique. J Prosthodont. 2023 Jan;32(1):83-89. 3
• Bissasu M, Bissasu S. An intraoral method of verifying interocclusal distance for completely edentulous patients. J Prosthet Dent. 2021 Feb 17:S0022-3913(20)30587- 4.
• Cattell MJ, Patzig C, Bissasu S, Tsoutsos A, Karpukhina N. Nucleation efficacy and flexural strength of novel leucite glass-ceramics. Dent Mater. 2020 May;36(5):592- 602.
• Uwalaka CO, Karpukhina N, Cao X, Bissasu S, Wilson RM, Cattell MJ. Effect of sandblasting, etching and resin bonding on the flexural strength/bonding of novel glass-ceramics. Dent Mater. 2018 Oct;34(10):1566-1577.
• Bissasu, S. (2015) Clinical and laboratory study of lithium disilicate glass ceramic resinbonded fixed partial dentures (Doctoral dissertation) Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Syria.
• Bissasu SM, Al-houri NA. (2014) Replacement of missing lateral incisors with lithium disilicate glass-ceramic veneer fixed dental prostheses: A clinical report. Clin Case Rep;2:128-132.
• Bissasu S. (2014) Clinical success of all-ceramic veneer fixed dental prostheses and their effect on plaque and gingival indices. Journal of Al-Baath University;36. (in Arabic)
• Bissasu S, Farah A. (2013) Crown next to veneer next to crown. Reflect, Ivoclar Vivadent;2:8-11.
• Bseso S, Farah A. (2012) Crowns vs veneers. Dental Tribune, Middle East & Africa ed.;1:8-9.
• Bissasu, S. (2009) An in vitro study to compare the effect of several clinical methods of polishing porcelain on surface smoothness and flexural strength of feldspathic porcelain (Master’s thesis) Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Syria.