Rachel Uppgaard, DDS, FACS

Clinical Associate Professor
Rachel Uppgaard

Contact

Titles

Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Education

DDS, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, 2012
BA, University of Minnesota, 2007
Graduate Training Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

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Summary

Dr. Rachel Uppgaard is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University of Minnesota. She currently holds the Swift Professorship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is the Interim School of Dentistry Public Health Liaison.

Dr. Uppgaard serves as a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Minnesota Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. She has previously served in private practice, as well as a staff surgeon at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. She is currently an attending Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Uppgaard is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon whose excellence is documented through her many awards, most recently including the 2023 Class of 2025 Professor of the Year and the 2022 Stuebner Scholars Award from the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. Uppgaard is a dedicated educator with a legacy dating back to 2006, serving as a teaching assistant, leading to her current professorship in the division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Her interests include TMJ surgery, nerve repair, trauma surgery, orthognathic surgery, pathology, dental implants and severe odontogenic infections.

Research

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Uppgaard R, Nadeau R, Schiffman E, Stiharu T, Johnson K, Hodges J, Velly AM. (2024) Occurrence and predictors of postoperative preauricular and masticatory muscle pain symptoms after surgical removal of third molars: A single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing dental assistants supporting the mandible and the Restful Jaw device. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Johnson A, Huang B, Galina IC, Ngo A, Uppgaard R. (2023) Splatter generated by oral surgery irrigation and its implication for infection control. Clinical Oral Investigations. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-023-05266-x

Thelen, R, Hormann J, Uppgaard R, Evans M, Flynn P. (2023). A comparison of simulation and traditional local anesthesia teaching methods among dental hygiene students. Journal of Dental Education DOI: 10.1002/jdd.13198

Uppgaard R et al. (2023) The effect of smartphone filming on student confidence in dental anesthesia techniques: A randomized trial. Journal of Dental Education. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.13168

Uppgaard, R. 2022 ACOMS Elaine A. Stuebner Scholars Award Winning Essay. (2022) Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology. DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2022.05.005

Katsoulas NG, Tosios KI, Lynch HA, Uppgaard R, Koutlas IG. Polymorphous adenocarcinoma, low grade variant, colliding with a neurofibroma. Head and Neck Pathology 2021.

Uppgaard, R; Johnson A. (2021) Temporary paresthesia of the auriculotemporal nerve following injection with articaine. Northwest Dentistry 100(1)37-38.

Uppgaard, R. (2018) Addressing gender discrimination in oral and maxillofacial surgery via the social norms approach. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 76 (8)1604-1605.

Uppgaard R. (2017). Case Report: Retention of a Thermoplastic-Lined Dental Sleep Appliance. Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine, 4(1)19-20.

Uppgaard-Penaz R; Templeton RB. (2015) Maxillomandibular advancement for obstructive sleep apnea. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology, 26 (4) 197-202

Non-refereed Journal Articles, Essays, or Book Chapters

Tiwana PS, Kademani D. (2024) Atlas of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Edition 2. Elsevier.

Chapter 10 Routine Extraction of Teeth

Uppgaard R; Brown B; Svoboda L. (2014) Multiple facial fractures and lacerations in a growing patient. Approaches in Critical Care, 12:6-7.

Author of OMSCORE Chapter (2020): Dentoalveolar injuries and Splinting Techniques

Abstracts

Johnson A, Uppgaard R. (2022) Metastatic small cell carcinoma of the mandible: a diagnostic challenge. Accepted for publication 4/4/2022 on IAOMS website.

Gopalakrishnan R, Kaimal S, Wagner JE, MacMillan ML and Uppgaard RM. (2020) Spectrum of Oral Premalignant and Malignant Lesions in Fanconi Anemia Patients: Diagnostic and Management Challenges. International Association of Oral Pathology Annual Meeting.

Hughes, P; Nazmul-Hossain, A; Gopalakrishnan, R; Rohrer, M; Patel, K; Emamian, E; Rhodus, N; Uppgaard, R; Moser, K. (2009) Correlation of minor salivary gland biopsy focal score and unstimulated salivary flow rates in patients with primary Sjogren’s Syndrome, taking into consideration steroid use. AAOMS Annual Meeting

Posters or Exhibitions

Tran NQH, Lovinger C, Huang B, Uppgaard R. (4/28/2023) Evaluation of 3D Virtual Reality Local Anesthesia Injection Simulation Software for Dental Student Pre-Clinical Training. Star of the North Table Clinics, Minnesota.

Lynn S, Johnson A, Uppgaard R. (5/5/2022) The Use of Smartphone Recording Technology for Self-Evaluation by Health Profession Students During Preclinical Education. Virtual presentation.

Johnson A, Uppgaard R. (2022) Metastatic small cell carcinoma of the mandible: a diagnostic challenge. Virtual presentation.

Sethi N; Gopalakrishnan R, Uppgaard R. (2021) A rare case of oral cavity soft tissue perineurioma in a pediatric patient. American Association of Pediatric Dentistry Conference.

Johnson A; Ho, D; Uppgaard, R. (2021) Evaluation of splatter distribution of irrigation methods to minimize spread of SARS-CoV-2. International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons NextGen Online Conference.

Uppgaard, R. Correlation of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Focal Score and Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rates (2010), Star of the North Table Clinics, Minnesota

Uppgaard, R. Correlation of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Focal Score and Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rates (2010), Midwest Dental Student Research Conference, Iowa City, Iowa

Uppgaard, R. Correlation of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Focal Score and Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rates (2010), Dean’s Day, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

Uppgaard, R. Correlation of Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Focal Score and Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rates (2009), AAOMS Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada

Clinical

Board Certifications

Board certified, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery