Manorika Ratnaweera

Manorika Ratnaweera is a Senior Lecturer and Dentist at the Dental School of The University of Western Australia, actively contributing to clinical dentistry and academic education. Her role encompasses clinical practice, research leadership, and curriculum development within Australia's tertiary dental healthcare system.

Her academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Dentistry from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (awarded September 30, 2003), focusing on "A clinical evaluation of agar alginate combined impression: Dimensional accuracy of dies by a new master crown technique"

Dr. Ratnaweera's research program bridges clinical dentistry and public health, with primary emphases on oral surgery complications, restorative material efficacy, and educational innovation. Her oral surgery work investigates post-extraction complications through epidemiological studies of risk factors and prevalence, while her restorative dentistry research examines fissure sealant performance and bonding techniques. She has pioneered adaptations in dental education during global crises, particularly addressing pandemic disruptions and economic inflation impacts on clinical training.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal consistent thematic trajectories: clinical outcomes research in oral surgery (comprising 60% of output), dental materials science (25%), and educational innovation (15%). The oral surgery studies demonstrate methodological rigor through retrospective analyses and narrative reviews, while her educational work provides evidence-based frameworks for crisis-responsive teaching. Collectively, these publications form an interconnected body of work examining healthcare system resilience across clinical, material, and pedagogical dimensions.

Her scholarly impact is recognized through:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (awarded January 30, 2024)
• Best Clinical Tutor award (2023)

Dr. Ratnaweera maintains active engagement in academic leadership through curriculum development, notably co-designing DENT4215 Introduction to Clinical Dental Practice 1 and DENT4219 Introduction to Clinical Dental Practice 2 Part 2 during 2022. Her clinical tutor role, honored with the Best Clinical Tutor award, reflects her commitment to mentored learning within the dental school's teaching hospital environment. Current research directions indicate growing emphasis on interprofessional collaboration frameworks and economic analyses of dental healthcare delivery.