Divakar Karanth, B.D.S., M.D.S, M Ortho RCS, M.S., joined UFCD on August 15 as a clinical associate professor in Orthodontics. He is engaged in teaching predoctoral students and orthodontics residents, continuing his research interests and providing patient care in UF Health Orthodontics Faculty Practice.
Karanth came to UF from Lexington, Kentucky, where he completed his orthodontics residency at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, or UKCD, in 2020. He also completed an Advanced Continuing Education Program in the UKCD Craniofacial Biology Division.
Karanth brings a great deal of teaching, clinical and research experience to UF. Prior to his time in Kentucky, Karanth spent 17 years teaching orthodontics after earning his master’s degree in 1995 from the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Karnatak University, in Karnataka, India. He also worked in a private orthodontics clinic for 10 years in Goa, India, and three years in Doha, Qatar.
His current research interests center on bone biology related to orthodontic tooth movement and, as part of his master’s thesis, he developed customized 3D-printed biodegradable scaffolds capable of bone regeneration. That project was awarded a pilot study grant from the National Institutes of Health, a National Science Foundation Grant, a first-place award during UKCD’s research day and the Charley Schultz Research Scholar Award at the American Association of Orthodontists in 2019.
Becoming a Patient at UF Health Dentistry
Faculty Practice Dental Centers
Our expert faculty provide all general and specialty dental care in one location in a private practice environment for patients 14 years of age and up. Fees are comparable to private practice.
- General Dentistry, Facial Pain, Prosthodontics & Maxillofacial Prosthodontics – 352.273.7954
- Endodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontics and Facial Pain – 352.273.7960
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery – 352.273.6731
- Oral Medicine – 352.273.6741
- Center for Implant Dentistry – 352.273.6715
Resident Dental Practices
Residents, who have a dental degree and are specializing in an area of dentistry, practice with faculty supervision. Fees are generally 80 percent of those in private practice.
- Endodontics (root canals) – 352.273.5430
- Operative Dentistry & Esthetics (fillings, crowns, veneers) – 352.273.7957
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery – 352.273.6731
- Orthodontics (braces) – 352.273.5651
- Pediatric Dental Care (children) – 352.273.7643
- Prosthodontics (crowns, bridges, dentures and dental implants) – 352.273.6910
- Periodontics (gum disease, dental implants) – 352.273.7846