Dr Najith Amarasena

• Biography/ Background

  Dr Najith Amarasena is a Research Fellow at the Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), at the University of Adelaide. He obtained his PhD from Niigata University, Japan and also holds a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Science degrees from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Najith is a dentist by profession and received his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He is also a recipient of the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship from the Ministry of Higher Education, Japan.
  
  Before coming to Adelaide, Najith was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Niigata University, Japan and a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He had also worked for the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka as a Consultant in Dental Public Health.
  
  Najith is currently involved in producing educational material for dental practitioners and the general public in the Dental Practice Education Research Unit (DPERU). He is among one of the few who develop quizzes for online Continuous Professional Development (CPD online) program of the DPERU. Najith has also worked in the Dental Statistics and Research Unit (DSRU) in producing a series of research reports including the Child Dental Health Survey (CDHS), Australia. He has been working with Indigenous Oral Health Unit (IOHU) to explore the relationship between oral health and social and emotional wellbeing of the Indigenous Australians. Najith has recently embarked on working with Oral Health Practitioner Practice Activity and Oral Health of Older Adults projects  of Health Sevices Research Unit (HSRU) and reviewing and updating of Oral Health Messages with the Oral Health Promotion Clearinghouse. He has also been a member of the expert team that involved in a consultancy research contract with Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar on water fluoridation assessment. He is one of the few ARCPOH staff who have been involved working with all the units in ARCPOH. Najith has also been a member of an expert working group that reviews nutrional reference values for fluoride for Australia and New Zealand and that is funded by the Department of Health, Federal Government of Australia. He has supervised a couple of Masters students as well as  a Doctoral candidate and mentored several postgraduate students in a research environment all of who successfully graduated recently. He is currently working on periodontal disease collaborative research with Niigata University, Japan. 

   

• Qualifications

  • PhD (Japan)
  • FJSPS (Japan)
  • MD (Sri Lanka)
  • MSc (Sri Lanka)
  • BDS (Sri Lanka)

• Teaching Interests

  Najith has been involved in teaching in the following courses.
  • Community Dentistry
  • Geriatric Dentistry
  • Evidence Based Dentistry I and II
  • Population Health (Dental Science Practice 1)
  • Social Context of Dentistry

• Research Interests

  Epidemiology of periodontal disease including relationship between systemic health and periodontal disease, micronutrients and periodontal disease, tobacco use and periodontal disease, dentine hypersensitivity, dental caries and family structure, dental practice education, child oral health, indigenous oral health, oral health services research, oral health promotion.

• Research Funding

  Najith has contributed in the capacity of co-CI and AI to NHMRC Project Grant applications since 2014. He is currently one of the CIs of the Colgate Oral Care Grant and a memeber of the expert team that involved in a consultancy research contract with the Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar on water fluoridation assessment. He has also been a part to the contract research grant which was obtained by the University of Adelaide from the Department of Health, Federal Government of Australia to review nutritional reference values for fluoride in Australia and New Zealand. 

  Before coming to Australia Najith was successful in obtaining a grant from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for his postdoctoral research in Japan. He also received a travel grant from National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka to present his research findings at the 84th IADR general conference which was held in Brisbane, Australia in 2006.

• Publications

  http://www.researcherid.com/rid/O-6262-2014

  Google Scholar

  A. Books/Monographs/Research Reports
  

  Amarasena N and Ha DH (2012). Fissure sealant use among children attending school dental services: Child Dental Health Survey Australia 2008. Dental Statistics and Research Series no. 59. Cat no. DEN 220. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (internet only).
  
  Mejia GC, Amarasena N, Ha DH, Roberts-Thomson KF and Ellershaw AC (2012). Child Dental Health Survey Australia 2007: 30-year trends in child oral health. Dental statistics and research series no. 60. Cat. no. DEN 217. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (internet only) (cited by 49).
  
  Ha DH, Amarasena N and Crocombe L (2013). The dental health of Australia's children by remoteness: Child Dental Health Survey Australia 2009. Dental Statistics and Research Series no. 63. Cat no. DEN 225. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (cited by 26)
  
  AIHW (2012). Chronic conditions and oral health: research report series no. 56. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [DEN 221] (internet only). Contributing authors: Harford J and Amarasena N.
  
  Ellershaw AC, Ha DH, Amarasena N (2014). The dental health of Australian children by Indigenous status. Child Dental Health Survey 2010. Dental Statistics and Research Series no. xx. Cat no. DEN xxx. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (Internet only - accepted for publication).

  Brennan DS, Ju X, Amarasena N et al. Patterns of dental services use by Australian children. pp.143-167. In: Oral health of Australian children: The National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14, eds. Do L, Spencer J.  University of Adelaide Press, 2017(cited by 89).

  Baines J, Foley M, Spencer AJ, Peres M, Mueller U, Cunningham J, Gnanamanickam E, Amarasena N. Australian and New Zealand Nutrient Reference Values for Fluoride. A report prepared for the Australian Government, Department of Health and the New Zealand Ministry of Health. Department of Health, 2017.

   

  B. Full papers

  Amarasena N, Luzzi L, Brennan D. Effect of Different Frequencies of Dental Visits on Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease: A Scoping Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6858. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20196858

  Amarasena N, Chrisopoulos S, Jamieson LM, Luzzi L. Oral Health of Australian Adults: Distribution and Time Trends of Dental Caries, Periodontal Disease and Tooth Loss. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(21):11539. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111539. 

  Hanna K, Nair R, Amarasena N Armfield JM, Brennan DS. Temporomandibular dysfunction experience is associated with oral health-related quality of life: an Australian national study. BMC Oral Health 21, 432 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-021-01773-z

  Balasubramanian M, Keuskamp D, Amarasena N, Brennan D. Predictors for oral and general health outcomes and quality of life among older people attending general practice clinics in South Australia. Gerodontology 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ger.12534

  Amarasena N, Gnanamanickam E, Miller J. Effects of interdental cleaning devices in preventing dental caries and periodontal diseases: a scoping review. Australian Dental Journal 2019;64:327-337. https://doi.org/10.1111/ADJ.12722.

  Amarasena N, Haag D, Peres KG. A scoping review of caries risk management protocols in Australia and New Zealand. Australian Dental Journal 2019;64:19-26. doi: 10.1111/adj.12653.

  Amarasena N, Spencer AJ, Roberts-Thomson KF, Brennan DS. Dental knowledge and dental service utilization: a 2-year follow-up study. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 2018;46:336-342. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12371

  Amarasena N, Keuskamp D, Balasubramanian M, Brennan DS. Health behaviours and quality of life in independently living South Australians aged 75+ years. Australian Dental Journal 2018;63:156-162. https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12583

  Amarasena N, Teusner DN, Brennan DS, Satur J. Practice characteristics and service provision rates of dental hygienists in Australia. International Journal of Dental Hygiene 2018;16:125-133. https://doi.org/10.1111/idh.12301

  Keuskamp D, Amarasena N, Balasubramanian M, Brennan DS. General health, well-being and oral health of patients older than 75 years attending health assessments. Australian Journal of Primary Health 2018 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY17060 

  Teusner DN, Satur J, Gardner SP, Amarasena N, Brennan DS. Variations in Australian dental therapy practice by practitioner and workplace characteristics. International Dental Journal 2018. https://doi.org/10.1111/idj.12382 

  Brennan DS, Keuskamp D, Balasubramanian M, Amarasena N. General health and well-being among primary care patients aged 75+ years: associations with living conditions, oral health and activities. Australasian Journal on Ageing 2018; 37(1): E1-E6. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12475

  Amarasena N, Kostas K, Skilton M. et al., Factors Associated with Routine Dental Attendance among Aboriginal Australians. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2016;27(1A):67-80.

  Teusner DN, Amarasena N, Satur J, Chrisopoulos S, Brennan DS. Dental service provision by oral health therapists, dental hygienists and dental therapists in Australia: implications for workforce modelling. Community Dent Health 2016;33:15-22.

  Teusner DN, Amarasena N, Satur J, Chrisopoulos S, Brennan DS. Applied scope of practice of oral health therapists, dental hygienists and dental therapists. Aust Dent J 2016; 61:342-9. (cited by 20)

  Amarasena N, Lallo R. Teething and sleep difficulties: findings from Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2015; 39(4):396.

  Amarasena N, Kostas K, Skilton M. et. al., Associations with dental caries experience among a convenience sample of Aboriginal Australian adults. Australian Dent J 2015;60:471-8.

  Amarasena N, Kostas K, Skilton M. et. al., Psychological distress and self-rated oral health among a convenience sample of Indigenous Australians.  J Public Health Dent 2015; 75(2):126-33. (cited by 22)

  Amarasena N, Kapellas K, Skilton M. et. al., Oral health behaviours and perceptions reported by Indigenous Australians living in Darwin, Northern Territory. Community Dent Health 2014; 31, 57-61.

  Amarasena N , Spencer J, Ou Y, Brennan D. Dentine hypersensitivity in Australian private practice patients. J Oral Rehabil 2011;38:52-60. (cited by 112)
  
  Amarasena N, Spencer J, Ou Y, Brennan D. Dentine hypersensitivity - Australian dentists' perspective. Australian Dent J 2010;55:181-187. (cited by 54)

  Jayasinghe M, Tilakaratne A, Amarasena N, Mack F, Anandamoorthy T. Impact of marginal contact of removable acrylic partial dentures on periodontal parameters. International Journal of Research in Medical and Health Science 2013;1:1-11.

  Wellappuli N, Amarasena N. Influence of family structure on dental caries experience of preschool children in Sri Lanka. Caries Res 2012;46:208-212. (cited by 73)
  
  Amarasena J, Jayasinghe V. Amarasena N, Yamada Y. Oral stereognostic ability during adaptation to new dentures in experienced and non-experienced complete denture wearers. J Oral Biosci 2010;52:181-186.
  
  Matsumoto S, Ogawa H, Soda S, Hirayama S, Amarasena N, Aizawa Y, Miyazaki H. Effect of antimicrobial periodontal treatment and maintenance on serum adiponectin in type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Clin Periodontol. 2009 ;36(2):142-8. (cited by 44)
  
  Amarasena N, Yoshihara A, Hirotomi T, Takano N, Miyazaki H. Association between serum calcium and periodontal disease progression in non-institutionalized elderly. Gerodontology 2008;25:245-250. (cited by 42)
  
  Amarasena J, Amarasena N, Yamada Y. Role of Oral Mucosa in the Detection of Different Sizes of Objects in a group of young adults. J Oral Biosci 2007; 49:286-291.
  
  Amarasena JKC, Ariyawardana A, Amarasena N, Yamada Y. Mastication and swallowing in patients with oral submucous fibrosis. The Asian J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2007; 19:145-149.
  
  Ogawa H, Yoshihara A, Amarasena N, Hirotomi T, Miyazaki H. Association between serum albumin and periodontal disease in community-dwelling elderly. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2006;33: 312-316. (cited by 50)
  
  Rahardjo A, Yoshihara A, Amarasena N, Ogawa H, Nakashima K, Miyazaki H. Relationship between bleeding on probing and periodontal disease progression in community-dwelling older adults. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2005;32:1129-1133.
  
  Amarasena N, Ogawa H, Yoshihara A, Hanada N, Miyazaki H. Serum vitamin C-periodontal relationship in community-dwelling elderly Japanese. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2005;32:93-97. (cited by 103)
  
  Amarasena N, Ikeda N, Win KKS, Yamaguchi Y, Takehara T, Miyazaki H. Factors associated with severe periodontitis in rural Cambodia. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health 2004;16(1):50-53.
  
  Amarasena J, Rajaratne A.A.J, Balasuriya P, Amarasena N. Effect of ambient temperature on recovery from muscular exercise. Ceylon Journal of Medical Sciences 2004;47:29-36.
  
  Amarasena JKC, Thuthikaran V, Perera HAED, Gunarathna MMNN, Amarasena HDN. Reliability of oral temperature measurements in assessing core temperature during recovery from muscular exercise. Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine 2004;13:24-29.
  
  Amarasena N, Ekanayaka AN, Herath L, Miyazaki H. Association between smoking betel chewing and gingival bleeding in rural Sri Lanka. Journal of Cliinical Periodontology 2003;30:403-8. (cited by 64)
  
  Amarasena N, Ekanayaka AN, Herath L and Miyazaki H. Socio-demographic risk indicators for tooth mortality in rural Sri Lankans. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health 2003;15:105-10.
  
  Amarasena N, Ekanayaka AN, Herath L, Miyazaki H. Response (The smoking-periodontitis association in developing countries). Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 2003;31:159-60.
  
  Amarasena N, Ekanayaka AN, Herath L, Miyazaki H. Tobacco use and oral hygiene as risk indicators for periodontitis. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 2002;30:115-23. (cited by 162)
  
  Amarasena N, Ikeda N, Win KKS, Yamaguchi Y, Takehara T, Miyazaki H. Periodontal status of rural inhabitants in Prek Russey, Cambodia. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health 2002;14:105-9.
  
  Amarasena HDN, Jiffry MTM. The prevalence of periodontal disease amongst diabetics in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Dental Journal 1993;22:18-24.

   

   

  Number of Citations: 1309 as of December 2023 (Google Scholar)

   

  C. Presentations

  Najith has presented his work in more than 20 international conferences and some of his pesentations where he was a presenting author/co-author are listed below. 

  Amarasena N. Periodontal disease and diabetes. Diabetes SA Expert Speaker Presentation, May 03 2022, Diabetes SA Head Office, Hilton, South Australia.

  Amarasena N. Dental Practice Education Research Unit (DPERU) - Evidence-based information for dental practitioners and general public. Adelaide Dental School Research Day, August 20 2021. National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide, South Australia. 

  Amarasena N, Yoshihara A, Miyazaki H. Associations between serum vitamin C, serum calcium and periodontal disease in community-dwelling older adults in Japan. International Collaborative Symposium on Development of Human Resources in Practical Oral Health and Treatment: Jointly Organized by the Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Indonesia and Niigata University Japan, Feb 11-13 2018 Jakarta, Indonesia.

  Amarasena N, Keuskamp D, Balasubramanian M, Brennan DS. Health Behaviours and Quality of Life in South Australian Older Adults. 57th Australian-New Zealand Division Annual Meeting, International Association for Dental Research (IADR-ANZ), 25-27 September 2017, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

  Amarasena N, Teusner DN, Chrisopoulos S, Brennan DS, Satur J. Practice Characteristics and Service Provision Rates of Dental Hygienists in Australia. State Population Health Conference Oct 22, 2016, Adelaide.

  Amarasena N, Kapellas K, Skilton MR, Maple-Brown LJ and Jamieson L. Associations with untreated dental caries experience among Aboriginal Australian adults. 2014 International Indigenous Oral Health Conference, 27-29 August 2014, National Wine Centre, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia.

  Amarasena N, Kapellas K, Skilton MR, Maple-Brown LJ and Jamieson L. Healthy-user effect and routine dental attendance among Indigenous Australians. 92nd General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), 25-28 June 2014, Cape Town, South Africa.

  Amarasena N, Ha D. Fissure sealant use in Australian School Dental Services (SDS). 52nd Australian-New Zealand Division Annual Meeting, International Association for Dental Research (IADR-ANZ), 22-26 September 2012, Denarau, Fiji.

  Roberts-Thomson K, Amarasena N, Do L, Bartold M. Periodontal health in an urban Indigenous population. 51st Australian / New Zealand Division Annual Meeting, International Association for Dental Research (IADR), 26-28 September 2011, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

  Mack F, Amarasena H, Jayasingha R, Anandamoorthy T. Impact of marginal contact of partial dentures on periodontal parameters. 89th IADR General Session, 16-19 March 2011, San Diego, California, United States of America.

  Jayasinghe RM, Tilakaratne A, Amarasena HDN, Mack F, Anandamoorthy T. Relieve of marginal contact of acrylic removable partial dentures and their effects on periodontal parameters. Gold Coast Health and Medical Research Conference December 2009.

  Wellappuli NC, Amarasena JKC, Chandrasekera A, Amarasena N, Kalyanaratne KA, Ruwanpura SMPM. Changes in periodontal tissues and gingival crevicular fluid with friction and non-friction methods of orthodontic treatment. Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka, 2007.

  Amarasena JKC, Jayasinghe V, Amarasena N, Gunarathna N, Perera E. Oral stereognostic ability (OSA) of edentulous patients with and without full dentures. Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lanka Dental Association, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, June 23-24, 2007.

  Amarasena J, Ariyawardana A, Amarasena N, Gunawardena P, Yamada Y. Oral perception and masticatory function in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients. 5th triennial meeting of the Commonwealth Dental Association, Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 01-03, 2006.

  Amarasena N, Yoshihara H, Hirotomi T, Takano N, Miyazaki H. Serum calcium and periodontal disease progression in community-dwelling elderly. 84th IADR General Session, Brisbane, Australia, June 28-July 01, 2006.

  Amarasena J, Amarasena N, Gunarathna N, Perera E, Yamada Y. Oral perception of different sizes of objects in young adults. 84th IADR General Session, Brisbane, Australia, June 28-July 01, 2006.

  Thuthikaran V, Amarasena J, Perera H.A.E.D, Gunarathna M.M.N.N, Amarasena N. Reliability of oral temperature measurements during recovery from muscular exercise. Peradeniya University Research sessions, Sri Lanka 2004.

  Rahardjo A, Yoshihara A, Amarasena N, Ogawa H, Miyazaki H. Relationship between bleeding on probing and periodontal disease progression in community-dwelling older adults. 6th AAPD General Session, Indonesia, 2004.

  Amarasena N, Ekanayaka A, Herath L, Miyazaki H. Factors associated with tooth mortality in rural Sri Lankans. 81st IADR General Session, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 25-28, 2003.

  Ogawa H, Yoshihara A, Amarasena N. Miyazaki H. Influence of tobacco smoking and the serum level of vitamin C on periodontal disease in elderly patients. 81st IADR General Session, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 25-28, 2003.

  Amarasena J, Amarasena N. Reliability of oral temperature measurements in assessing recovery from muscular exercise. 81st IADR General Session, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 25-28, 2003.

  Amarasena N, Miyazaki H. Tobacco use and oral hygiene as risk indicators for periodontitis. 2nd regular meeting in the year 2002 of Niigata Dental Society, November 9, 2002.

  Amarasena N, Ekanayaka A, Herath L, Miyazaki H. Oral hygiene, tobacco and attachment loss - a Sri Lankan perspective. 80th IADR General Session, San Diego, USA, March 6-9, 2002.

  Amarasena N, Ekanayaka A, Herath L, Miyazaki H. Smoking, betel chewing and gingivitis in rural Sri Lankans. 79th IADR General Session, Chiba, Japan, June 27-30, 2001.

   

• Professional Associations

  Editorial Board Member:
  

  • Frontiers in Oral Health
  • Journal of Dental Health 
  • Journal of International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry
  • International Journal of Research in Medical and Health Sciences

  Reviewer:

  Najith has been volunteering his service as a peer reviewer in over 20 international journals so far.
  
  Membership in Professional Organizations
  

   

  • International Association for Dental Research: Member
  • University of Adelaide Alumni Association: Member
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Alumni Association in Australia (JSPSAAA): Fellow/Member
  • Niigata Dental Society: Member
  • South Australian Sri Lankan Doctors Association (SASDA) - Member
  • Sri Lanka Dental Association: Life Member
  • College of Community Dentistry, Sri Lanka: Life Member
  • National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka: Member
  • University of Peradeniya Alumni Association: Life Member

   

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 2 Jan 2024

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