About Arturo J. Mendez, DDS
Dr. Mendez was born and raised in Mexico City. He obtained his dental degree and graduated with honors from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He practiced general dentistry for four years before his acceptance to the prestigious Graduate Prosthodontics program at The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. He received a certificate in Prosthodontics and a Master of Science degree in 1978. Upon completion of his advanced training, Dr. Mendez was recruited by the Louisiana State University, School of Dentistry in New Orleans. He joined LSU as a full-time faculty member with the rank of Assistant Professor. During his 37-year tenure at LSU, he was promoted to the ranks of Associate Professor and Professor, with tenure. He combined his academic responsibilities with an active faculty dental practice, devoted to his specialty of Prosthodontics. He has published multiple articles in scientific journals, book chapters and educational manuals. He has lectured extensively nationally and internationally. In 2001 he was awarded the prestigious “Dr. Allen A. Copping Award for Excellence in Teaching.” Dr. Mendez was appointed chairman of the department of Prosthodontics at LSU Health Sciences Center, School of Dentistry in 2008. He was the director of the Implant Clinic and the chairman of the Implant Committee at this institution. He held these positions until his retirement from the University in July of 2015. His fields of interest are Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics and Oral Implantology. As chairman of Prosthodontics, Dr. Mendez supervised all of the activities of the Department, the Advanced Education program in Prosthodontics, the Implants and Esthetics Fellowship program in Prosthodontics, Central Laboratory Services and the Dental Laboratory Technology program. Dr. Mendez is a member of the Academy of Osseointegration, the Carl O. Boucher Prosthodontic Conference, the C. Edmund Kells Honor Society, the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society (Theta Kappa Chapter) and the Pierre Fauchard Academy International Dental Organization. He was awarded fellowship in the American College of Dentists in 1994. He served as president of the Carl O. Boucher Prosthodontic Conference and the OKU National Dental Honor Society (Theta Kappa Chapter). He is past president of the Louisiana Chapters of the American College of Dentists and the American Association for Dental Research. He has maintained an extramural practice in Metairie, Louisiana, devoted to Fixed, Removable and Implant Prosthodontics, since 2005. Dr. Mendez enjoys outdoor activities, skiing and tennis. He and his wife Chay have two married sons, residing in the Austin area. They fully enjoy being grandparents of two beautiful girls.
