Researcher Spotlight: Luis A. Mendez: Advancing Digital Tools in Practice‑Based Research

March 11, 2026
Brittni Ball
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Member Spotlights

What does it take to make digital tools work smoothly in busy dental practices—not just in theory, but in day‑to‑day care? In our Network, practitioners like Luis A. Mendez, DDS, help answer that question by testing and refining technology in real clinical workflows.

Dr. Mendez played an important role in the Network by helping practices integrate mobile apps, tablets, and intraoral cameras to support practice‑based research. His work strengthened our ability to collect high‑quality data directly from clinics and to support teams participating in the multisite mDentistry eHygiene study led by Dr. Jin Xiao and Dr. Dorota Kopycka‑Kedzierawski (Director of the Network’s Northeast Node) at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Supporting Technology Across 12 Dental Practices

During his time with our Network, Dr. Mendez helped move digital tools from “installed” to “actually used” in busy clinics. He supported 12 practices as they incorporated tablet-based apps and intraoral cameras into their daily workflows, including for the eHygiene study, which used patient‑captured images and virtual hygiene exams during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Beyond setup, he was the point person when questions or glitches came up—testing devices, troubleshooting connections, and working with dentists and hygienists to fit these tools into existing appointment flows. His guidance helped teams adjust step by step, so that digital data collection and virtual assessments became a practical part of care rather than an extra burden.

Translating Research Protocols Into Everyday Clinical Workflows

Dr. Mendez shared that this experience strengthened his project management and interdisciplinary collaboration skills. Working across multiple sites gave him insight into how research tools must adapt to the realities of busy clinical environments. He gained experience translating research protocols into practical clinic workflows and developed a deeper understanding of the feasibility considerations required for integrating digital health tools into routine dental care.

His contributions aligned directly with the goals of the eHygiene study, which aimed to evaluate how effectively dental teams and patients could use mobile health tools to support virtual examinations, reduce PPE use, and maintain safe care during the pandemic.

Music as patient support

Outside the clinic and research settings, Dr. Mendez brings a different kind of care to patients and families: music. While training at Eastman and working at the Wilmot Cancer Center, he began playing the grand piano in the center’s lobby during breaks; patients and family members often stopped to listen and described the performances as calming and emotionally meaningful. One patient, Harley Bowman, later became a friend after hearing him play, and a longtime community member donated a family piano so Dr. Mendez could continue sharing music at the cancer center and beyond.

Bringing research and care together

Dr. Mendez is now an orthodontic resident in advanced specialty training at the University of Rochester. This combination of rigorous, practice-based research and quiet, human-centered gestures—helping clinics adopt digital tools one workflow at a time while offering moments of comfort at a piano—illustrates a single throughline: improving patient care both technically and personally. His work shows that evidence-driven practice and community engagement are complementary; technology can make care safer and more efficient, and small acts of connection can make that care feel more humane.