Working as both a specialist in prosthetic dentistry in practice and a researcher at NIOM, Mina Aker Sagen divides her time between treating patients and carrying out research on dental materials at NIOM. For her, the two roles are not separate worlds but closely connected parts of the same profession, and they give her a perspective that would be harder to achieve if she worked only in one of them.

The idea of doing research came while she was still a student. She worked as a dental assistant for NIOM’s former CEO, Jon E. Dahl, and was introduced to research environments and questions about dental materials.

“I hadn’t thought about a PhD until then. But working as a dental assistant for Jon opened my eyes to research. I was impressed by the way he worked and the knowledge he had about the materials, and that’s when the idea of doing research myself came.”

At NIOM she works with dental materials, with ceramics as her main focus. She also supervises master’s students and visiting researchers and lectures for colleagues and practitioners.

Bridging two perspectives

For Sagen, the combination of being a practicing dentist and a researcher is central. Each role informs the other.

“It’s a clear advantage. I do research on the same materials that I use in the clinic. That means I see both their possibilities and their limitations. I know what the dentist’s challenges are, and I can take those questions with me into research.”

Her clinical work in prosthodontics shows her the challenges dentists face when applying materials in real cases. In the lab, she can explore in detail why materials behave the way they do. Questions raised in practice often lead to research ideas, while results from the lab can be useful in patient treatment.

“Sometimes a case in the clinic makes me wonder: why did this material behave like that? In the lab I can look more closely, test it systematically and get an answer. Other times, the research shows me something I can bring straight back to my patients.”

Teaching and knowledge sharing

Sagen is increasingly engaged in teaching. In the spring of 2026, she will do lectures for the Norwegian Dental Association’s continuing education programme and for local associations. Therefore, she is currently working with and producing the material for the lectures.

“It’s important that dentists have access to updated knowledge about materials. Things develop quickly and being able to explain both the science and how it looks in practice is something I value.”

Collaboration at NIOM and beyond

At NIOM, Sagen values the combination of research freedom and collaboration. She works with universities, specialist clinics and both Nordic and European partners, ensuring that projects remain relevant and that results reach practitioners.

“At NIOM we are encouraged to collaborate outside the institution –That makes the projects stronger and keeps them relevant.”

Within NIOM, she benefits from colleagues with expertise in fields like chemistry, toxicology and microbiology. This interdisciplinary environment strengthens her own work and provides a wider context for dental materials research.

Linking research, practice and patients

In her daily work, Sagen moves between the clinic, the laboratory and the lecture hall. This allows her to contribute to patient care, to the scientific understanding of dental materials, and to the continuing education of dentists.

“For me it’s about connecting the pieces. Treating patients, doing research and teaching are not separate things – they belong together. That’s what motivates me,” she concludes.