Funded research projects

• The molecular profile of oral plasmoblastic lymphomas
• Detection of Genetic changes in Oral Carcinogenesis by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification
• Prognostic indicators in mucoepidermoid carcinoma

General research 

• Oral Carcinoma
• HIV/AIDS-related pathology of the head and neck 
• Forensic Dentistry
• Comparative Oral Pathology

Student research

• Flow cytometric evaluation of pulp, dental follicle and degradation.
• Tooth enamel thickness in the dentition of domestic dogs - a stereomicroscopic study. 

Publications

2012

van Zyl AW, van Heerden WFP.  Early detection of cancer: who is responsibile?  J Dent Assoc SA 2012; 67: 154.

van Zyl AW, van Heerden MB, Langenegger E, van Heerden WFP.  Correlation between dysplasia and ploidy status in oral leukoplakia.  Head and Neck Pathol 2012; 6: 322-27.

van Heerden WFP.  The dentist and oral health.  J Dent Assoc SA 2012; 67: 544.

Abram M, van Heerden WFP, Rheeder P, Girdler-Brown BV, van Zyl AW.  Epidemiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma.  J Dent Assoc SA 2012; 67: 550-53.

Bunn BK, van Heerden WFP.  HIV/AIDS associated malignancies of the head and neck.  J Dent Assoc SA 2012; 67: 590-92.

van Heerden WFP, Bunn BK.  Oropharyngeal carcinoma: what the dentist should know.  J Dent Assoc SA 2012; 67: 570-72.

van Zyl AW, Bunn BK.  Clinical features of oral cancer.  J Dent Assoc SA 2012; 67: 566-69.

Boy SC.  Leukoplakia and erythroplakia of the oral mucosa - a brief overview.  J Dent Assoc SA 2012; 67: 558-60.

Jacyk W, Fourie J, van Heerden WFP. Chronic ulcerative stomatitis and lichen planus: just a coincidence or a direct link between the two diseases? Dermatologia Kliniczna 2012, 14: 127-129.

Bernitz H, Bernitz Z, Steenkamp G, Blumenthal R, Stols G.  The individualisation of a dog bite mark: a case study highlighting bite mark analysis, with emphasis on the differences between dog and human bite marks.  Int J Legal Med.  2012; 126: 441-6.

Bunn BK, Carvalho M, Louw M, Vargas PA, van Heerden WFP.  Microscopic diversity in oral Kaposi sarcoma.  Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 2013; 115: 241-48.

  
2011

Nel S, van Heerden MB, Steenkamp G, van Heerden WFP, Boy SC. Immunohistochemical profile of odontogenic epithelium in developing dog teeth (Canis familiaris). Vet Path 2011, 48: 276-282.

Ker J, Du Toit-Prinsloo L, van Heerden WFP, Saayman G. Subendocardial fibrosis in left ventricular hypertrabeculation – cause or consequence. Clin Med Insights – Cardiology 2011, 5: 13-16.

van Heerden WFP, van Zyl AW. Burning mouth syndrome. SA Fam Prac 2011, 53: 8-10.

Fourie J, van Heerden WFP, McEachen SC, van Zyl AW. Chronic ulcerative stomatitis: a distinct clinical entity. J Dent Assoc SA 2011, 66: 119-121.

van Zyl AW, Fourie J, van Heerden WFP. Oral malodour. SA Fam Prac 2011, 53: 313-316.

Boy SC, van Heerden MB, Babb C, van Heerden WFP, Willem P. MYC aberrations and EBV infection are major role players in the pathogenesis of HIV-related plasmablastic lymphomas. Oral Oncol 2011, 47: 883-887.

van Heerden WFP, van Zyl AW. The role of the dentist in the early detection of oral cancer. J Dent Assoc SA 2011, 66: S1-S4.

2010

Bernitz H, Stols G. The application of affine transformations in matching distorted forensic samples with a common origin.  For Sci Int 2010, 201: 56-58.

Boy SC, van Heerden MB, Raubenheimer EJ, van Heerden WFP. Plasmablastic lymphomas with light chain restriction – plasmablastic extramedullary plasmacytomas? J Oral Pathol Med 2010, 39: 435-439. 

Ker J, du Toit-Prinsloo L, van Heerden WFP, Saayman G. Post-mortem echocardiography as a guide to cardiac autopsy—a worthwhile concept? Clin Med Insights – Cardiology 2010, 4: 59-61.  

Ker J, du Toit-Prinsloo L, van Heerden WFP, Saayman G. Sudden infant death syndrome and left ventricular hypertrabeculation - hidden arrhythmogenic entity? Clin Med Insights – Cardiology 2010, 4: 85-87.

Nel S, van Heerden MB, Steenkamp G, van Heerden WFP, Boy SC. Immunohistochemical profile of odontogenic epithelium in developing dog teeth (Canis familiaris). Vet Path 2011, 48: 276-282.

Stols G, Bernitz H. Reconstruction of Deformed Bite Marks Using Affine Transformations. J Forensic Sci 2010; 55: 784-787 

van Zyl AW, van Heerden WFP. Mouthwashes: A review for South African healthcare workers. SA Fam Prac 2010, 52: 121-127.

van Zyl AW, van Heerden WFP. Mouthwashes: A review for South African healthcare workers. Prof Nursing Today 2010, 14: 22-27.

van Zyl AW, van Heerden WFP. Mouthwashes: A review for South African healthcare workers. SA Phamaceutical Rev 2010, 48: 50-53.

van Heerden WFP, van Zyl AW. Oropharyngeal carcinoma: A sexually transmitted disease. SA Fam Prac 2010, 52: 576-578.

van Heerden WFP, van Zyl AW. Diagnosis and management of oral lesions and conditions in the newborn. SA Fam Prac 2010, 52: 489-491.

Bernitz H. The challenges and effects of globalisation on forensic dentistry. Int Dent J 2009;59:222-224. 

Boy SC, van Heerden MB, Wolfaardt M, Cockeran R, Gema E, van Heerden WFP. An investigation of the role of oral epithelial cells and Langerhans cells as possible HIV viral reservoirs. J Oral Pathol Med 2009, 38: 114-119.

Van Heerden WFP, van Zyl AW. Surgical pathology of oral cancer. Diagnostic Histopathol, 2009; 16: 296-302.

Van Zyl AW, van Heerden WFP. A retrospective analysis of maxillary sinus septae on reformatted computerised tomography scans . Clinical Oral Implant Research . 200; 20: 1398-1401.

2008

Bernitz H, Owen J, van Heerden WFP, Solheim T. An integrated technique for the analysis of skin bite marks. J Forensic Sci 2008; 53: 191-198

Jacobs GB, Laten A, Janse van Rensburg E, Bodem J, Weissbrich B, Rethwilm A, Preiser W &, Engelbrecht S. Phylogenetic Diversity and Low Level Antiretroviral Resistance Mutations in HIV Type 1 Treatment-Naive patients from Cape Town, South Africa. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 2008, 24: (7) 1009-12.

Jacobs GB, Nistal M, Laten A, Janse van Rensburg E, Rethwilm A, Preiser W, Bodem J, Engelbrecht S. Molecular Analysis of HIV Type 1 vif Sequences from Cape Town, South Africa. Aids Research and
Human Retroviruses, 2008, 24:(7) 991-994.

Richter KL, van Rensburg EJ, van Heerden WFP, Boy SC. Human papilloma virus (HPV) strains in the oral and cervical mucosa of HIV positive South African women prior to antiretroviral therapy . J Oral Pathol Med 2008, 37: 555-559.

Steenkamp G, Ferguson WH, Boy SC, Ferreira SM, Bester MN. Estimating exposed pulp lengths of tusks in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana). J S.Afr.Vet.Ass. 79(1): 25-30.

2007

du Preez LA, Bütow KW, Swart TJP. Implant failure due to Titanium hypersensitivity/allergy? SADJ 2007, Vol 62 No 1.

Meyers B, Boy SC, Steenkamp G. Diagnosis and Management of an Odontogenic Myxoma in a Dog. J Vet Dent 2007, 24:166.

Olze A, van Niekerk P, Ishikawa T, Zhu BL, Schulz R, Maeda A, Schmeling A. Comparative study of the effect of ethnicity on wisdom tooth eruption. Int J Legal Med 2007, 121:445-448.

Olze A, van Niekerk P, Schulz R, Schmeling A. Studies of the Chronological Course of Wisdom Tooth Eruption in a Black African Population. J Forensic Sci 2007 Vol 52:1161.

van Heerden WFP. Oral health in general practice. Editorial. SA Fam Prac, 2007, 49: 19.Robb L, Marx J, Steenkamp G, van Heerden WFP, Pretorius E, Boy SC. Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of the Dentinal Tubules in Dog Canine Teeth. J Vet Dent, 2007; 86-89.

van Heerden WFP, Boy SC. Diagnosis and management of common non-viral oral ulcerations. SA Fam Prac, 2007, 49: 20-26.

2006

Boy, SC, van Rensburg EJ, Engelbrecht S, Dreyer L, van Heerden MB, van Heerden WFP. HPV detection in primary intraoral squamous cell carcinomas – commensal, aetiological agent or contamination. J Oral Pathol Med, 2006; 35: 86-90.

Boy SC & Steenkamp G. Odontoma-like tumours of squirrel’s elodont-incisors – Elodontomas. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 2006;135: 56-61.

Bernitz H, van Heerden WFP, Solheim T, Owen JH. A technique to capture, analyse and quantify anterior teeth rotations for application in court cases involving tooth marks. J Forensic Sci, 2006, 51: 624-629.

Hoogendijk CF, Pretorius E, van Heerden WFP, Marx J, Imhof A, Schneemann M. Detection of Villous Conidia of Conidiobolus coronatus in a blood sample by scanning electron microscopy investigation. Ultrastructural Path, 2006; 30: 53-58.

van Heerden WFP. Oral manifestations of viral infections. SA Fam Prac, 2006; 48: 20-24.

2005

Bernitz H., Concepts to elucidate the pattern-associated analysis of tooth marks in court. J Dent Assoc S Afr 2005, 60(2): 62-65.

Bernitz H, van Heerden WFP, Solheim T, Owen JH. A technique to capture, analyse and quantify anterior teeth rotations for application in court cases involving tooth marks. J Forensic Sci, 2005, 51(3): 1-6.

Boy SC, Steenkamp G, van Heerden WFP. Primary Intra-Oral Leiomyosarcomas in Dogs – A Clinico-Pathological study. Vet Record, 2005, 156: 510-513.

Boy SC, Steenkamp G. Primary Intra-Oral Leiomyosarcomas in Dogs – A Clinico-Pathological study. In press Vet Record, 2005, 156 (16): 510-513.

Harris MJP & Zwane NP. Career expectations in a cohort of MEDUNSA Dental students. J Dent Assoc S Afr, 2005.

Noffke CEE, Chabikuli NJ, Nzima N. Impaired tooth eruption: A Review. J Dent Assoc S Afr 2005, 60(10): 422-425.

Steenkamp G, Olivier-Carstens A, van Heerden WFP, Crossley DA, Boy SC. In vitro comparison of three materials as apical sealants of equine premolar and molar teeth. Equine Vet J, 2005, 37: 133-136.

van Heerden WFP, McEachen S, Boy SC. Alveolar bone necrosis and tooth exfoliation secondary to herpes zoster in the setting of HIV/AIDS. AIDS, 2005, 19: 1283-2184.

2004

Ayo-Yusuf OA, Swart TJP, Pickworth WB. Nicotine-delivery capabilities of smokeless tobacco products and implications for control of tobacco dependence in South Africa. Tobacco Control, 2004, 13: 186-189.

Boy SC, Steenkamp G. Neural innervation of the tusk pulp of the African elephant (Loxodonta Africana). Vet Rec, 2004; 154 (12): 372-374.

Noffke CEE, Nzima N, Chabikuli NJ. Digital Radiography, Update for Oral Health Care Workers. J Dent Assoc S Afr 2004, 59(7): 293-295.

2003

Bernitz H., van Niekerk PJ. Bungled bite mark evidence collection: a protocol for the prevention thereof. J Dent Assoc S Afr, 2003, 58(1); 18-21.

Boy SC, Bernitz H. Flow cytometric evaluation of post-mortem pulp DNA degradation. Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2003, 24: 123-127.

Boy SC., Bernitz H., van Heerden WFP. Flow cytometric evaluation of postmortem pulp DNA degradation. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2003, 24(2): 23-27.

Boy SC, Dinkel JE, Swart TJP, van Heerden WFP. Epstein-Barr virus prevalence in Burkitt’s lymphoma in a South African population sample. South Afr J Epidemiol Infect, 2003, 18: 4-7.

Postma TC, van Heerden WFP. Is the human papillomavirus a mutual aetiological agent in oral and cervical squamous cell carcinoma? An epidemiological study. Anticancer Res, 2003, 23: 3509-3512.

van Heerden WFP. Pathology of the Head and Neck. A Retrospective Appraisal. Thesis for DSc (Odont) degree. University of Pretoria, 2003.

van Heerden WFP, Ligthelm AJ. Differential diagnoses of white lesions in HIV/AIDS patients. Dental Horizons, 2003, 1: 8-10.

van Heerden WFP, Raubenheimer EJ, Swart TJP, Boy SC. Intraoral salivary duct carcinoma: A report of 5 cases. J Oral Maxfacial Surg, 2003, 61:126-131.

van Niekerk PJ, Bernitz H. Retrospective investigation of dental records used in forensic identification cases. J Dent Assoc S Afr 2003, 58(3): 102-4.