Rachel Uppgaard, DDS

Dr. Rachel Uppgaard is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University of Minnesota.

Dr. Uppgaard serves as a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Minnesota Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. She has previously served in private practice, as well as a staff surgeon at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. She is currently a full-time attending Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at the University of Minnesota and serves as the Interim School of Dentistry Public Health Liaison.

Dr. Uppgaard is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon whose excellence is documented through her many awards, most recently including the 2022 ACOMS Elaine A. Stuebner Scholars Award and the 2021 Impact Influencer Award from the US Navy Talent Acquisition Group Northern Plains. Dr. Uppgaard is a dedicated educator with a legacy dating back to 2006, serving as a teaching assistant, leading to her current professorship in the division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Her interests include TMJ surgery, trauma surgery, orthognathic surgery, craniofacial surgery, pathology, dental implants and severe odontogenic infections. She currently leads research projects on Fanconi Anemia, LVADs, teaching local anesthesia, and odontogenic infections.  

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Residency
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

Katsoulas NG, Tosios KI, Lynch HA, Uppgaard R, Koutlas IG.  Polymorphous adenocarcinoma, low grade variant, colliding with a neurofibroma.  Head and Neck Pathology 2021.  

Uppgaard, R; Johnson A.  (2021) Temporary paresthesia of the auriculotemporal nerve following injection with articaine.  Northwest Dentistry 100(1)37-38. 

Uppgaard, R., 2018. Addressing Gender Discrimination in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery via the Social Norms Approach. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 76 (8): 1604-1605.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2018.03.036

Uppgaard, R. M., 2017. Case Report: Retention of a Thermoplastic-Lined Dental Sleep Appliance. Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine, 04 (01): 19-20.
doi: https://doi.org/10.15331/jdsm.6422

Uppgaard, R; Templeton, RB. (2015). Maxillomandibular advancement for obstructive sleep apnea. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology, 26 (4) 197-202.

Uppgaard, R; Brown, B; Svoboda, L. (2014) Multiple facial fractures and lacerations in a growing patient, Approaches in Critical Care, 12:6-7.

Author of OMSCORE Chapter (2020): Dentoalveolar injuries and Splinting Techniques 

2012. Clinical and critical care concerns of cranio-facial trauma: A retrospective study in a tertiary care institute. NCBI - US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of health, Bethesda, MD, USA:

Correlation of minor salivary gland biopsy focal score and unstimulated salivary flow rates in patients with primary Sjogren’s Syndrome. (10/2009). A Clinical Manual Of Operative Dentistry By University Of Minnesota Division Of Operative Dentistry AAOMS Annual Meeting, October 2009.

Uppgaard, R. M., (Author & Presenter) "Pre-Prosthetic Surgery", Restorative Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States. July 01, 2020.

Uppgaard, R. M. "Oral Surgery for the General Dentist", IHS Continuing Dental Education Program, Indian Health Service, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. May 12, 2020.

Uppgaard, R. M. "Medical Emergencies", Medical Emergencies, Continuing Dental Educaation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. May 08, 2020.

Uppgaard, R. M. "Setting Yourself Up for Surgical Success: Removal of Erupted Teeth", Dental Therapy Class of 2020, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. April 23, 2020.

Uppgaard, R. M. "CE for the General Dentist", Continuing Dental Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. December 16, 2019.

Award: The Restful Jaw Device: A New Way to Support and Protect the Jaw During Third Molar Extractions (R44DE026663) NIH/NIDCR, Site Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator: Uppgaard, Rachel Marie
Sponsoring Organization: THE RESTFUL JAW COMPANY, LLC
Award Dates: 2018 - 2021

Hydrogen Peroxide in the clinic to minimize the risk of COVID-19, Principal Investigator

Manikins in use of teaching dental students local anesthesia techniques, Principal Investigator

Johnson A, Uppgaard R.  (2022) Metastatic small cell carcinoma of the mandible: a diagnostic challenge.  Accepted for publication 4/4/2022 on IAOMS website.  

Gopalakrishnan R, Kaimal S, Wagner JE, MacMillan ML and Uppgaard RM. (2020) Spectrum of Oral Premalignant and Malignant Lesions in Fanconi Anemia Patients: Diagnostic and Management Challenges. International Association of Oral Pathology Annual Meeting. 

Hughes, P; Nazmul-Hossain, A; Gopalakrishnan, R; Rohrer, M;  Patel, K; Emamian, E; Rhodus, N; Uppgaard, R;  Moser, K.  (2009) Correlation of minor salivary gland biopsy focal score and unstimulated salivary flow rates in patients with primary Sjogren’s Syndrome, taking into consideration steroid use.  AAOMS Annual Meeting   

Sethi N; Gopalakrishnan R, Uppgaard R. (2021) A rare case of oral cavity soft tissue perineurioma in a pediatric patient.  American Association of Pediatric Dentistry Conference. 

Johnson A;  Ho, D; Uppgaard, R. (2021) Evaluation of splatter distribution of irrigation methods to minimize spread of SARS-CoV-2.  International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons NextGen Online Conference.