Dr. Brien R. Lang.

Dr. Brien R. Lang passed away on March 29, 2023 surrounded by his loving family at the age of 88. Dr. Lang earned a Chemistry degree from Albion College in 1956. While at Albion, he also met the love of his life, Jo Miller and they were married for 66 years. Dr. Lang worked for two years as a chemist for Dow Chemical. He matriculated to the University of Michigan (U of M), School of Dentistry (SOD) and received his dental degree in 1961. After graduation he joined a group dental practice in Saginaw, Michigan but returned to the U of M SOD in 1963 for a Master of Science degree in Removable Prosthodontics. Following graduation with the MS degree he accepted an appointment at Michigan as an Assistant Professor in 1965, became a Full Professor in 1972 and was named Chair of the Complete Denture Department and Director of the Graduate Program in Denture Prosthodontics. In 1990, Dr. Lang was named Chair of the Department of Prosthodontics when all areas of prosthodontics were combined. In 1994, he was named Director of the Nobel Biocare – U of M “Center for Excellence”. As a faculty member at the U of M SOD, Dr. Lang contributed to the education of more than (2,800) predoctoral DDS students and (71) MS students in Prosthodontics. He published (80) articles in peer-reviewed dental journals and conducted (19) major research studies with more than 3M in total funding. He retired from the U of M SOD in 1998 as Professor Emeritus after serving 33 years on the faculty.

In 1969, Dr. Lang became a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and served as President of the Board from 1987-1988 and 1993-1994. He was the only President to serve in this office for two years. He became an Active Fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics in 1972 and served as the 75th President at the 1993 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC. In 1993, Dr. Lang participated in the first AP “Outreach Program” as one of eight AP Fellows that treated 29 patients at the first treatment site, the Carl Albert Indian Health Care Center, in Ada, 

Oklahoma. The AP Outreach Program continues to provide this service to Native American Indians and others at numerous sites involving many AP Fellows. In 2018 Dr. Lang received the Academy’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Lang remained busy and committed to prosthodontics in retirement. In 1993, He was appointed to the Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, ultimately serving as Chair from 1998 to 2010. During his tenure as chair, ownership of the journal reverted to the Editorial Council. In 2002, he was contacted by the Global President of Nobel Biocare, to serve as Scientific Program Chair for two separate CE courses on dental implants and other prosthetic therapies. He ultimately chaired thirty-seven CE courses in thirty-four different countries, involving 657 speakers and more than 50,000 attendees.

During his six years as a student at the U of M SOD and 33 years on the faculty, Dr. Lang was especially proud of the opportunity to learn from six Fellows of the Academy of Prosthodontics who were his mentors: Drs. Richard Kingery, Oliver C. Applegate, Corwin Wright, Walter Swartz, Frank Smith, and Paul Gibbons. He was also proud of the seven Academy Fellows who were his graduate students at Michigan.

Dr. Lang’s loves beyond his family include Michigan football, hunting, fishing, golf and coaching amateur baseball. He enjoyed many of these activities with Academy Fellows.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Jo Lang and their three children, son Kevin and wife Kelli, daughters Lisa and Beth and two granddaughters Sara (husband Joseph Smith) great granddaughter Charlotte)) and Jessica (husband Frank Schymik) great grandson Daniel). Dr. Lisa Lang, like her father, served as both Secretary-Treasurer and President of the Academy of Prosthodontics.

Although Dr. Lang is sorely missed, his enthusiasm and love for his family, colleagues and friends, the specialty of Prosthodontics, the Academy of Prosthodontics, teaching and mentoring and life in general will be felt for years to come.

Prepared by AP Life Fellow
Dr. Carol Lefebvre