Dr. Lauren Katz McKay

A native of North Carolina, Dr. McKay is a true Tar Heel, as she earned her undergraduate degree, dental degree, certificate in Prosthodontics, and PhD, all from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has earned several awards including: Dentsply Sirona Research Award for Dual Degree Candidates, Osteology Foundation New Investigator Award in Oral Tissue Regeneration, Pierre Fauchard Academy Certificate of Merit, and American College of Prosthodontists Award. Dr. McKay’s passion for Prosthodontics stems from the combination of science, innovation, and artistry that are all integral parts of the field. Dr. McKay has also completed a dental implant fellowship at UNC in 2019 and was the Eastern Region Resident Representative and a member of the National Prosthodontics Awareness Week Committee for the American College of Prosthodontists.

Dr. McKay is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. Her research focuses on better understanding how oral and craniofacial structures regenerate after injury and disease and how to translate this knowledge into regenerative therapies for her patients. 

Dr. McKay volunteers as an adjunct faculty instructor for the UNC Chapel Hill Department of Graduate Prosthodontics and has specialized in combining the latest digital dental technologies along with mentoring the residents with their Master’s projects. She is an editor for the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice and is currently serving on the Raleigh Wake County Dental Society Board of Directors. Dr. McKay and her husband, Dixon, reside in Raleigh with their daughters, Merritt and Emery. They enjoy spending time with friends and family, going on walks and hikes with their dog, Beck, and cheering on the Tar Heels!

Dr. McKay is Fluent in Spanish.