Meet Dr. hana Rugova

Hana Rugova DDS, MSc, PhD

Dr. Rugova is a highly accomplished dentist with a passion for advanced dental care and innovation. In addition to earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, she holds a Master’s in Biomedical Science, for which she was awarded a prestigious New York State Stem Cell Research Grant. She is currently on track to complete her PhD in Implant Dentistry in 2025, supported by an NIH research grant.

With extensive experience in implant dentistry, Dr. Rugova has placed thousands of dental implants, helping patients restore their smiles and confidence. She is also a published researcher, with multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Bioengineering, and holds several patents for surgical implant instruments. If you’ve ever considered dental implants or want to explore your options, she would be happy to discuss the best solutions for you.

Since moving to Colorado, Dr. Rugova and her dog, Cappuccino, have fully embraced the outdoors—learning to ski, bike, and even dabble in furniture building. On weekends, you might find them at Cherry Creek State Park’s dog run, and during office hours, Cappuccino enjoys visiting patients at the practice. Dr. Rugova is deeply committed to providing exceptional dental care, ensuring every patient feels confident in their smile.

Publications and Patents

1. Abboud M, Calvo Guirado J, Kucine A, Rugova SH, Delgado-Ruiz R. Multi-Stepped Drill Design for Single-stage Implant Site Preparation. Experimental Study in TypeII Bone. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, 2014 Sep 29. doi: 10.1111/cid.12273
2. Rugova S. 2015. Implant bed preparation testing [Analytical]. Stony Brook University
3. Abboud M, Rugova S, Orentlicher G. Immediate Loading: Are Implant Surface and Thread Design More Important Than Osteotomy Preparation? Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2020 Jul/Aug;41(7):384-386. PMID: 32687383.
4. Rugova S, Abboud M. Standardized Testing for Thermal Evaluation of Bone Drilling: Towards Predictive Assessment of Thermal Trauma. Bioengineering (Basel). 2024 Jun 24;11(7):642. Doi 10.3390/bioengineering11070642. PMID: 39061724; PMCID: PMC11274048.R
5. Rugova S, Abboud M. Thermal Evaluation of Bone Drilling: Assessing Drill Bits and Sequential Drilling. Bioengineering (Basel). 2024 Sep 16;11(9):928. Doi 10.3390/bioengineering11090928. PMID: 39329670; PMCID: PMC11444131.
6. Rugova S, Abboud M. Thermal Evaluation of Bone Drilling with a One-Drill Protocol. Bioengineering (Basel). 2024 Oct 14;11(10):1022. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering 11101022. PMID: 39451398; PMCID: PMC11503996.
7. Rugova S, Abboud M. Comparison of One-Drill Protocol to Sequential Drilling In Vitro and In Vivo. Bioengineering (Basel). 2025 Jan 9;12(1):51. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering 12010051. PMID: 39851324; PMCID: PMC11762762.