C. Brian Preston, chair of the Department of Orthodontics in the School of Dental Medicine, died March 25 in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital after a short illness. He was 77.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Preston graduated from the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa in 1961 and went to England, where he opened a general dental practice in London.

He returned to South Africa in the mid-1960s, opened a private dental practice and became a junior lecturer at Witwatersrand. Focusing on orthodontics, he earned his diploma in orthodontics in 1973 and a master’s degree in 1974. He maintained a part-time practice in orthodontics while continuing to teach and do research. He became a professor and was appointed head of the university’s Department of Orthodontics.

In 1987, he was named dean of the dental faculty and director of the Oral and Dental Hospital associated with the university. He completed his medical PhD in 1988 and became a professor emeritus at Witwatersrand in the mid-1990s.

Preston joined the UB faculty in 1997 as a professor of orthodontics and department chair, and worked to establish its reputation for graduate studies.

During the past few years, he traveled extensively as a lecturer, leading courses in the Middle East, China, Japan, Australia and South Africa.

He was the author and editor of numerous professional publications in several languages.

He was a fellow of the College of Surgeons in South Africa and was a founding member of the International Functional Association, a group of professionals who want to expand the scope of dentistry.

He was an accomplished tennis player and an avid cyclist, skier and scuba diver. He earned his private pilot’s license in England and was president of the Witwatersrand Flying Club for many years.