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Types of Research

Biomaterials Research

Biomaterials Development

  • Microtensile fracture strength testing
  • Profilometer fracture mode testing
  • Fatigue, thermocycling and load testing
  • Scanning electron microscope evaluation
  • Confocal electron microscope evaluation
  • Leakage testing
  • Hybrid layer evaluation
  • Remineralization and demineralization studies
  • Color and gloss analysis
  • Implant coatings

Clinical Testing

  • Whitening kits
  • Restorative materials
  • Endodontic materials
  • Periodontal therapies
  • Prosthodontic devices
  • Toothpaste
  • Mouthwash
  • Adhesives
  • Disinfectants
  • Analgesics
  • Drugs
  • Lasers
  • Dental instruments and devices
  • Toothbrushes (manual or power)
  • Ortho appliances/devices
  • Dental floss
  • Implants
  • Plaque and gingivitis

Toothbrushing

  • Dentifrice testing
  • Abrasion testing
  • Wear testing
  • Clinical testing
  • Biofilm

Biocompatibility Testing

  • Drugs and biomaterials
  • In vitro cytotoxicity
  • In vivo biocompatibility
  • Histological assessment
  • Genotoxicity assessment

Molecular Assays

  • Protein/Gene activation
  • PCR
  • Gene silencing
  • Gene isolation
  • Molecular pathway elucidation
  • Stem cells

Craniofacial Research

Inflammation Research

  • Tissue alterations in periodontal diseases
  • Cellular response to anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e., COX inhibitors, transcription factor inhibitors), natural products (i.e., myrrh oil, tea tree oil, cranberry components), and oral rinses
  • Levels of arachidonic acid metabolites in gingival crevicular fluid in gingivitis/periodontitis
  • Role of fibroblast production of matrix metalloproteinases and inflammatory mediators in periodontal diseases and inflammatory TMJ destruction
  • Effects of methamphetamine on gingival fibroblasts and neutrophils in periodontitis

Innate Immunity

  • Role of peroxidase enzymes of leukocytes and saliva in producing antimicrobial oxidizing agents that protect tissues against microbial infection and inflammation
  • Antibiotic peptides produced by human leukocytes, oral epithelial cells, and the salivary glands. Mechanisms of antimicrobial activity and the molecular basis for microbial resistance

Oral Cancer

  • Analysis of tumor cell invasion and metastatic potential
  • Testing therapeutic potential of anti-tumor agents
  • Immunolocalization of specific tumor antigens in cells and tissue

Proteomic Analysis and Protein Expression Patterns

  • Proteomic analysis of cells and tissues
  • Tumor marker identification, characterization, and prognostic value

Bone Metabolism

  • Effects of drugs (i.e., bisphosphonates and statins) and natural products (i.e., cranberry components) on soft tissue cell (gingival fibroblast and epithelial cell) production of mediators of bone metabolism (i.e., IL-6, RANKL, OPG)

Gingival Fibroses

  • Gingival fibroblast production/regulation of extracellular matrix molecules and matrix metalloproteinases in gingival fibroses (hereditary/idiopathic, drug-induced)

Molecular Assays

  • PCR
  • Bacterial gene isolation and gene product identification
  • Protein expression from isolated gene
  • DNA analysis

Clinical Testing

  • Assay for efficacy of mouthwash and toothpaste, using in vitro analysis
  • Evaluation of periodontal therapy products
  • Effects of natural products
  • Testing for biofilm in dental waterline (screening and enumeration of microbial populations in dental waterlines; culturing anaerobic bacteria)

Biomaterials Testing

  • Cellular and tissue response to implant materials and other biomaterials
  • Cytotoxicity of implant and other biomaterials
  • Genotoxicity testing
  • Biofilm formation

Craniofacial Pain

  • Therapy and treatment of neck and facial pain that is associated with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD)
  • Treatment of sleep apnea and other sleep disordered breathing conditions through development and use of oral appliances
May 26, 2022