Oral and Craniofacial Sciences Research

About

The Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences supports research and graduate education through a multidisciplinary approach. We employ a dedicated staff and maintain state-of-the-art equipment to support our world-renowned faculty’s high level of research grant funding. In addition to research, our faculty are committed to supporting and developing graduate and post-graduate students in their educational and research efforts.

Areas of Research

Faculty across these areas regularly collaborate in innovative ways to make the best use of the talents of individuals in the department.

Biomaterials and bioengineering of biological tissues

The improvement of advanced dental biomaterials, including composites and adhesives, is greatly promoted when multidisciplinary teams of scientists come together with their talent, laboratory resources and equipment. The purpose of this program is to provide the synergistic focus for the team of scientists and dentists to improve the durability of dental restorations and to understand more fully the underlining scientific principals governing the clinical behavior of these biomaterials.

A major thrust of the biomaterials program is its newly added bioengineering component, which includes the multiscale (including micro- and nano-) properties and structure characterization of natural biomaterials such as bone, dentin and enamel. Another area of focus is using advanced spectroscopic and imaging techniques and machine learning and deep learning in the detection of oral cancers. A third area is in the design of new scaffolds for tissue engineering to treat bone and cartilage deficits. Several advanced technologies support this research, including Raman, FTIR, AFM/nanoindentation, 3D printing and an array of instrumentation for the biomechanical analysis of materials.

Craniofacial development and mineralized tissue biology

This program includes two components that integrate their research with the biomaterials and bioengineering. One component of this program involves basic studies of bone cell biology (osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes). Their research involves understanding how bone responds to mechanical load, bone-muscle crosstalk and how the various bone cells act to orchestrate bone formation and resorption. The second closely related component involves studies of craniofacial development with a focus on the genetics and pathology of craniofacial anomalies during embryonic development, mechanisms underlying jaw and tooth development.

Translational research

The ongoing research efforts include those involved with craniofacial development and associated early childhood birth defects and acquired diseases, oral cancer early detection and diagnosis, scaffolds for improved tissue engineering and restorative materials. Our goal is to provide an environment for innovative studies and collaborative efforts that push the boundaries of research and contribute to advancements in patient care.