Research Projects

Research within the School of Dental Medicine encompasses a wide variety of fields within oral health care, helping to translate basic science discoveries into clinical therapies. Use the links below to learn more about current and past projects of faculty, staff, and students. 

Search by Department

Search individual research projects and faculty areas of research interest by School of Dental Medicine Departments

Biological Sciences research focuses on how the body, particularly the mouth, fights diseases through innate immune responses. 

**We are currently updating these pages to refresh information. While we work, please visit the Biological Sciences Research and Sponsored Projects page to review our active projects.

Ge Jin, PhD

Pushpa Pandiyan, PhD

  • Mechanism of Immunomodulation during Oropharyngeal Candidiasis
  • Modulation of Tumor Necrosis-α during Oropharyngeal Candidiasis

Aaron Weinberg, DMD, PhD

Fengchun Ye, PhD

  • Role of Angiopoietin-2 in KSHV Induction of Angiogenesis, Inflammation, and Cutaneous KS Lesions
  • Epigenetic Regulation of Viral Infection and Replication by Periodontal Bacteria

Chad Zender, MD, FACS

Community Dentistry research focuses on the protection and improvement of oral health in patients and community at-large. 

**We are currently updating these pages to refresh information. While we work, please visit the Community Dentistry Research and Sponsored Projects page to review our active projects.

Catherine Demko

James Lalumandier, DDS, MPH

Sena Narendran, PhD

Suchitra Nelson, PhD

Mary Beth Slusar, PhD

Kristin Victoroff

  • Collaborative Home for Oral Health, Medical Review, and Health Promotion (CHOMP)

Kristin Williams

  • Correlation of Primary Implant Stability with Cone Beam Computed Tomography Analysis in a Bovine Mandibular Bone Model
  • Image Guided New Biomaterials for Dental Restorations
  • Optimization of Insertion Torque for Primary Dental Implant Stability

Anita Aminoshariae, DDS, MS

  • Association of Endodontic Conditions with Systemic Medical Disease
  • Effect of Time Factor in Crown Placement on Survival of Primary Endodontically Treated: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Thomas Montagnese, DDS

  • Efficacy of Buprenorphine on Post-operative Endodontic Analgesia 

Oral Medicine research focuses on orofacial pain, oral premalignant disorders, interprofessional education outcomes, and markers for response to treatment of mucosal disorders.

Andres Pinto, DMD, MPH

Dale Baur, DDS

  • Patient-Centered Quality of Live (QOL) Measures after Temporomandibular Total Joint Replacement Surgery 
  • Removal of Unerupted Third Molars at the Time of Mandibular Sagittal Split Osteotomy: Case Series 
  • Treatment Outcomes of Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor

**We are currently updating these pages to refresh information. While we work, please visit the Orthodontics Research and Sponsored Projects page to review our active projects.

Mark Hans, DDS, MSD

  • Craniofacial Initiatives in the School of Dental Medicine

J. Martin Palomo, DDS, MSD

Manish Valiathan, DDS, MSD

  • Craniofacial Growth Prediction in Different Facial Types

Pediatric Dentistry research focuses on improving the care and treatment of pediatric oral health, including pediatric oral health disparities, craniofacial anomalies, and oral health behavior.

*We are currently updating these pages to refresh information. While we work, please visit the Pediatric Dentistry Research and Sponsored Projects page to review our active projects.Orthodontics

 

Gerald Ferretti, DDS, MS, MPH

Research Interests:

  • Reducing children's oral health disparities
  • Craniofacial anomalies
  • Pediatric sedation

Masahiro Heima, DDS, PhD

Research Interests:

  • Dental care-related fear and anxiety
  • Oral health care behavior
  • Reducing children's oral health disparities

Lance Vernon, DMD, MPH

Research Interests:

  • Oral hygiene behavior
  • Oral health care in HIV population

Projects:

Nabil Bissada

  • Gingival Dimension Around Natural Teeth and Dental Implants in Health and Disease
  • Role of Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment on the Level of Rheumatoid Factor in Patients Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Andre Paes, DDS, PhD, MS

  • Examination of Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Colonization with Trichomonas tenax and Entamoeba gingivalis

Leena Palomo, DMD, MSD

  • Analysis of Postmenopausal Women Using Bisphosphonate Therapy
  • Periodontitis in Postmenopausal Women