Research

Ongoing investigations at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the ADA Health Foundation's Paffenbarger Research Center, the ADA Research Institute and at public and private institutions across the country are leading the way toward a new generation of genetic therapies, tissue repair and improved biomaterials. These innovations will aid in fighting not only oral disease but also numerous other diseases and disorders. According to the NIDCR, advances in dental research continue to save Americans $4 billion a year. Maintaining a strong, viable and independent NIDCR is vital to the National Institutes of Health remaining the jewel in the crown of American biomedical research.

Advances in dental and craniofacial research do not seem to be limited to the above-mentioned innovations in patient care. Indeed, there is a growing body of evidence that points increasingly to associations between oral and systemic (or overall) health. For example, recent studies have suggested that infections in the mouth may create a higher risk for developing heart disease, stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, preterm births and respiratory disease.

Dental and craniofacial researchers are at the forefront of other areas of biomedical research targeting such conditions as osteoarthritis, Paget's disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type I (juvenile) diabetes, cancers of the mouth and throat, chronic pain, other neurological disorders and infectious diseases.

The science of dental materials technology continues to advance, developing new ways to repair, restore and replace diseased or damaged teeth and the bone that supports them. ADA scientists at the Paffenbarger Research Center have had a major role in such productive and influential developments in dental care as the modern high-speed dental drill, the panoramic X-ray machine, dental sealants and tooth-colored filling materials. Paffenbarger embodies the best in public-private endeavors. Funding is provided by the ADA Health Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, contracts and corporate grants. The National Institute of Standards and Technology provides the physical plant. Ongoing projects include:

• A device that can target fluoride to hard-to-reach areas between teeth or even the pits and fissures of individual teeth, which could help dentists "remineralize" early-stage cavities without drilling and filling.
  
  
• Calcium phosphate cement used for surgically repairing or replacing lost or damaged bone. Paffenbarger scientists believe that antibiotics or other drugs could be mixed with the cement to guard against infection at the repair site, which, in the oral environment, is often replete with bacteria.
  
  
• Advanced, high-strength composite filling materials for use in tooth-colored restorations of sufficient strength to withstand larger load-bearing applications, such as in molars.
  
  
• A "smart composite" that releases cavity-fighting chemicals like calcium, phosphate and fluoride into the mouth in response to changes in the saliva's acidity caused by foods or plaque.
  
  
• Chewing gum containing calcium phosphate, which when chewed can help stop caries (cavities) from forming and even help repair already carious teeth.

The ADA Research Institute complements Paffenbarger's work by concentrating on critical issues facing the practicing dentist. Through the annual ADA Health Foundation Screening Program, the institute is investigating the incidence of latex allergy in dentistry and exploring ways to reduce exposure to latex proteins without compromising patient and provider safety. The institute's research on Hepatitis B and HIV transmission, conducted for more than a decade, has helped reassure the profession and the public that universal precautions provide a safe environment for delivering dental care.

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