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Research in dentistry includes radiology, biomedical engineering, bone biology, craniofacial development, the creation of dental materials, maxillofacial prosthetics, oralfacial pain, and oral pathology.
In bone biology research, scientists are working to discover new methods of growing bone or enhancing mineralization for those with degraded jaws due to disease or congenital issues. For example, researchers have found that the use of ultrasound can stimulate lower jaw growth in patients with craniofacial problems. As well, ultrasound can be used to stimulate teeth healing and dental tissue formation. Other researchers are using collaborating with those in bioengineering to produce biomaterials (using nanostructures and proteins) that can serve as scaffolds for implantation into tissues.
Many scientists focus on pediatric dentistry research. Scientists are working to improve children's oral health through collaborations to prevent, educate, treat, and advocate good dental health. This includes studies into pediatric pain, early childhood nutritional practices, peer pressure, and various stigmas such as the wearing of braces or congenital oral deformities.
Since pain complaints form the basis for most patient's visits to the dentist, many researchers are working with those in anesthesiology to understand the physiological and psychological bases for chronic pain conditions. They are also developing new therapies for chronic and acute pain conditions. See the article on anesthesia for more information.
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