Research lines

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY AREA

– Oral health in children and adolescentes. In vitro and preclinical studies.

This line of research aims to conduct in vitro, ex vivo and preclinical studies of factors that may influence an individual’s oral health, such as different dental materials and treatment techniques, as well as genetic and molecular characteristics of the host. In vitro studies evaluate physicochemical properties (pH, radiopacity, solubility, dimensional change and setting time, among others), antimicrobial properties (microbial culture, Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization, MALDI-TOFF and genetic sequencing, among others) and cell culture (cell viability, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, among others). In preclinical studies, involving animal models, biological properties of dental materials and treatment techniques are evaluated using microscopic and molecular techniques, in addition to factors inherent to the host, such as gene and protein expression. Furthermore, projects involving the Pediatric Dentistry/Orthodontics interface are developed. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of in vitro and preclinical studies are also performed. This line relies on national and International collaborations and financial support from different development agencies.

 

–  Clinical studies in Pediatric Dentistry and people with disabilities.

This line of research involves evaluating the performance of different materials and techniques recommended in dental practice for children and people with disabilities, as well as available innovations, through randomized clinical studies, in situ studies, epidemiological studies, case reports, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses of clinical studies, among others. This line of research counts on  the participation of national and international researchers and financial support from funding agencies.

 

– Etiology and the treatment of Pulpal and Periapical pathologies in deciduous and permanent teeth.

This line of research involves studies using small animals such as wild and transgenic rats and mice, as well as large animals, in order to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis and progression of chronic periapical lesions (microbiological, host and environmental etiological agents) and the efficacy of traditional and innovative methods for their treatment. These studies involve analyses: histopathological, using conventional fluorescence and confocal microscopy; histoenzymological; immunohistochemical analyses for receptors, anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines, other chemical mediators and different cell types; gene and protein expression, as well as microbiological analyses, among others. Clinical studies in humans are conducted by obtaining samples of periapical lesions from deciduous and permanent teeth and clinical and radiographic analyses. This line of research counts on the participation of national and international researchers and financial support from various funding agencies.

 

–  Prevention applied to the oral health of children and adolescents

This line of research involves projects to assess the effectiveness of different preventive protocols; assess the microbial contamination of toothbrushes, pacifiers, orthodontic appliances and sports mouth guards, as well as the effectiveness of disinfection methods; assess the structure and composition of deciduous and permanent teeth, detecting variations, including genetic ones, that may interfere with susceptibility to dental caries; and assess the effects of radiotherapy on the mechanical, chemical and morphological properties of the enamel and dentin of deciduous and permanent teeth. This line of research involves the participation of national and International researchers and financial support from various funding agencies.

 

ORTHODONTICS AREA

– Orthodontics and it’s interrelationships.

It will cover research projects related to the field of knowledge of Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, including scientific research processes on craniofacial growth and development and occlusal development, whether normal or altered, potential etiological factors associated with malocclusions as well as their prevalence or the impacts resulting from these deviations.

This line also includes in vitro or in situ research projects that evaluate the mechanical, physical-chemical, biological and antimicrobial properties of materials and techniques used in the practice of Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics and related areas. Studies on animal models, with a view to characterizing the processes involved in induced tooth movement are also covered in this line.

It also includes research on diagnostic methods applied to identify facial, skeletal, dental and occlusal deviations. It also evaluates the effects of preventive-interceptive or therapeutic interventions concerning Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics.

Finally, this line of research also encompasses scientific research studies related to Evidence-Based Practice, including the measurement of it’s dimensions, the investigation of the processes involved, as well as the evaluation of educational or other interventions applied to professionals or students in the field of Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics in particular or Dentistry in general.