Oral Health Disparities: In line with the missions of the School and University, we are committed to investigating the disproportions of populations, especially rural populations, affected by chronic oral diseases and conditions like dental caries (cavities), periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss and oral cancer. We are focused on identifying the social determinants of oral health and innovative preventive strategies to alleviate these disparities.
Oral-Systemic Disease: Our research affirms how systemic diseases, such as diabetes, affects oral health and vice versa across the age spectrum. Our aim under this domain is to reduce morbidity for both oral and systemic diseases via novel interventions.
Clinical and Practice-Based Research: Using our Community Service Learning Center (CSLC) network across North Carolina, we conduct patient-oriented research in diverse populations to better understand oral disease pathogenesis, improve diagnosis, prevention and treatments, and/or revise clinical best practices.
Dental Biomaterials: We collaborate with partners from Engineering and related fields to develop novels ways of rebuilding lost oral and craniofacial structures via tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, biomimetic materials and
Oral Microbiome and Host Interactions: We have expertise and state-of-the-art facilities to investigate how the oral flora (bacteria and viruses) interfaces with the host-patient in both health and disease.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: As dental and health professional educators, we develop, evaluate and communicate innovative approaches to educating dental students and residents via information technology, active and service learning, and inter-professional education (IPE).