Clinical Research & Epidemiology Program

The Clinical Research & Epidemiology Program promotes research that aims to advance knowledge in the etiology, diagnosis and clinical management of dental, oral, and craniofacial diseases and conditions. Examples of supported research include:

• Describing the distribution of oral, dental and craniofacial diseases and disorders;
• Identifying differences in oral disease distribution among population sub-groups;
• Defining the natural history of oral and craniofacial diseases and disorders;
• Identifying and characterizing risks and protective factors for the development or progression of oral and craniofacial disorders;
• Understanding how genomic, behavioral, nutritional and environmental factors interact to contribute to dental and oral disease susceptibility;
• Clinically characterizing pathways involved in the development and/or pathogenesis of dental, oral, and craniofacial diseases and disorders;
• Identifying the sequelae and impact of dental, oral, and craniofacial diseases and disorders;
• Assessing treatment outcomes and identifying best practices for treatment of the oral sequelae of systemic diseases that impact oral health (such as systemic diseases or conditions that impact oral health);
• Determining the effectiveness of different therapies for oral and craniofacial diseases and disorders;
• Identifying and validating existing and new methods to measure and document dental, oral, and craniofacial diseases and disorders.