 Dr. Steven Levy, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, received a two-year $361,342 award from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Dec 07, 2015 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues at the UI Colleges of Dentistry and Public Health have received a two-year $361,342 award from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. Dr. Levy is Wright-Bush-Shreves Endowed Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry and professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health. In addition to Dr. Levy, the other research team members include Drs. John Warren, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry; Karin Weber-Gasparoni, head of the the Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Teresa Marshall, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry; Justine Kolker, Department of Operative Dentistry; and Dr. Joseph Cavanaugh, Department of Biostatistics at the College of Public Health. The Iowa Fluoride Study began in 1991 and recruited a cohort of nearly 1,900 women with newborns to study longitudinally the complex exposures and intakes of fluoride from water, many foods, other beverages, and dental cavity prevention products, as well as relationships with dental caries (cavities) and other oral health conditions. Dietary and other factors were also assessed. Dental examinations were conducted at ages 5, 9, 13, and 17 to assess dental caries prevalence and incidence, as well as risk factors. Previous funding has been received from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other foundations. The new Carver Trust funding will support conducting a new wave of dental caries examinations at age 23 and will complement new NIDCR funding. |
 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues have received a $2,318,154 NIDCR award. Nov 23, 2015 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues at the UI Colleges of Dentistry, Public Health, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have received a two-year, $2,318,154 award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Their research project is entitled "Fluoride, Dietary and Other Factors Related to Young Adult Bone Measures and Dental Caries." Dr. Levy is Wright-Bush-Shreves Endowed Professor of Research in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry and professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health. Co-investigators include Drs. John Warren, Preventive and Community Dentistry; Karin Weber-Gasparoni, Pediatric Dentistry; Teresa Marshall, Preventive and Community Dentistry; and Justine Kolker, Operative Dentistry; College of Public Health faculty, Drs. Joseph Cavanaugh (Biostatistics), James Torner (Epidemiology), Linda Snetselaar (Epidemiology), and Trudy Burns (Epidemiology); Dr. Kathy Janz (Health and Human Physiology), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Punam Saha (Electrical-Computer Engineering), College of engineering. The NIDCR-funded Iowa Fluoride Study began in 1991 and recruited a cohort of nearly 1,900 women with newborns to study longitudinally the complex exposures and intakes of fluoride from water, many foods, other beverages, and dental cavity cavity preventiono products, as well as relationships with dental caries and other oral health conditions. Dietary and other factors were also assessed. Dental examinations were conducted at ages 5, 9, 13, and 17 to assess dental caries prevalence and incidence, as well as risk factors. As an extension of the Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS), the Iowa Bone Development Study (IBDS) was funded by NIDCR in 1998 to better understand normal childhood bone development and relationships with fluoride and other dietary intakes and physical activity, anthropometric, and genetic factors. Bone assessments were conducted with NIH and other grant support at ages 5, 8-9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. The new NIH funding will support conducting a new wave of assessments at age 23 that will include both dental caries examinations and bone assessments that include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the hip, lumbar spine, and whole body, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) of the radius and tibia, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) of the tibia. |
 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dental Research, and Department of Family Dentistry, and Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, have received a two-year Biohorizons grant. Nov 06, 2015 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dental Research and Department of Family Dentistry, and Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, have received a two-year, $64,248 grant from BioHorizons, Inc. for their research, "Comparison of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Bone Metabolism Mediators Around Laser-Lok and Machned Transmucosal Abutments: A Pilot, Randomized Clinic Trial." The study will be a pilot, prospective, randomized clinical trial to assess the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and bone metabolism mediators adjacent to Laser-Lok microgrooved (LL) or machined (M) transmucosal healing abutments. The study will seek recruitment of 12 subjects and is designed to investigate two principle aims driven by curren gaps in knowledge. Dr. Barwacz is principal investigator. Dr. Kim Brogden, Dental Research and Department of Periodontics, and Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz are co-investigators. |
 Dr. Steven Levy and colleagues at the University of Iowa's Colleges of Dentistry, Public Health, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have received a two-year NIDCR award for the Iowa Fluoride Study. Oct 26, 2015 Dr. Steven Levy, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, and colleagues at the University of Iowa's Colleges of Dentistry, Public Health, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have received a two-year award of $2,318,154 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) for their study, "Fluoride, Dietary and Other Factors Related to Young Adult Bone Measures and Dental Caries." Other research tream members include Drs. John Warren (Preventive & Community Dentistry), Karin Weber-Gasparoni (Pediatric Dentistry), Teresa Marshall (Preventive & Community Dentistry), and Justine Kolker (Operative Dentistry) all from the College of Dentistry; Drs. Joseph Cavanaugh (Biostatistics), and James Torner, Linda Snetselaar and Trudy Burns, all Epidemiology from the College of Public Health; Dr. Kathy Janz (Health and Human Physiology) from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Punam Saha (Electrical-Computer Engineering) from the College of Engineering. The NIDCR-funded Iowa Fluoride Study began in 1991. A cohort of nearly 1,900 women with newborns were recruited to study longitudinally the complex exposures and intakes of fluoride from water, many food, other beverages, and dental cavity prevention products, as well as relationships with dental caries (cavities) and other oral health conditions. Dietary and other factors were also assessed. Dental examinations were conducted at ages 5, 9, 13, and 17 to assess dental caries prevalence and incidence, as well as risk factors. As an extension of the Iowa Fluoride Study, the Iowa Bone Development Study was funded by NIDCR in 1998 to better understand normal childhood bone development and relationships with fluoride and other dietary intakes and physical activity, anthropometric, and genetic factors. Bone assessments were conducted with NIH and other grant support at ages 5, 8-9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. The new NIH funding will support conducting a new wave of assessments at age 23 that include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the hip, lumbar spine, and whole body, peripheral quantitative computer tomography (pQCT) of the radius and tibia, and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) of the tibia. |
 Dr. Nathan Holton, an anthropologist researcher in the Department of Orthodontics, has been featured in a research profile video. Oct 16, 2015 The Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development, in collaboration with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Office of Strategic Communication, has produced a series of < 1 minute research profile videos featuring graduates of their "Communicating Ideas" workshop this past summer. Dr. Nathan Holton, an anthropologist researcher in the Department of Orthodontics, participated in the workshop and is featured in a research profile video. View the video. |
 Drs. Isabelle Denry and Julie Holloway have been notified that their latest patent has been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Sep 18, 2015 Drs. Isabelle Denry, Dental Research and Department of Prosthodontics, and Julie Holloway, head, Department of Prosthodontics, have been notified that their latest patent has been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent application was filed by the University of Iowa Research Foundation in November 2012. The award was announced September 8, 2015. The invention covers fluorapatite glass-ceramic compositions that can be processed at low temperature and possess a biomimetic microstructure, to be used as scaffold materials for bone replacement. |
 Dr. Rodrigo Rocha Maia, Department of Operative Dentistry, has received two grants from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). Jul 14, 2015 Dr. Rodrigo Rocha Maia, Department of Operative Dentistry, has received two grants from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). A $4,100 ADEA grant will support his research project, "Comparison of Light Propagation in Dental Tissue and Resin-Based Composite by Lasers." The use of laser (He-Ne) in three different wavelengths (red, green and blue) will be used to evaluated the light propagation (absorption, transmittance, attenuation coefficient, scattering and back scattering) in enamel dentin and dentino-enamel junction (DEJ) and to compare the difference among three incremental build-up techniques: one shade (body shade), two shades (enamel and dentin shades) and three shades (enamel, transparent and dentin shades) using a nano-filled resin based composite. Dr. Rocha Maia is principal investigator. Dr. Hanan Adel Elgendy, an operative dentistry resident, is co-investigator. A $3,300 ADEA grant will support Dr. Rocha Maia's research on "Esthetic Blending: Visual vs. Spectrophotometer Data Analysis for Different Bevels in Class 4 RBC's Direct Restorations." The use of bevels in anterior direct resin restorations has been advocated for both improved retention and esthetics of class IV restorations. Research is available to support the retentive aspect of bevels but there is limited scientific evidence to support the esthetic need and a lack of literature on what type of bevel to use on a factured incisor to make the finish line disappear. The goal of this research will be to determine what type of bevel to use on class IV build ups. Dr. Rocha Maia is principal investigator. Dr. Tracy D'Antonio, an operative dentistry resident, is co-investigator. |
 Dr. Liu Hong, Dental Research and Department of Prosthodontics, has received a two-year, $417,125 NIH grant to support his research project, "A MicroRNA-based Approach for Periodontitis-associated Bone Loss." Jul 14, 2015 Dr. Liu Hong, Dental Research and Department of Prosthodontics, has received a two-year, $417,125 NIH grant to support his research project, "A MicroRNA-based Approach for Periodontitis-associated Bone Loss." The research will determine with molecular function and potential underlying mechanism(s) mediated by a member of the microRNA-200 family on major proinflammatory and bone factors that cause peridontitis-associated bone loss. It will establish a proof of concept in which this specific microRNA can be used to inhibit periodontal bone loss. Dr. Hong is principal investigator for the project. Brad A. Amendt, associate dean for research; Kim Brogden, director of Dows; and Dr. Ali Salem, College of Pharmacy, are co-investigators. |
 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Department of Family Dentistry, has received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. Jun 22, 2015 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Department of Family Dentistry, has received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. Kate Hoogeveen (Class of 2015) nominated her mentor because of his excellent advice and encouragement during her research project, "Comparison of Instruction and Provision of Clinical Implant Therapy in Pre-Doctoral Curricula in United States and Canadian Dental Schools." Co-authors on her research project included Dr. Barwacz, Dr. Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, and Dr. Veerasathpurush Allareddy, Department of Orthodontics. Dr. Avila-Ortiz was also one of Kate's mentors. |
 Dr. Arwa Owais received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. She was nominated by Walker Clark (D2) for her mentorship during his research project Jun 22, 2015 Dr. Arwa Owais, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has received a 2014-2015 Mentor of the Year Award. Walker Clark (D2) nominated Dr. Owais, one of Walker's mentors, who led him through the research process. His project, "Success of Partial Pulpotomy Treatment in Crown-Fractured Young Permanent Insisors," took second place in the Procter and Gamble Pre-Doctoral Poster Competition at the Iowa Section of the American Association for Dental Research. Co-authors on Walker's poster included Dr. Owais; Dr. Karin Weber-Gasparoni, head, Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. Mike Kanellis, Clinic Administration and Pediatric Dentistry; and Dr. Fang Qian, Biostatistics Unit. Drs. Weber-Gasparoni and Qian are also Walker's mentors. |
 Keyla Pagan-Rivera, a graduate research assistant in the Biostatistics Unit at the College of Dentistry, has received the William R. Clarke Graduate Research Assistant Award. Jun 22, 2015 The College of Public Health's biostatistics department honored Keyla Pagan-Rivera with the award, which recognizes her outstanding performance as a graduate research assistant. Keyla has just completed her fourth year as a PhD student and hopes to complete her dissertation during the next one and one-half years. |
 Dr. Christopher Friedl receives the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) / Dentsply Resident Award. Jun 22, 2015 Dr. Christopher Friedl, an endodontics resident, received the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) / Dentsply Resident Award during the recent AAE meeting in Seattle, Wash. He received the award for his oral presentation, "Comparison of Mechanical and Indirect Ultrasonic Placement Technique on MTA Retrofill Density in Simulated Root-End Surgery." Co-authors on his presentation included Dr. Anne Williamson, Chris's primary mentor; Dr. Manuel Gomez, also Endodontics; and Dr. Deborah Dawson, Biostatistics Unit director. |
 Dr. Vrushali Abhyankar, a periodontics resident, receives first place at the 2015 IDA meeting. May 08, 2015 Dr. Vrushali Abhyankar, a resident in the Department of Periodontics, received first place at the 2015 Iowa Dental Association Meeting for her table clinic, “The Chemokine and Cytokine Response of a Keratinocyte, Dendritic Cell, and T-cell Co-culture Model Treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis Hemagglutinin B.” She received a certificate and cash prize of $500. Co-authors on her table clinic include Dr. Carol Fischer, Dows; Amber Bates, PhD candidate, Dows; Prashant Nair, Robinson Vivda and Shwetha Chandrashekaraiah, Cellworks Group, Inc.; Dr. Georgia Johnson, head of the Department of Periodontics; Taher Abbasi and Shireen Vali, Cellworks Group, Inc.; and Dr. Kim Brogden, director of the Dows Institute and faculty in the Department of Periodontics. Dr. Brogden is Vrushali’s mentor. The research was supported by an NIH grant and also a grant from Cellworks Group, Inc. |
 Dr. Nathan Holton, Department of Orthodontics, is receiving worldwide press for his article, "The Ontogeny of the Chin: An Analysis of Allometric and Biomechanical Scaling." May 06, 2015 An article by Dr. Nathan Holton, Department of Orthodontics, is receiving worldwide press. "The Ontogeny of the Chin: An Analysis of Allometric and Biomechanical Scaling" will be published in the June 2015 issue of Journal of Anatomy. It is currently available as an "early bird" selection on the journal's website. The article's research on the human chin has been featured on television station KGAN, Discovery News, Christian Science Monitor, Time, BBC World News Radio, and Mentalfloss.com. Although one long-standing hypothesis has suggested that humans and no other primates, including Neandertals (also known as Neanderthals), have chins to resist mechanical forces during chewing, Holton and colleagues have not found any correlation. Instead, they argue that the chin may simply be a consequence of human evolving smaller faces over time. According to Robert Franciscus, a professor in the University of Iowa Department of Anthropology, as modern humans evolved from isolated communities into more social and cooperative groups, the changes in hormone levels, particularly testosterone, results in smaller faces, which led to the development of a chin. The research done by Holton and colleagues performed facial biomechanical analyses by collecting 292 longitudinal cephalometric observations from 19 females and 18 males who were part of the Iowa Facial Growth Study from age 3 to 20+ years. This study began in 1946 and was run by Dr. L. Bodine Higley, Department of Orthodontics, and Dr. Howard V. Meredith from the Child Welfare Research Station. Co-authors on the Journal of Anatomy article include Dr. Laura Bonner, formerly Department of Orthodontics; Jill E. Scott, a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology; Dr. Steven Marshall, adjunct associate professor, Department of Orthodontics; Dr. Robert Franciscus, UI Departments of Anthropology and Orthodontics (secondary appointment); and Dr. Thomas Southard, head of the Department of Orthodontics. |
 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dows Institute and Department of Family Dentistry, has received a one-year, $26,125 research grant from DENTSPLY Implants IH AB (Molndal, Sweden) as part of a multicenter study. May 06, 2015 Dr. Christopher Barwacz, Dows Institute and Department of Family Dentistry, has received a one-year, $26,125 research grant from DENTSPLY Implants IH AB (Molndal, Sweden) as part of a multicenter study entitled "A Retrospective Multicenter Study Evaluating ATLANTIS Abutments on Implants from Four Manufacturers." The purpose of this retrospective study is to provide scientific outcomes data on the clinical performance and stability of titanium and gold-shaded titanium computer-aided design and computer-aided manufactured (CAD/CAM) ATLANTIS abutments when connected to implants from four major implant manufacturers. Dr. Ghadeer Thalji, Department of Prosthodontics, is a clinical co-investigator on this project. |
 The 62nd Annual Meeting of the Iowa Section of AADR was held February 10, 2015, at the College of Dentistry. Feb 20, 2015 The 62nd annual meeting of the Iowa Section of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) was held February 10, 2015, at the UI College of Dentistry. Dean Johnsen gave the welcome address and Dr. Chris Barwacz, president of the Iowa Section of AADR gave introduction for the keynote speaker, Dr. Anthony Brennan, University of Florida at Gainesville, whose address was “A New Model for Bioadhesion.” Following Dr. Brennan there were oral, poster and table clinic presentations. The awards banquet was held that evening at the Coralville Holiday Inn. Ms. Rebecca Van Horn, Procter and Gamble, attended the meeting and awards banquet. Meeting sponsors included DENTSPLY Implants, the American Dental Association, Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, and Procter and Gamble.
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 Drs. Lina Moreno Uribe and Azeez Butali receive five-year NIH subcontract grants. Feb 09, 2015 Dr. Lina Moreno Uribe, Dows Dental Research and Department of Orthodontics; Dr. Azeez Butali, Dows Dental Research and Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; and Dr. Jeffrey Murray, UI Department of Pediatrics, have received subcontracts within an $11.8 million five-year NIH grant entitled, "Extending the Phenotype of Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts," which was awarded to Dr. Mary Marazita at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Moreno Uribe's subcontract amount is $1,324,191. The subcontract amount for Dr. Murray, who is the principal investigator, and for Dr. Butali, who is a co-investigator, is $1,300,000. This project will continue to investigate the genetic factors underlying the spectrum of craniofacial and dental anomalies present in about 1,500 families with orofacial clefting and 2,000 controls from Colombia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Pennsylvania. Drs. Moreno and Butali will be involved in the Colombian and Nigerian data collection and analyses. Co-investigators on this grant will include Martine Dunnwald, UI Department of Pediatrics, and Dr. Seth Weinberg and Alexandre Vieira, University of Pittsburgh. |
 Dr. Dan Caplan, head of the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, has received a $25,000 Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation grant. Feb 04, 2015 Dr. Daniel Caplan, DEO, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, has received a $25,000 Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation grant. Dr. Caplan will be principal investigator and Dr. Cowen, Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, will be a co-investigator. The grant money will be used for the project, “Restoration and Tooth Longevity among Nursing Home Residents: a 30-Year Retrospective Study.” The researchers will evaluate the longevity of dental restorations and teeth among nursing home residents treated by UI College of Dentistry students and faculty from 1985-2014, to determine what factors were related to restoration (or tooth) longevity. The information could be used to better inform community-dwelling functionally dependent elderly or nursing facility residents about their restorative treatment options and potentially generate preliminary “best practice guidelines” for restorative dental care. |
 Dr. Arwa Owais, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, receives two grants from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation for her research, "Bedsharing and Nighttime Oral Health Habits among WIC-Enrolled Children Study." Feb 04, 2015 Dr. Arwa Owais, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has received two grants from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Her $4,000 grant will support her research, “Bedsharing and Nighttime Oral Health Habits among WIC-Enrolled Children Study.” The purpose of the one-year grant is to determine if there is a relationship between a child’s habit of bedsharing with its mother and the child’s nighttime oral health habits and subsequent risk for early childhood caries (ECC). Data from 1500 charts will be collected from records of patients seen at the University of Iowa’s Infant Oral Health Program (IOHP) at the Johnson County Department of Public Health WIC Clinic. Dr. Owais will be principal investigator; Dr. Karin Weber-Gasparoni, head of Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. Fang Qian, Biostatistics Unit; and Dr. Vanessa Axelson, Pediatric Dentistry resident, will be co-investigators. Dr. Owais also received a second Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation grant for her research, “Medical Management of Caries in the Primary Dentition Using Silver Nitrate: a Pilot Study.” The one-year $25,000 grant will be used to study children having at least one primary tooth where caries extend into dentine. Children will be randomized and treated according to one of two treatment approaches: conventional caries management with best practice prevention, or medical management of caries using silver nitrate with best practice prevention. Dr. Owais will be principal investigator on this project. Drs. Michael Kanellis, Deborah Dawson, Matthew Geneser, and Karin Weber-Gasparoni, Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Gayle Gilbaugh and Cathy Skotowski, also Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. David Drake, Dows Dental Research; Dr. Alberto Gasparoni, Oral Pathology, Radiology & Medicine; Wei Liu, Biostatistics Unit; Dr. Reem Oweis, dentistry fellow associate, and Dr. John Warren, both Preventive & Community Dentistry; and Dr. George Wehby, College of Public Health, will be co-investigators. |
 Dr. Gustavo Avila Ortiz receives a $40,000 BioHorizons grant. Jan 27, 2015 Dr. Gustavo Avila Ortiz, Department of Periodontics, received a $40,000 research grant from BioHorizons, Inc. (Birmingham, Ala.) to conduct a study entitled "Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Different Surgical Approaches to Increase Peri-implant Mucosa Thickness: A Randomized Clinical Trial." The purpose of this non-inferiority trial is to determine the clinical efficacy of a soft tissue allograft (i.e., acellular human dermal matrix) in the augmentation of facial mucosa thickness around an implant as compared to an autologous subepithelial connective tissue graft in human adults. Dr. Christopher Hutton, a second-year resident in Periodontics, is the main co-investigator. He will use the results of this clinical trial to complete the requirements to obtain his MS. Other co-investigators include Dr. Georgia Johnson, DEO of Periodontics; Dr. KelseyTengan, first-year periodontics resident; Dr. Chris Barwacz, Department of Prosthodontics and Dows Institute for Dental Research; and Dr. Veersathpurush Allareddy, Department of Orthodontics. This study is currently ongoing and is actively recruiting patients. Mr. Richard Barwacz is the study coordinator. For further details, visit this website. |
 Dr. Satheesh Elangovan, Department of Periodontics, receives a two-year NIH R21 grant. Jan 12, 2015 Dr. Satheesh Elangovan, Department of Periodontics, has received a two-year NIH grant. The award amount is projected to be $406,285 and will be used for his research, "A Novel RNA-Based Biomaterial for Bone Regeneration." Results from this study will provide critical information on the feasibility and effectiveness of cmRNA-based therapeutics for bone regeneration. New knowledge gained from the research will likely have implications in developing future bio-inspired materials for tissue engineering applications. Co-investigators on Dr. Elangovan's research project include Dr. Liu Hong, Dows Research; Dr. Deborah Dawson, director, Biostatistics Unit; and Dr. Aliasger Salem, College of Pharmacy. Drs. Georgia K. Johnson, Department of Periodontics; Clark M. Stanford, University of Illinois, Chicago; and Michael Kormann, University of Tübingen, Germany, are consultants on this project. |
 Dr. Leonardo Marchini receives a $166,440 Delta Dental Foundation grant. Jan 12, 2015 The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation has donated $166,440 to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics to support oral health research for aging Iowans. The project focuses on the implementation and evaluation of preventive oral health care treatments provided in a nursing facility. “There is increasing evidence that oral health plays an important role in nursing facility residents’ nutrition, general health and life satisfaction,” said Dr. David Johnsen, dean of The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. “Further understanding of the complex tooth decay process and opportunity to develop a feasible, easy-to-deliver treatment in the nursing facility setting will help improve oral health and overall health of aging Iowans.” “The Foundation recognizes the growing need for preventive treatment among aging Iowans in nursing facilities,” said Jeff Russell, president of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. “Alongside the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, funding for this research initiative demonstrates the Foundation’s long-term investment in the oral health of aging Iowans.” The funding also reflects the Foundation’s 2020 goal and commitment to ensure access to oral health care for every Iowa nursing home resident and homebound elderly person. The results of this research will provide important information to dental and health professionals in the nursing facility setting on the most effective oral health treatment. As principal investigator, Dr. Leonardo Marchini, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, will use the two-year grant for his research, "Iowa Nursing Facility Oral Hygiene Intervention: A Pilot Study." The project will evaluate the effectiveness of dental hygienist-delivered oral health interventions in six area Iowa nursing facilities. Co-investigators include Drs. Daniel Caplan, Howard Cowen, and Jennifer Hartshorn, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry; Drs. Michael Kanellis, Clinic Administration; Deborah Dawson, director of the Biostatistics Unit; and Dr. David Drake, Dows Research. Heather Stallman and Allison Winter, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, will provide staff support. |
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