Research at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry is advancing the future of oral health through discovery, innovation and collaboration. Our faculty, students and research teams are engaged in a diverse portfolio of studies spanning many dental specialties, including endodontics, periodontology, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral medicine, pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics, restorative dentistry, public health dentistry, orofacial pain and oral pathology.
From laboratory science and clinical trials to community-based research and translational studies, these projects are expanding knowledge, improving patient care and shaping the future of dentistry. Explore the research studies below to learn more about the innovative work currently underway at the College of Dentistry.
Grade C periodontitis (formerly aggressive periodontitis) is a rare, rapidly progressing disease affecting young individuals and often clustering in families. This multi-center study will analyze global cases to identify genetic susceptibility, host-response pathways, and microbial profiles using whole-exome sequencing, epithelial transcriptomics, and metagenomic analysis to better understand disease mechanisms and risk.
The role in vivo of Phospholipase A2-IIA (PLA2-IIA) and Notch-1 in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease remain unknown. In this study, using different transgenic and knockout mouse models we seek to validate in vivo the effect of PLA2-IIA and Notch-1 in oral dysbiosis, gingival immunoinflammatory responses, and alveolar bone loss.
MODERN-Dental evaluates the effects of semaglutide (GLP-1RA) treatment on gingival/periodontal inflammation, oral microbiome composition, and cardiometabolic biomarkers in adolescents with obesity, aiming to better understand oral-systemic interactions and improve integrated pediatric healthcare strategies.
This study builds collaborative frameworks to investigate population-specific susceptibility factors for periodontal disease in Hispanic populations. It aims to improve understanding of biological and social determinants of oral health disparities and support culturally informed, equity-focused periodontal research.
Chronic masticatory muscle pain disorders (MMPD) affect 5-12% of the population. Combining standard dental care with brief telehealth psychological interventions offers hope for improving quality of life, but few such interventions exist. The study will generate data to support a full-scale efficacy trial of a brief psychological intervention for MMPD.