Projects / Programmes
Assessment of the orofacial region to improve oral health
January 1, 2017
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.02.00 |
Medical sciences |
Stomatology |
|
| 3.08.00 |
Medical sciences |
Public health (occupational safety) |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B007 |
Biomedical sciences |
Medicine (human and vertebrates) |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.02 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Clinical medicine |
| 3.03 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Health sciences |
dental caries, dental erosion, developmental defects of enamel, asthma, children, periodontal diseases, saliva, nitric oxide reactive markers, antibodies against Gram negative bacteria, photodynamic therapy, biofilm, microbiological analysis
Researchers (12)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Investigation of the orofacial area from various specialistic branches in dentistry (pedodontics, orthodontics, endodontics and dental diseases, periodontics and maxillofacial surgery and prosthodontics) embraces different pathologies. Because of the diversity the following is included in the programme: investigation of morphological and histological characteristics as well as etiology of developmental defects of enamel, the influence of parodontal disease on systemic diseases, contemporary diagnostic methods in the assessment of functional and morphological characteristics in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics and oral and maxillofacial surgery,investigations of mechanical properties and clinical follow up of zirconiafixed dental prosthesis and concentrations of nanoparticles released during treatment of prosthetic restorations.
Pavlič, Battelino: Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of normal and aberrant dental enamel will be investigated in subjects, in whom different factors affected dental enamel formation, and in healthy subjects.
Jan: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. The purpose of the proposed research is to determine whether asthma and long-term use of asthma medications increase the prevalence and three-years increment of dental caries, dental erosion and developmental defects of enamel in a group of asthmatic children, the influence of other risk factors on the prevalence of dental caries.
Nemeth: The effect of different parameters on dental pulp will be evaluated: effect of ageing on dental pulp function and its response to caries progression, dental materials and clinical procedures As well as dental pulp response to orthodontic therapy.
Petelin: The level of nitric oxide and antibodies against periodontal pathogenic bacteria in the saliva of patients after treatment of chronic periodontitis and treatment of periodontal diseases by means of photodynamic disinfection of periodontal pockets will be investigated. Photodynamic disinfection could become a method that compensates for the periodontal surgery.
Ovsenik: Relationship between form of the jaws and the orofacial functions is known, but their interrelationship is still not clarified. Examination of orofacial functions is unrealiable, but due to radiation inappropriate. 3D non-invasive methods will examine the relationship between form and function in children with and without malocclusion.
Ihan Hren: We will investigate microstructure and survival of glazed monolithicfixed dental prosthesis from translucent zirconia oxide ceramics after mechanical fatigue and accelerated ageing in vitro, measurements of nanoparticles concentrations released in the air during prosthetic treatments and mass concentration type of particles.
Oblak: The connection between the bone and soft tissue characteristics is controversial and poorly known in literature of orthognathic patients. Clinically it is crucially important for prevention and treatment of facial deformity.Their research with 3D methods allows a new insight into this pathology.
Significance for science
Many researches from different related fields of medicine are included in research programme group, their scientifical research work is variable. The goal of all planned different researches is the improvement of quality of treatment in dentistry and medicine.
Until recently orthognathic treatment has been focused only on the function, which is ensured by bone shifts, and less to aesthetics, for which soft tissues are of greatest importance. A more accurate evaluation is now made possible by the digital analysis of facial surface with optical scanners. Data about tongue sizes in orthognathic patients is rare and as yet controversial in literature. In our previous study a linear correlation between tongue volumes and Witts appraisal at skeletal class III orthognathic patients has been established. It means that patients with maxillary retrognathism and mandibular prognathism have bigger tongue volumes, and volume is in linear correlation with gravity of the skeletal malformation. These results allow us to how skeletal malformation will develop and represent a different surgical planning. Clinical usefulness of results in orthognathic surgery is important in the narrowing of the airways at shifting the lower jaw backwards in skeletal class III.
The similar, important role of the tongue is on the morphological characteristics of teeth and jaws. In our past study better diagnosis and treatment were determined, confirming association between irregular tongue posture and jaws shape characteristics in unilateral crossbite. Both examination methods together, the classical and the new one, mark a new approach in early treatment of unilateral functional crossbite malocclusion which is for long therapy stability based on treatment of morphological and also functional irregularities of the orofacial region. Clinical importance of the use of three-dimensional methods is the new approach to treatment of this malocclusion and opens new possibilities to the development of science in the field of orthodontics.
In one of the researches the different factors which could cause of the development of worse mineralization of first permanent molars and incisives (MIH) will be studied. In these patients, the histologic analysis will be done in clinical research of physiologically lost deciduous teeth and the answer on question about their etiology will be researched. Until now, some characteristics of microscopic structure of some clinically diagnosed enamel development impairment of human teeth were described; they are the consequence of different known etiologic factors and different concentrations of amoxicillin and fluorides in mice enamel. The goal of planned research is an answer about the etiology of developmental teeth disorders and could represent the important contribution to science.
Also the recognition of the factors that mainly contribute to the development of teeth diseases in asthma patients represent the important influence on the preventive measures in these patients and this could be significant improvement of their quality of their life. In our previous research we found out that asthmatic children who use medications for asthma, have higher frequency of caries of deciduous and permanent teeth. The goal of our research is to confirm if asthma and its medications influence on the development of caries and enamel impairment. Also other factors as sort, time and dosage of asthma medications, age of patients, food specialties, fluorides and oral hygiene will be considered as factors for caries and erosions.
The main goals of researches of pulp-dentinal complex in teeth of different age and different stage of caries will be better understanding of influence of many factors as different dental procedures and materials as orthodontic movements on pulp-dentinal complex, first in vitro and later on in vivo. The introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as noninvasive diagnostic tool in clinical practice in different fields of dentis
Significance for the country
The goal of all planned researches, although they are very different, is the improvement of quality of treatment in dentistry and medicine. The achieved goals will represent also important socio-economic improvement because their realization will be the new diagnostic and therapeutic methods as the new knowledge about etiology for example of MIH disease nor the pollution with nanoparticles in dental offices.
The structure of research programme group allows the qualitative research work and connection of research work with different fields of stomatology; as between different specialists and also technological tools. So planned research work is interdisciplinary; and this influences on economical part.
The research program leader is full professor and head of the Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery department at the Medical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana. The department is the only department in Slovenia where orthognathic deformities are treated. In addition, the project leader is the only active professor of maxillofacial and oral surgery in Slovenia and head of the Department of Maxillofacial and Oral surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana. Thus, in the professional manner, she is holder of orthognathic activity in Slovenia and is educating younger colleagues in this profession. She is frequently invited as a speaker to professional meetings abroad. In addition to the professional work, she is the leader of research activities of the Department and responsible for student research work, especially postgraduate and doctoral students. In this context, work in this research project is important for the whole medical profession in Slovenia.
In the program cooperating professor the head of the Dentofacial orthopedics department of Medical faculty, is holder of dentofacial orthopedics activity in Slovenia and is educating younger colleagues in this field of medicine. Within Chair activities she is the leading person in the research work of undergraduate, and especially postgraduate and doctoral students. Education in 3-dimensional diagnostics of morphological and functional malocclusions is the main research area. She is invited speaker in professional and research gatherings at home and abroad where she gives reports about results. In this frame, work connected with the research program is important for the whole orthodontic profession in Slovenia.
Also other collaborating professors are head of main dental departments and represents persons with leading research and educational role, important for development of profession.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019
