Center for Dental Studies

The Center for Dental Studies has a productive and successful history of working with industry. Perhaps the most important strength of the center is its ability to provide comprehensive services, including developing research protocols, performing basic scientific and clinical studies for new product introduction and/or product enhancement, coordinating multicenter research, and facilitating technology transfer to industry.

The Center for Dental Studies performs research for large and small companies, in the United States and abroad, working with American firms as well as organizations from Japan, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. Since its establishment in 1988 the center has completed more than $15 million in funded NIDCR research projects with contracts ranging from $10,000 to $450,000.

State-of-the-art facilities and equipment coupled with cutting-edge technology and a knowledgeable, highly trained, research dedicated staff enable the Center for Dental Studies to:

• Provide dental product manufacturers with access to technology, educatoin, extensive research facilities, precision measuring devices, informatics, and experienced clinical and basic science researchers
• Offer consultations in professional and public marketing
• Complete research in a timely and professional manner
• Utilize existing successful research programs and experienced professional personnel
• Serve as a liaison between industry and government for jointly supported projects
• Provide advice on FDA submissions
• Respond quickly and efficiently to the dental health-care needs of the public
• Support research efforts to benefit more than one company when co-developed products are evaluated
• Avoid duplication of research facilities, efforts, and resources by university and industry
• Interact with the University at Buffalo's Biomaterials Instrument Center on collaborative projects that include optical imaging, scanning microscopy, and surface spectroscopy
• Interact with the University at Buffalo's Periodontal Disease Research Center

The faculty affilated with the Center for Dental Studies, which includes national and international leaders in dentistry, comprises general dentists, board certified specialists, basic scientists in dental related research, statisticians, and computer specialists. Many center faculty hold MS and PhD degrees; several have joint appointments in the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Sebastian G. Ciancio, Professor and Chair of the Department of Periodontology and clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacology, is the center's director. Dr. Ciancio has more than twenty years of experience in coordinating basic and clinical research. The Center has research expertise, dedicated staff, and extensive publications in the following areas:

• Animal Models of Human Disease
• Biomaterials
• Breath Disorders
• Calcified Tissue
• Clinical Issues
• Dental Pharmaceuticals
• Evaluation and Treatment of Nerve Injury
• Informatics
• Immunology and Inflammatory Disease
• Implants
• Lasers in Dentistry
• Medically Compromised Patients
• Microbiology
• Orthodontics
• Oral Pathology
• Oro-facial Pain
• Oral Medicine
• Periodontal Therapy
• Photodynamic Therapy
• Restorative Materials and Techniques
• Root Surface Sensitivity
• Surface Characterization of Dental Material
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
• Toxicology

Companies wishing to work with the Center for Dental Studies can take advantage of the expertise of the Research Foundation of the State University of New York and the University of Buffalo Foundation for assistance in research contracts, accounting, and licensing of new technologies developed through joint research.