Research Division Description

The Division of Research in the Department of General Dentistry has had an interesting past. The Department has had many industry sponsors and some unusual federal sponsorship. Materials research has been and will continue to be one of the focuses of the department's research efforts. Materials testing and development from companies such as 3M, Procter & Gamble, and Bisco have been part of the industry funding.

NASA has been one of the funding agencies working with our Department and Dr. John Young in particular. Development of delivery systems for the Mars mission was the latest project undertaken by Dr. Young before his retirement.

While the expertise needed for the NASA funding has left us, others are stepping up to develop clinical research as a focus for the Department of General Dentistry. Because of the significant time spent in direct patient care, department faculty are in a unique position to conduct patient centered clinical trials in collaboration with other departments, schools, and institutions. Current activities include: evaluation of restorative materials in fixed prosthodontics, development of new human models to study pulpal pain, health services research, diagnosis and management of oral complication of cancer therapy, epidemiology and management of Candida infections in the elderly, in vitro and in vivo testing of new antifungal medications, and testing and management of dental unit waterlines. For further information contact Dr. Charles Hermesch, Division Director, at Hermesch@uthscsa.edu.