Intervention and Management
Our Intervention and Management Research Program is developing treatments to reduce the severity and impact of oral diseases, as well as working with the dental workforce to ensure it has the capacity to meet community needs.
There are four major projects within this program:
- Novel Therapeutics and Dental Professional Products
- Minimal Intervention Dentistry
- Dental Workforce
- eviDent (Dental practice-based research network)
Novel Therapeutics and Dental Professional Products
Periodontal disease vaccine
Approximately 20-30% of Australian adults have some degree of the gum disease, periodontitis. Severe cases of the disease destroy the tissue and bone that supports teeth. At present, periodontal disease can only be detected once damage has occurred, and it is costly and time-consuming to contain. There is also growing evidence linking periodontal disease with systemic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Researchers at the Oral Health CRC are working on a vaccine to treat periodontitis, investigating links between periodontal disease and bacteria (specifically Porphyromonas gingivalis) and inflammation. For updates on the periodontal disease vaccine, or to be involved in clinical trials, please use the Contact Us page of this website.
Antibiofilm approach
Dental caries and periodontal diseases are caused by specific bacteria in plaque that accumulates on the hard surface of the tooth. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 65% of human disease is caused by biofilm-forming bacteria. Researchers with the Oral Health CRC are working to understand how bacterium form biofilm on the tooth surface and ways of reducing levels of harmful bacteria.
Minimal Intervention Dentistry
Minimal intervention dentistry is a modern dentistry practice designed to manage the cause of oral health problems (e.g. bacterial growth), with a focus on preventing future oral health problems. Researchers in the Oral Health CRC are assessing and developing the effectiveness of minimal intervention dentistry treatments and models of care.
Dental Workforce
Research in this project carries out studies to gain a better understanding of the skills and capacity of the oral health workforce, and investigates new models of care - including teledentistry - for meeting the oral health needs of the Australian community.
eviDent Network
The eviDent dental practice based research network is a consortium of dental care providers established by the Oral Health CRC and the Australian Dental Association (Vic) committed to evidence-based dental care. The network creates relationships between oral health practitioners and academic researchers, building the capacity of the sector to produce and use research. For more information, please visit the eviDent page on this website or the eviDent website.
