Dental research seeks to discover important insights into how to achieve optimal health.
Oral diseases are highly prevalent. 90 percent of people in the world are affected by oral disease, including caries (cavities), gum disease, cancers, genetic disorders (including cleft lip and palate), and autoimmune diseases.
Major focus areas of dental research include:
- Risks and causes of oral health problems
- Ways to correct oral health problems
- Wider impacts of oral health problems
“Dental research focused on understanding how best to prevent oral disease and on understanding the relationship between oral disease and systemic disorders will lead to significant improvement.”
— Dr. Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque
Acting Director, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
NIH Pathways from School to Dental Research
Dental research involves a huge range of fields of scientific disciplines, including genetics, oncology, developmental biology, engineering, neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, physiology, public health, data science/computational biology, clinical research, and health disparities.
A focus on biology, chemistry, and mathematics in high school and college will provide a good foundation for a dental degree.
NIH offers training opportunities in dental research from college and beyond at colleges and universities across the U.S., in low- and middle-income countries, and elsewhere.
Dental Research Careers and Opportunities at NIDCR
As the leading NIH institute for dental research, NIDCR provides career and training opportunities as well as employment for dental researchers.
