Research Units

• Research units at the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry promote scholarly collaborations in known or emerging areas of common interest among its Faculty members, and also externally.  The generation, translation, and utilization of research are essential to advancing our profession and to developing the critical thinking skills needed for long-term professional success. 
• Research units are led by MPSoD faculty members, who engage in Foundational, Clinical, Community population, and Educational research activities.  Our researchers are grouped into three units, which represent approximately 30 faculty members engaged in research; 

Biomedical Oral & Maxillofacial Research Unit

Comprises researchers conducting basic science research in areas such as cancer, craniofacial growth & development, cardiovascular disease, and immunology, systemic disease related to inflammatory oral conditions, dental materials and biomechanics, and tissue engineering. 

Applied Oral Health Research Unit

Encompasses groups engaged in research on dental aerosols,  dental sleep medicine, artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, public health and periodontal disease. The unit has several ongoing clinical trials and epidemiological research that aims to facilitate the translation of discovery science into clinical application.

  Educational Research and Scholarship Unit  

The mission of the School of Dentistry, Educational Research & Scholarship Unit (ERSU) is to support the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, and Biomedical Sciences. The ERSU will engage in and support research on teaching and learning activities at multiple levels; ranging from reflection on formal educational experiences within the university to the examination of educational activities that are part of the practice of oral health care in today's society. 

Oral Health Analytics & Informatics Unit

The future of oral health research resides in the discovery of context-dependent artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, specialized training programs, and augmented intelligence approaches to enhance expertise among oral health professionals. The Oral Health Analytics & Informatics unit (OHAI-U) was established to advance these imperatives by empowering researchers and learners with the essential tools and insights needed to define the future of dentistry. The OHAI-U drives AI-focused research, training, community support, and expert consultation.