Stomatology, Orthodonty and Parandontology

THE DEPARTMENT PADO MAINLY DEVELOPS RESEARCH IN THE FOLLOWING DOMAINS:_________________________________________________________ 1. Epidemiology of periodontal diseases (research on gingival and periodontal conditions of young Flemish adults and Flemish dental students); 2. Oral hygiene aids (research on plaque removing efficacy of new toothbrushes and plaque removing efficacy of toothbrushes in orthodontic patients); 3. The use of anti-bacterial compounds in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases (the effects of: antibiotics in slow release delivery systems in periodontal therapy, oral antiseptic mouth rinses on development of dental plaque and gingivitis, chewing gums containing antiseptic on the development of dental plaque, gingivitis and staining; and varnishes in periodontal therapy); 4. Diagnostic techniques in periodontology (e.g. Automatic image analysis in the evaluation of plaque formation, dental staining and gingival recession, Methods for determining degrees of gingival inflammation, Slot immunoblot assay versus bacteriologic culturing techniques in periodontal diagnosis, development of new bacterial plaque indices, comparison of different radiographic diagnostic aids, quantitation of Gingival Crevicular Fluid as diagnostic tool); 5. Histopathology and microbiology of periodontal diseases (e.g. Reinfection of the subgingival pocket following mechanical periodontal therapy, Determination of subgingival plaque in experimental gingivitis study).__________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ___ . THE DEPARTMENT SMAF STOMATOLOGY & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY MAINLY DEVELOPS RESEARCH IN THE FOLLOWING DOMAINS: 1. Computer assisted radiology and surgery(e.g. technologies and applications for image guided surgery AZ-VUB SMAF Stomatology; 2. Reconstruction of large bone defects with custom made implants manufactured by rapid prototyping AZ-VUB SMAF Stomatology; 3. Monitoring the stress-build up in all-ceramics with a novel optical fiber characterisation technic. Applications of optical fibre Bragg grating sensors to the study of PMMA curing. AZ-VUB Stomatology SMAF-TONA; 4. Experience with different speech processing systems in daily clinical orofacial routine AZ-VUB Stomatology SMAF 5. Surgery in treatment of congenital and acquired deformities (e.g. Neonatal cleft lip and cleft palate repair, Orthognathic surgery, Growth analysis and genetics in oral-facial growth and diseases, prosthetic treatment of ectodermal dysplasia, distraction osteogenesis for correction of transverse mandibular deficiency and vertical alveolar ridge augmentation; 6.Therapy for craniomandibular pain dysfunction (e.g. Disorders of the temporo-mandibular joint: Different manifestations of articulation disorders associated with maxillary growth, condylar hyperplasia, mandibular hypomobility, managing obstructive sleep apnoea OSA) Occlusion and splint therapy and current principles of mobilization of the temporomandibular joint. Nonsurgical treatment of anterior disk displacement without reduction of the temporomandibular joint: the relationship between condylar rotation and translation; 7. Forensic science;Determination of age on teeth, improved techniques and analysis in industrial investigations on dental materials (polymers,metals.) Research and arbitration in national and international legal/insurance lawsuits and dental interests;