Dental and Craniofacial Development & Oral Health

Researchers in our labs are studying the roles and mechanism of the formation of bone, dentin, enamel and periodontium. We use transgenic and mutant mice to study the role of stem cells and differentiated cells in bones and teeth.

We develop unique in vitro cell models to study the stem cells that produce the bone, tooth dentin and all the components of the periosteum. We are developing epigenetic regulatory networks combined with deep gene expression analysis using next -generation sequencing methods combined with bioinformatics and computational analysis and modeling. From this knowledge database, we can predict new therapeutic approaches for corrected bone loss due to trauma and periodontium loss due to periodontal disease.

The Latest Facts & Findings

Oligodontia describes a condition when multiple teeth are missing. The affected teeth can include permanent molars, premolars and lateral incisors that are missing in the upper and lower arches. Gene mutations associated with oligodontia have been found in PAX9, MSX1, AXIN2, WNT10A and EDA. Affected persons need comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment.

More than 90

genes and 12 transcription factors are involved in tooth development.

1:700 to 1:13,000

the incidence of mutations in the gene for amelogenin vary depending on the population (1:13,000 in the U.S.).

The International Journal of Oral Science featured the research of Dr. Harris’ lab. It was shown that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (Bmp2) controls the differentiation of cells giving rise to the crown, root and periodontium.