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Current Research Subjects

Current Research Subjects

  Division Subject Area Research Subject
Division of Pathogenesis and Control of Oral Diseases

Oral Pathology
Pharmacology
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 1
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2
Oral pathology
Pharmacotherapeutics
Management of oral and maxillofacial diseases
Oral and maxillofacial oncology
Pharmacokinetics
Advanced management of oral and maxillofacial surgery
Molecular oral pathology
Craniofacial malformation research
Clinical study and basic research (cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, gene analysis, etc.) for various kinds of oral and maxillofacial disease, such as tumors (salivary gland tumor, odontogenic tumor, oral squamous cell cancer, etc.), congenital anomalies (cleft lip, cleft palate, etc.), hypoplastic or dysplastic disease of teeth, infectious and infl ammatory disease, injuries, diseases of jaw bone and temporomandibular joint, deformation of jaw bone, salivary gland diseases, insufficiency of oral functions (respiratory insufficiency, dyspnea, etc.), etc. are performed to control these disorders.
The transduction and modulation of pain, and the mechanism of inflammatory reaction are investigated to develop the new anti-inflammatory drugs and new analgesics.
Basic studies for oral rehabilitation, development of nonaggressive methods of diagnosis and therapy, and reconstruction of oral tissues with biomaterials and grafts are undertaken to establish full recovery from oral dysfunction observed after oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Education of the clinical and fundamental studies in oral and maxillofacial diseases is also performed.
Division of Oromaxillofacial Regeneration

Biomaterials Science
Fixed Prosthodontics
Removable Prosthodontics
Dental adhesion and tissue engineering
Dental biomaterials science
Occlusion, TMD and advanced prosthodontics
Oral implantology
Oromaxillofacial prosthodontics
Care of oromaxillofacial function
Bio-compatibility and durability of the dental materials, as well as esthetic and functional designs are required for oral tissues regeneration. This department is developing the artificial biomaterials and tissue engineering materials, and also doing the material, physiological, bio-chemical and clinical researches and educations regarding the recovery of oral functions such as mastication, swallowing and speech, and the rehabilitation of temporomandibular joint and occlusion.
The need of scientific clarification regarding the influence of re-construction of oral functions or maintenance of oral environment on the health and QOL is cried out. We do the research on the relationship between oral functions and general health through the clinical-epidemiological approach with aged people. We also do the education corresponded to aged society with the results obtained from these researches.
Division of Functional Oral Neuroscience

Oral Anatomy and Neurobiology
Neuroscience and Oral Physiology
Dental Anesthesiology
Oral-Facial Disorders
Oral anatomy and neurobiology
Oral physiology
Oral neurophysiology
Neuroanatomy of oromaixillofacial motor control
Oral-facial disorders and therapeutics
Dental anesthesiology
Orofacial pain research
Rehabilitaion for oral-facial dysfunction
Oral functions such as mastication, swallowing, salivation, and speech are essential for human life, and their impairments directly decrease the quality of life to a large extent. These motor functions are strictly controlled by the higher brain, which integrates sensory information arising from the various oromaxillofacial regions. In the Division of Functional Oral Neuroscience, researches on the brain mechanisms underlying these oral functions are performed to better understand and possibly alleviate the clinical problems caused by impairments of oral functions.
Educational programs in the basic and clinical departments emphasize training in anatomical or physiological science, research techniques, and teaching skills to prepare students for productive careers in research and teaching. Following completion of the basic course work, students concentrate on a specific research by working under the direction of each faculty staff. Research areas in this division are categorized into 8 subject areas as listed in the left column. The program has been designed to be fl exible so that it can be tailored for the needs of the individual student.
Division of Diagnostic Dentistry
Intensive care stomatology
Diagnostic oral pathology
In the view of the stomatology based on the medical science and oral medicine, the relationship between the oral disease and the general disease is investigated. Pathological diagnosis as well as clinical examination for tumor, cyst and mucosal lesion in the oral region is studied with considering the surgical pathology. Pathology on the regeneration of the periodontal tissue and the bone is also the target of our research.
Information technology on the pathological science must be developed in our field.
Division of Craniofacial Development Biology
Genetics for craniofacial development
Therapeutics for craniofacial growth deficiency
1. Analysis of gene control during craniofacial developmental biology
2. Molecular biological studies for the formation of bony structure
3. Development of therapy for growth deficiency and functional disorders in patients with congenital anomalies
  Division Subject Area Research Subject
Division of Oral Infection and Disease Control

Oral and Molecular Microbiology
Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology
Pediatric Dentistry
Molecular and cellular microbiology
Oral microbiology and immunology
Pediatric dentistry Cariology
Restorative dentistry
Endodontology
Among various oral and dental diseases, dental caries and periodontitis are major disorders in the oral cavity of microbial origins. It is therefore important subjects that should be solved by dental professions and scientists. This division of Oral Infections and Disease Control attempts to elucidate virulence factors of dental caries and periodontitis, and molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation on the tooth surface. Furthermore, pathogenesis of these diseases is studied clinically or experimentally using appropriate animal model systems, and developmental studies on the disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are carried out based on their etiology and pathogenesis. Especially, research interests center on analysis of clinical relevance of bacterial biofilm, as well as development of bio-functional restorative materials with anti-cariogenic activity.
In addition, this Division conducts investigation into the mechanisms of infection of group A streptococci (GAS) on the mucosal surface of oral and pharyngeal areas. Molecular processes of the GAS invasion and vaccine development are being carried out.
Division of Oral Biology and Disease Control

Molecular and Celluar Biochemistry
Preventive Dentistry
Periodontology
Oral Frontier Biology
Preventive dentistry
Basic dental health science
Molecular and cellular craniofacial biology
Craniofacial tissue regeneration and engineering
Oral epidemiology
Oral science methodology
Periodontology
Clinical periodontology
In Division of Oral Biology and Disease Control, studies on the mechanisms of occurrence of oral diseases and senile diseases are conducted molecular biologically, immunologically and cellular biologically by use of the most advanced experimental technique and equipment. The following are included in our studies: i) immunopathological studies on periodontal disease, ii) molecular mechanism of dental plaque formation, iii) mechanisms of periodontal regeneration.
Moreover, in order to keep up with the coming an aging society, a wide range of studies from several senile diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis to cancer metastasis is carried out on molecular and cellular level. In this 21st century designated as “The time of health creation,” in addition to treatments of oral diseases , we aim to develop new preventive methods by novel conception and the most advanced technology. The goal is to inhibit the process of occurrence of oral diseases and to apply the new preventive methods to clinical use for prevention of oral diseases and promotion of health.
Division of Oral Developmental Biology

Oral Anatomy and Developmental Biology
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Oral anatomy and developmental biology
Oral histology and embryology
Oral and maxillofacial diagnostic imaging
Dentofacial growth and sensory/motor controls
Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics
Oral and maxillofacial radiology
To investigate the developmental, growing and aging mechanism of components of a dentocraniofacial complex, such as jaw bones, temporomandibular joints, masticatory muscles, cranial nerves, periodontal tissues, and teeth we make researches with various molecular biological methods, e.g. immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and tissue culture with antisense oligonucleotides.
Image processing and analysis are the main target of our research in which we are improving accuracy and efficiency of the imaging diagnosis by using CT and MRI. With the help of MR scanner we have undertaken the research on the relationship between oral region and brain with functional MRI, and on the spectrum analysis of the oral tumor with MR spectroscopy. As for the radiation therapy we are seeking out how the complication and side effects could be reduced and how the control rate of the tumor might be improved.
To investigate the mechanism of onset for various malocclusions, we are exploring the relationship between the high-dimensional phenotypic level, such as a facial configuration and an occlusion, and the molecular one by 3-dimensional digitalization of the structure and the function, and gene analysis. Furthermore, we are developing a robot that will be used as a knowledge database, which is expected to support a diagnosis or a treatment planning by modeling mathematically the inferencelogical structure of decision-making in clinical orthodontics.
Division of Community and Dentistry and Informatics
Interdisciplinary dentistry
・In the Interdisciplinary Dentistry, studies relating to perform holistic or interdisciplinary dental treatment are conducted with the view from nanotechnology, electron microscopic analysis, fracture mechanics and computer simulation. Also studies relating to the development of effective methods and evaluation for the clinical training for residents and students are conducted.
Nursing dentistry
・Nursing dentistry is a field of dental research and practice that covers the oral/ dental problems appearing specifically in the person with mental, physical or emotional disabilities and systemic diseases. Research activity of this section includes epidemiological study, and experimental or clinical studies on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dental diseases as well as social advocacy or welfare activity.
Dental informatics
・In the domain of Dental Informatics, research focuses are placed on the fused area of dentistry and information science. We have been investigating a human interface and structure of back-end database for an electronic patient record in dentistry. The most valuable product of our research is registering schematic symbol characters for dentistry to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS)X0213:2000.
Center for Frontier Oral Science (CFOS) Center for Frontier Oral Science was established as a research institute of clinical oral science and clinical study in response to the necessity of education / research on Frontier Oral Science and the advancement of the time.
Central Laboratory This is a shared-use facility for advanced research support in the central laboratory of graduate school of dentistry.
It handles the management and maintenance of the appropriate operation of advanced research analysis equipment, animal experiment facilities, and RI facilities.
Developing Independent Research Environment for Young Researchers
Supported by the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Osaka University Life Science Young Independent Researcher Support
Laboratory of Oral Chronobiology
In mammals, circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior are controlled by internal clock for environmental adaptation, and are important in maintaining not only oral health but also our daily life. Our lab studies the bases of neural circuit for “the biological clock”. Because oral functions, such as feeding and mastication are crucial zeightgeber, we can contribute to develop quality of life by better understanding of the biological clock.