The University of New England (UNE) College of Dental Medicine, led by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), has received a $4.4 million grant to study pain development after oral procedures.
Saliva samples collected from patients will be used to track their pain levels during the recovery process after oral procedures, including tooth extractions and root canals, according to a press release dated November 15 from UNE. Students and faculty hope to create a system that helps identify patients with elevated pain levels after surgery to help clinicians make well-informed decisions regarding postoperative pain treatment.
The research program, known as the Collaborative Clinical Practice-based Research Program for Dental Schools (H-CREDENT), is being funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and will be led by Dr. Mohamed ElSalhy, PhD, MSc, MPH, an assistant clinical professor of dentistry at UNE.
“By giving dentists that foundation while they’re students, we’re setting them up for success in their own practices with conducting their own research studies or collaborations with other colleagues,” Dr. Nicole Kimmes, dean of the UNE College of Dental Medicine, said in the release.
