Conference Program

8:30 AM

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:15–9:30 AM

Welcome

James B. Bramson, DDS
Executive Director, American Dental Association
Moderator: Barry Kaufman, DMD

9:30–10:00 AM

Salivary Diagnostics for Human Diseases

David Wong, DMD, DMSc
Professor and Associate Dean of Research
UCLA School of Dentistry
Director, Dental Research Institute

Scientists are developing ultra tiny sensors, capable of analyzing and diagnosing a myriad of human diseases from saliva. Join Dr. Wong for breaking information on how these highly sensitive, highly specific nanotechnology-based sensors permit the detection of disease-bearing biomarkers in saliva. Research by Dr. Wong and colleagues at his UCLA laboratory revealed that such sensors can differentiate, with 91 percent accuracy, the saliva from a subject with oral cancer from one without the disease.

10:00–10:30 AM

Tissue Engineering: Building New Facial Bone

Paul H. Krebsbach, DDS, PhD
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences
School of Dentistry, University of Michigan

Dental scientists are pushing technology to new heights, allowing the future engineering of hard and soft human tissue to regenerate and replace damaged neck and craniofacial structures lost to disease and trauma. Dr. Krebsbach, who leads the tissue engineering training program at the University of Michigan, will focus on the latest approaches he and fellow researchers are investigating to grow human tissue through artificial means, with an emphasis on gene therapy directed at new bone formation.

10:30–10:50 AM

Break and Interviews

10:50–11:20 AM

Banking Baby and Wisdom Teeth for Stem Cells

Pamela Gehron Robey, PhD
Chief, Craniofacial and Skeletal Disease Branch
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health

Research shows baby teeth, wisdom teeth, and jawbone are non-controversial sources of stem cells. Parents can “save” for their children’s genetic future by banking baby teeth the way umbilical cord blood is stored. Dr. Robey explores how stem cells can save injured teeth and help grow jawbone. Regenerating an entire tooth is on the horizon. Years from now, stem cells from jawbone and teeth might correct cleft palate and perhaps restore nerve cells damaged by disease to reawaken the body’s responsiveness.

11:20–11:50 AM

White With Might

Fred Eichmiller, DDS
Director, American Dental Association Foundation’s
Paffenbarger Research Center (PRC)
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Some people excessively bleach their teeth, which may lead to irreversible tooth damage. Even when used properly, tooth whiteners may temporarily cause increased sensitivity to air as well as hot and cold food and drinks. Dr. Eichmiller explains how PRC scientists enhanced a natural healing process to develop a “white with might” solution that will both whiten and strengthen teeth, resulting in far fewer side effects. This new whitening formula could soon be available in products such as gels, strips, and paint-on tooth whiteners.