OCBRG

Oral & Craniofacial Biology Research Group (OCBRG)

Summary and Principle Aims
The oral and craniofacial biology research (OCBR) group comprises of experts in basic and clinical science that provide the application of basic science into clinical discipline.This group focuses on three major areas of research: 1) Oral Hygiene Regime, 2) Variations of Anatomical Structures in the Maxillofacial Region and 3) salivary proteomes

1) Oral Hygiene RegimeThe research group is focusing on the effect of the commercially available and plant-based oral healthcare products on oral tissues. The investigation includes laboratory and clinical studies. The laboratory studies involve the microbiological, biochemical, molecular, histological and cellular approach and tissue culture as an alternate to human specimens. The clinical studies will undertake more for caries prevention in young and medically-compromised children.

2) Variations of anatomical structures in the maxillofacial regionThe research group is investigating the variation of anatomical structures in the maxillofacial region relates to race, gender and age. The output is expected to have clinical and forensic application3) Salivary proteomesThe research group is focusing on the profiles of salivary proteins related to diseases related to the oral cavity. The output is expected to have application for prognosis or diagnosis.

Areas of Research Interests
Our research interest covers the biochemical, microbiological, physiological, molecular biological and anatomical aspects relate to the oral cavity. Currently, the group is carrying out following studies: 

Laboratory and clinical studies on commercially available oral healthcare products for caries prevention in young and medically-compromised children 

• The effectiveness of the commercially available products in stimulating remineralisation of tooth enamel
• The effectiveness of the commercially available products in preventing demineralization of enamel and development of dental caries

In vitro microbiological and tissue culture studies on oral healthcare products 

• Laboratory testing to validate on the safeuse of compounds obtained from natural products in oral healthcare products for human use.
• Clinical trials to produce supporting data prior to the acceptance of the product for human use

Biochemical identification of bioactive components of plant extracts and their biochemical effects on oral tissues  

• Identification of bioactive components in plant extracts with potential anti-dental biofilm effect
• Comparative biochemical studies between the crude and purified plant extracts as anti-dental biofilm agent

Plant extracts and the expression of genes responsible for the colonisation of dental biofilm microorganismso   

• Identification of genes of the bacteria responsible for colonisation in dental biofilm.
• The effect of plant extract on the expression of the identified genes.

Microscopy and physiological studies of the oral tissues upon exposure to oral healthcare products and carbonated drinks

• Mechanism of diffusion of oral healthcare product and carbonated drinks in dental tissues
• Microscopic studies on the effects of different oral healthcare products and carbonated drinks on oral tissues (hard and soft)

Anatomical structural variations in the maxillofacial region

• To investigate the variations of the anatomical structures in the maxillofacial region related to ages, race and gender in a Malaysian population
• To apply the knowledge on the variation of the anatomical structures in the maxillofacial region in forensic science

Salivary proteomeso

• Profiling of salivary proteinso
• To relate the occurrence of periodontitis in diabetes mellitus type 2

Former Research Group Leader

Professor Dr. Ian Charles Paterson

Contact details 

ORAL & CRANIOFACIAL BIOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP (OCBRG)
Faculty of Dentistry,
University of Malaya,
50603 Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA
Tel: +603-79674851
Email: ocbrg_dental@um.edu.my