

Research Clinic
The Oral Health Clinical Research Center is recruiting individuals to participate in—and possibly be compensated for—taking part in several ongoing studies.
Appointments: 612-625-2495
The Oral Health Clinical Research Center is recruiting individuals to participate in—and possibly be compensated for—taking part in several ongoing studies.
The mission of the Oral Health Clinical Research Center (OHCRC) is to enhance oral health by transferring basic and applied research knowledge and new technical advances into patient-oriented research. This would enhance the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral diseases.
To make an appointment, or to receive more information about our research studies, please see the studies below.
The School of Dentistry is currently recruiting individuals to participate in several ongoing studies. We welcome interested individuals to contact the study coordinator listed with each of the below studies if you would like to know more about these studies and learn what you would be asked to do. All studies have been reviewed and approved by the University of Minnesota’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Study Title: In vivo Assessment of the Tooth-Resin Composite Interface Using Optical Coherence Tomography or The Composite Study
PI: Dr. Hooi Pin Chew Sponsor: UMN SOD Veden Grant
The purpose of the study is to compare two ways to prepare your tooth for a filling. But, it is hard to see the microscopic changes to a filling clinically. We want to look at your filling with a special tool to see how the edges of a filling change over 18 months. This tool will help us to evaluate the edges of you filling.
Timeline: Potential participants will first be screened at the dental school by the study investigator to look at the tooth requiring a filling. Qualifying University of Minnesota (UMN) dental school patients will attend four (4) appointments at the UMN School of Dentistry over 18 months. First visit will include an in-person screening to make sure they meet the study requirements. Once screened, participants will be scheduled for an appointment to place a biting surface composite (tooth colored) filling with two additional visits to monitor and record data about the filling. These follow-up visits will occur 6 and 18 months after the filling is placed.
Compensation: A total of $160 will be paid in the form of Target gift cards; $10 at in-person screening, $20 at procedure appointment, $50 at 6 months, and $80 at 18 months after the filling is placed. In addition, parking vouchers will be provided at the end of each appointment.
Inclusion Criteria:
Patient level:
Exclusion Criteria:
Patient level:
Interested participants contact Kelli Trauger at [email protected] or 612-624-2231.
PI: Dr. Jorge Perdigao
Sponsor: 3M Company
The investigational device in this research study is Scotchbond™ Universal Plus (SBU+) Adhesive, which is manufactured by 3M. The intended purpose of SBU+ Adhesive is to be used as a bond-promoting substance between the tooth and dental restorations. It may also be used as a dentin sealant and as a bonding agent for repair of restorations. The comparator product (i.e., Control product) for the investigational device will be Scotchbond™ Universal (SBU) Adhesive, which is also manufactured by 3M.
The purpose of this research study is to compare SBU+ Adhesive with its predicate device (SBU Adhesive) in relation to functional aspects of the restorations. The follow-up period of 6, 12, and 24 months is based on previous 2-year studies of other composite resin adhesives showing differences in retention, fracture, and marginal adaptation scores.
Timeline: Patients will first be screened at the dental school by the study dentist to look at teeth requiring dental fillings. Qualifying patients will attend five (5) appointments at the University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Dentistry (SOD) over 24 months. First visit will include an in-person screening to make sure they meet eligibility requirements. Once screened, participants will be scheduled for an appointment to place two composite (tooth colored) fillings using the 3M dental adhesives with three (3) additional follow-up visits after the fillings are placed at 6, 12, and 24 months to record data on each tooth.
Compensation: A total of $300 will be paid in the form of a debit card; $50 after the filling appointment, $50 at 6-months, $100 at 12-months, and $100 at 24-months. In addition, up to $12 of parking will be validated at the Washington Avenue Ramp on campus at the end of each appointment.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Preoperative exclusion criteria include the following:
Intraoperative exclusion criteria include the following:
Do you have a patient who qualifies? Contact Kelli Trauger at [email protected]
PI: Dr. Heather Conrad
Funding: Delta Dental Grant
Healthcare outcomes are prioritizing the functional health and well-being of the patient. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of prosthetic rehabilitation of intra-oral defects in the oral cancer patient on their quality of life.
Timeline: Potential participants will be consented and screened at the University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Dentistry (SOD) Faculty Dental Clinic (FDC) by the research team. Qualifying UMN SOD patients will attend two (2) research visits to respond to surveys at the beginning of treatment and at the end after delivery of the definitive maxillofacial prosthesis.
Compensation: A total of $50 for completing two surveys will be paid using a Pre-Paid Debit Card; $25 for completing the baseline surveys, and $25 for completing the final surveys after the delivery of the definitive prosthesis.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
How to get involved: Contact the study manager, Kelli Trauger, at [email protected]
PI: Estephan Moana-Filho DDS, MS, PhD
Sponsor: NIH/NIDCR
The overall goal of this study is to determine brain mechanisms in chronic TMD pain patients and pain-free controls using brain imaging and sensory testing.
Timeline: After screening to identify potential individuals, qualifying participants will complete three in-person study visits, two at the School of Dentistry and one at the MRI center (CMRR). The visits include a comprehensive clinical examination, filling out questionnaires, sensory testing, and a brain MRI scan session.
Major Inclusion Criteria:
Major Exclusion Criteria:
Compensation: $250.00 plus parking validation if needed ($50 for completion of first visit, $100 for completion of second visit, $100 for completion of third visit)..
How to get involved?
Contact: [email protected], 612-625-8926